Eugene ballot measure race sees late surge in spending

The race to decide the fate of a new local climate fund in Eugene is entering its final stretch with a sharp rise in opponent spending.

As of Tuesday, the Stop the Hidden Tax on Eugene campaign had reported raising more than $130,000. This sum is more than five times the amount the group had reported earlier in the month. The funds came largely from five-figure donations by the Oregon Business & Industry Issues and Grocery Retail PACs.

The group has already spent more than half of that money. Those expenses went to Rushlight, a marketing firm based in Salem. The campaign is distributing mailers that include a letter from volunteer Laura Sedwick. Sedwick, a local resident, describes the proposal as a blank check with no accountability. She urges neighbors to talk to one another, noting that most people have not yet heard the details of the measure. She believes that once they understand the terms, they will vote no.

The opposing side is spending from a much larger pool. Supporters of Measure 20-388 have raised more than $727,000 through both their petition and ballot campaigns. This total includes six-figure donations from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Breach Collective, an Oregon-based nonprofit.

Aya Cockram, a co-chief petitioner and organizer with the Breach Collective, said the support base includes national philanthropists and advocate groups. She also noted a large number of local residents who are excited about the initiative. The supporters have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Untidy Origins, a progressive advertising agency, and The Pivot Group, a strategy firm.

The proposal would collect a percentage of corporate retail profits to fund climate projects. It qualified for the ballot earlier this year through a petition drive. Critics argue the fund lacks clear management structures and that large companies might pass the cost to customers. Proponents counter that the measure requires billion-dollar corporations to pay their fair share. Local business owners have also sent messages to residents in support of the initiative.

Dylan Plummer, a campaign advisor for the Sierra Club and co-founder of the Breach Collective, said the team had knocked on more than 17,300 doors and sent over 90,000 texts as of Monday. On Tuesday, the campaign announced a tentative union deal with its staff, including paid canvassers. Plummer called this the first union of its kind in the country. He said the group expected larger corporate spending but remains on guard.

The two sides have also clashed over financial disclosures. Earlier this month, supporters accused the opposition of missing filing deadlines for two contributions totaling $40,000. The transaction dates on the public records do not match between the contributors and the campaign. The Stop the Hidden Tax campaign says it followed the law to the letter, calling the complaint a common political tactic.