Jim Torrey

Jim Torrey (born 1940) is an American politician who served as mayor of Eugene from 1997 to 2004. Torrey was nominated in 2006 for an Oregon State Senate seat, but was defeated by incumbent Vicki Walker. Torrey was first elected to public office at the age of 21, when he won a seat on the Waldport, Oregon city council.

Jim Torrey
Mayor of Eugene
In office
1997–2004
Succeeded byKitty Piercy
Personal details
Born1940
Political partyRepublican (1961–2007)
Independent Party of Oregon

Torrey was a member of the Oregon Republican Party from age 21 until age 67; in 2007, he switched his registration to the newly formed Independent Party of Oregon.[1]

Police brutality

Torrey's mayoral tenure was marked by police brutality against Eugene citizens.[2]

Shortly after his election in 1997, Torrey's Eugene police sprayed pepper spray at peaceful environmentalist protestors during a confrontation at a downtown parking garage, after which the city had to settle payments with those who they injured.[3] On August 6th, 1997, a protestor vomited on Torrey at a Eugene City Council meeting.[4]

On June 18th, 1999, Eugene police used tear gas on an anti-capitalist protest, which affected over 200 people and arrested 20 demonstrators.[5] Citizens claimed that the mayor had directed police to needlessly harass individuals in black clothing.[6]

After his tenure, Torrey lost races for the Oregon State Senate in 2006 and attempted a failed comeback to his former Eugene mayor seat in 2008.[7]

Oregon Independent Party mayoral candidacy

Torrey ran again for mayor of Eugene in 2008. He qualified for a runoff election in November of that year, but lost to incumbent Kitty Piercy. Torrey's decision as a former two-term mayor to challenge a first term was described as an "unprecedented contest" in Eugene politics.[8]

References
  1. "Torrey turns Independent". The Register Guard. September 20, 2007.
  2. "Activists protest alleged brutality". June 1, 2000. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  3. "Torrey and June 1st Pepper Spraying of Treesitters". May 9, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  4. "Torrey on Board". May 2, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  5. "Anarchists' rally erupts into riot in Eugene". June 19, 1999. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  6. Smith, RJ (March 2000). "Chaos Theories". SPIN. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  7. "Torrey on Board". May 2, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  8. Piercy vs. Torrey: Look beyond the labels in Eugene’s mayoral race The Register-Guard 2008-03-07 retrieved 2008-03-23


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