Ruth Duemler (revisited)
November 2001: Los Angeles native Ruth Duemler began a career of
political activism in the 1960s, battling cancer-causing smog in her
home town. "I learned to lobby and put on press conferences," she says.
"We got a lot of legislation passed." After a 1976 divorce, Duemler
moved to San Diego, where she aided a successful campaign to end
city-wide election of councilors. "With city-wide elections, big money
took over," she notes. "After we won, the first black, the first
Hispanic, and the first gay person were elected. It completely changed
the city council." In search of clean air and water, Duemler relocated
to Eugene in 1992. "On my second day, I went to an environmental
conference at the UO," she recalls. "I was enthralled." A year later,
Duemler and others she had met at the conference launched The Other
Paper, a forum for progressive groups that lasted eight years. Her
current major campaign is Health Care for All Oregon, a universal
health care initiative. "And the mayor is pushing a initiative for
city-wide elections," she warns. "It doesn't give neighborhoods a voice
at city hall."
2021 update: Each Eugene city councilor is still
elected by a single ward, and, at age 88, Duemler remains focused on
health care as a human right. "I go to at least two Health Care for All
meetings per week on Zoom," she elaborates. "We have a group in Eugene,
a state-level group, and a national group. With single-payer, when
you're sick, you know you'll get medical care. The insurance industry
is not needed!" She maintains her interest in air quality as it relates
to health, and is critical of Seneca Sawmill and its wood-fired
electrical power plant in west Eugene, citing the prevalence of asthma
among children in the neighborhood. "I am responsible for the little
San Diego law of the late 80s that was adopted as Title V of the Clean
Air Act," she notes. "It's the most important thing I've done. It makes
industry pay according to how much they pollute."
happening people
photograph and story by Paul Neevel
Eugene Weekly / 22 July 2021
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