Illinois Valley News: The Voice of the Illinois Valley

Nov. 4 election revisited

From our weekly issue dated November 12, 2008

Following are final results from the Nov. 4 Oregon vote-by-mail general election.

Josephine County Commission Position 2: Sandi Cassanelli 52%/Harry Mackin 48% Position 3: Incumbent Dwight Ellis 52%/Jack Brown 48%
County treasurer: Incumbent John Harelson 60%/Dale Matthews 40%
Sheriff’s office tax districts for law enforcement: District 1 defeated with 60% against; District 2 defeated with 66% opposed
Illinois Valley Fire District levy for full-time firefighters: Defeated by 70% of voters
Cave Junction mayor: Don Moore won the two-year unopposed seat being vacated by Tony Paulson with 443 votes. There were 88 write-in votes, but a break-out is unavailable.
Cave Junction Council (four-year terms): Carl Jacobson Jr. won Position 4 being vacated by Moore. Incumbent Margaret Miller (Position 2) was re-elected; and Trisha Arias (Position 3), appointed to fill the seat formerly held by Russ Ehrman, won.
State representative, 3rd District: Incumbent Ron Mauer (R) won with 62% support.
State senator, 2nd District: Incumbent Jason Atkinson (R) won with 68% of the vote.
U.S. Rep., Oregon 4th District: Incumbent Peter DeFazio (D) won with 82% support.
U.S. Rep., Oregon 2nd District: Incumbent Greg Walden (R) won with 69% support.
Oregon U.S. senator: Jeff Merkley (D) defeated two-term incumbent Gordon Smith (R).

Click here to learn more about how you can tell us what you think

Measure 54. Passed/72% support. Brings the Oregon Constitution in line with the U.S. Constitution in terms of voting eligibility for school district board elections.
Measure 55. Passed/77% support. Changes the date for when redistricting plans take effect.
Measure 56. Passed/55% support. OKs a majority of voters to approve property tax measures in May or November no matter what the voter turnout.
Measure 57. Passed/61% support. Will boost prison terms for repeat offenders convicted of nonviolent property or drug crimes while also increasing treatment and prevention programs. It was one of two competing crime measures. The other, Measure 61, has been disregarded because it received fewer votes than 57.
Measure 58. Failed/54% opposition. It would have prohibited teaching non-English-speaking public school students in a language other than English for more than two years.
Measure 59. Failed/63% opposition. Beginning in 2010, it would allow a complete deduction of federal income taxes on Oregon income tax returns.
Measure 60. Failed/60% opposition. Pay for teachers would have been linked to their “classroom performance.”
Measure 61. Failed, despite 51% support. It would have established mandatory minimum prison sentences for theft, identify theft, forgery, drug and burglary crimes. (See Measure 57.)
Measure 62. Failed/59% against. The Oregon Constitution would have been amended to disburse 15 percent of lottery proceeds to the public safety fund by lowering the percentage given to other programs.
Measure 63. Failed/53% against. Would have allowed residents to bypass permit requirements for home improvement projects valued at $35,000 or less.
Measure 64. Appears approved with 51% support to block public employee unions from using the money collected through payroll deductions for political purposes.
Measure 65. Failed/66% opposed. Would have revised Oregon’s primary election system.