The two candidates running for the Oregon House of Representatives District 5 seat strongly differ in their views on land use and restrictions on the sale of cold remedies that can be converted into methamphetamine.

Peter Buckley and Joanna Lofaso, both of Ashland, are running in the Nov. 2 contest to replace Rep. Alan Bates, who is running against Jim Wright for the state Senate District 5 seat.

House District 5 includes Ashland, Ruch, Phoenix, Talent and a southwest portion of Medford.

Buckley, 47, is executive director of Democracy’s Edge, a private, nonprofit Oregon foundation seeking to involve Oregonians and other Americans in government and politics.

He grew up in the Bay Area in California and was the Democratic challenger in an unsuccessful campaign against U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., in 2002. He has been active in several community organizations, including a Boys & Girls Club, senior center and hospice in Humboldt County, Calif.; and has been a radio political commentator. He has been living in Ashland with his wife, Joan Langley, and their three sons since 1997.

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Lofaso, 55, is a business relationship manager/loan officer for Wells Fargo Bank’s Ashland branch.

She grew up in Rhode Island and attended three years of college at University of Rhode Island and Emerson College in Boston.

She has been living with her daughter, Andrea, who graduated from Ashland High School, since the late 1990s. She’s been a member of the Jackson County Republican Women, the Ashland, Phoenix, Medford and Jacksonville chambers of commerce, the American Cancer Society and the Soroptimist Club, among other organizations.

Buckley and Lofaso both have experience reading a budget and working in administration, and they agree that education is a top funding priority in Oregon.

"The top budget need is to stabilize," said Buckley. He lists education as the number one priority, followed by health care, public safety and economic development.

He said education funding would come from looking for revenue from unnecessary tax cuts.

"We look at what we’ve done with the corporate kicker and suspend that," he said, adding that would add $68 million to the state budget. Another place to gather funding would be from state taxes that have not been collected. He said he’d want to look closely at who is not paying their fair share.

"This has been tried in other states quite effectively," he said.

He’d also like to put an end to several tax subsidies for businesses.

Lofaso lists education, public safety and senior services as the top priorities. She said it’s important to cut down on disincentives — such as red tape — and to add incentives — such as tax cuts — as a way of developing business in the state.

She said money can be saved by doing away with special legislative sessions, because the taxpayers end up paying for that. Also, regular legislative sessions need to be limited.

"I’m a fiscal conservative and I want to limit these sessions to six months," she said.

One area where they disagree strongly is on Measure 37. If passed it would require state or local governments that enact land-use measures reducing the value of private property to either compensate protesting landowners for the lost development opportunity or waive the land-use restriction.

Buckley said if the measure passes, he would pursue overturning it.

"It’s a terrible proposal," he said, adding that he understands the frustration some people feel over land use, but this measure goes too far.

"If you’re trying to balance the scales you don’t do it with a sledge hammer," he said.

But Lofaso said it should pass.

"It really restores fairness," she said.

Lofaso doesn’t support Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s plan to regulate the purchase of cold remedies that contain primary ingredient for methamphetamine production. The governor recently proposed tracking cold remedy sales, keeping the products behind a counter as well as placing limits on the amount you can purchase. The state’s pharmacy board approved all but the tracking system, which was requested by law enforcement in the state, on an emergency basis Wednesday.

"I think it’s an overreaction" that will make it more difficult for an ordinary person like her daughter who goes to buy Sudafed, she said.

"I do think (methamphetamine) is a major menace that needs to be brought under control," she said, but she’d rather beef up the law enforcement end.

Buckley said he supports the governor’s plan.

"The meth problem is huge," he said. "What the governor’s trying to do is worthwhile."

Both candidates support Oregon Project Independence, a program that helps seniors live in their homes when they can no longer take care of their daily needs without assistance.

Buckley doesn’t see himself just bringing a saw to cut the budget, but also bringing a hammer to build Oregon back up.

"We’ve been torn apart for a decade," said the self-proclaimed optimist. "I’m talking about building the state back up again."

Lofaso said she’s more qualified for the job.

"I have a very strong background in banking and finance," said Lofaso, adding that she’s worked in that field for 23 years. "When it comes to handling people’s money, who would you trust your money to?"

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com