The Astoria branch of the American Association of University Women are
holding issues/candidate forums in October.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, local residents are invited to an Issues
Forum featuring five of the state initiatives on the November ballot.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2008, local residents are invited to a
combination Candidate and Local Issue Forum. Local candidates for
Astoria City Council offices will be invited to attend. The Bond issue
to be addressed is the Clatsop Community College General Bond
Authorization Measure (Measure 4-133).
Both events will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center,
1653 Jerome Avenue, Astoria. The candidates and issues’ representatives
will be invited to give an opening statement and will answer questions
submitted by the audience. Written questions for these representatives
will be accepted both at the door and during the forum. The questions
will be collected and read by a representative of AAUW.
The measures to be addressed at the Issues Forum on October 15, 2008,
include Measures 56, 58, 59, 60 and 65.
Measure 56 eliminates the automatic “no” vote for local property tax
measures which fund schools, police and local services when less than
50% of voters participate and vote.
Measure 58 prohibits teaching public school students in languages other
than English for more than 2 years.
Measure 59 creates an unlimited federal income tax deduction on state
tax returns, thereby eliminating the current $5,500.00 limit for such
deductions.
Measure 60 provides that teacher classroom performance and not seniority
determine pay raises.
Measure 65 provides for all candidates for public office at the primary
election run on one ballot and the top two candidates compete in the
general election.
These forums are sponsored by the Astoria branch of the American
Association of University Women.
We invite and encourage the community to attend these forums to hear the
debate on these very important issues.
