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Bascom <br /> defends <br /> 74 <br /> tree veto <br /> • Ordinance: The mayor says her <br /> decision will stand, but many City <br /> Council members appear opposed. <br /> By JEFF WRIGHT <br /> The Register - Guard <br /> Mayor Ruth Bascom said Wednesday that she vetoed a <br /> tree protection ordinance last week because the City <br /> Council approved it "based on emotion and fear rather <br /> than rational discussion." <br /> "I wanted to get the council's attention," said Bascom, <br /> who clearly succeeded when she exercised the first veto <br /> by a Eugene mayor in at least a decade. <br /> Council members' criticism of the mayor's action con- <br /> tinued Wednesday, with <br /> Councilman Paul Nichol- <br /> son labeling it "one of the <br /> stupidest political moves <br /> I've ever seen." , :' <br /> Nicholson said a may x �r, °r.,. <br /> or should exercise the <br /> power of veto only in <br /> the most grave circum' • <br /> - <br /> stances when the most •' ' '' <br /> fundamental issues are <br /> involved." Bascom's veto <br /> of the tree protection or -k.r <br /> dinance is "gratuitous" <br /> and a "trivialization" of 4y n*. '' <br /> the veto power, he said. <br /> Ruth Bascom <br /> Bascom said the tone "I take full responsibility" <br /> of the council's delibera- <br /> tions on June 30 justified her action. <br /> By castigating city officials who submitted a more <br /> moderate ordinance for consideration and minimizing le- <br /> gitimate concerns about the ordinance's reach, council <br /> members were using their anger to control the debate, the <br /> mayor said. <br /> "A veto should be used when you're not governing <br /> well," she said. "A veto means we're not doing as well as <br /> we should, and the council at that meeting was ignoring <br /> rules of fair play and open discussion." <br /> Bascom issued her veto Friday but was unavailable for <br /> comment until Wednesday. The council is to take up the <br /> matter Monday night, when it will decide whether to up- <br /> hold or override the veto. <br /> It takes the votes of six of the eight council members <br />