NEWS RELEASE
from the Oregon Community Protection Coalition

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2002

Measure 7 Ruling a Victory for Taxpayers, Fairness

Representatives of local government, civic organizations, and business groups today applauded the Oregon Supreme Court’s ruling invalidating Measure 7.

"This ruling is a victory for Oregon taxpayers, who won’t be forced to pay a handful of landowners and special interests just to obey the common-sense
laws that protect our quality of life," said Charlotte Lehan, Mayor of Wilsonville.

"Measure 7 would have dramatically undermined the laws that protect our clean air, our clean water, our productive farms and forests, and our healthy communities," said Beth Burczak, president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. "Oregonians who cherish the livability of our state can breathe a sigh of relief that it has been overturned."

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Statement of 1000 Friends of Oregon

1000 Friends of Oregon is gratified by the Oregon Supreme Court’s decision striking down Measure 7, a radical amendment to the Oregon Constitution placed on the November 2000 ballot by Bill Sizemore and Oregonians In Action.

"This ruling means that millions of our tax dollars will not have to be squandered on windfall payments to a handful of developers while our schools and other critical public services are suffering painful budget cuts," said Robert Liberty, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon.

1000 Friends of Oregon organized the legal challenge to Measure 7, drawing on the talents of noted appellate lawyer Tom Christ. Plaintiffs in the case were Audrey McCall (widow of former Governor Tom McCall), Hector Macpherson (co-sponsor of Senate Bill 100), Mayor of Salem Mike Swaim, Mayor of Jacksonville Jim Lewis, and Union County rancher Mark Tipperman.

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