Eugene’s mayoral candidates don’t agree on much. But they both support an 83 million dollar bond measure to fund Lane Community College. Mayor Kitty Piercy and her challenger former mayor Jim Torrey held a joint press conference Monday.

LCC president Mary Spilde says measure 20-142 will help improve the infrastructure on campus as well as improving education programs. Spilde says in hard times, the services LCC offers are even more meaningful.

Mary Spilde: “This is a very tough economy but that’s when Lane is needed more than ever. Lane is a beacon of hope at a time when everything else looks dismal.”

Mayor Kitty Piercy says LCC trains people in health care and public safety careers. Jim Torrey pointed out that people who lose their jobs can go to LCC to learn new skills. The measure does not increase property taxes. It maintains a bond from 1995 of 50 dollars a year for the owner of a 200 thousand dollar home. Thus, taxes would continue at the same level.