Oregon Public Broadcasting

Travel agency owner and Portland mayoral hopeful Sho Dozono received the endorsement of current mayor Tom Potter Thursday. And  Thursday was the filing deadline in Eugene, where a former mayor made a surprise decision. Ethan Lindsey reports.

At Eugene's City Hall, Jim Torrey dropped off 25 signatures in support of his campaign to unseat mayor Kitty Piercy.

Piercy, part of the city council's liberal majority, took over for Torrey as mayor in 2005.

In 2006, Torrey, running as a Republican, was defeated in a race for state Senate.

Torrey says the mayoral race is non-partisan.

Jim Torrey: “We're just going to focus on the issues that impact the citizens of Eugene, the community, and the future. That is what the mayor's job is about.”

Torrey says money will be an important part of the campaign -- and he will raise as much as needed.

Piercy collected a record $120,000 in her earlier campaign but has just $15,000 in the bank now.

Torrey denies that he waited until the filing deadline in order to curb Piercy's fundraising strength.