My 2008 Voters' Guide

I've filled-out my ballot and mailed it in so the 2008 election is basically over for me. I understand that campaigns are able to tell that I've submitted my ballot, so I will hopefully receive fewer campaign solicitations.

Here is my voters' guide for the Portland, Oregon ballot and some of the endorsements that contributed to my decision.

results & polls
me↓	newspapers						PACs & orgs
	WW↓	Merc↓	J.O.↓	TheO↓	Trib↓	Skan↓	LWV↓	EMO↓	BRO↓	NARAL↓	Sierra↓
WW: Willamette Week | Merc: Portland Mercury | J.O.: Just Out | TheO: The Oregonian | Trib: Portland Tribune | Skan: The Skanner | LWV: League of Women Voters of Oregon | EMO: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon | BRO: Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC | NARAL: NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC | Sierra: Oregon Sierra Club
US President: 11/03 Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 353EV McCain 185EV 10/27 Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 375EV McCain 157EV 6EV
Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden	?	Obama-Biden	?	Obama-Biden	N/A	N/A	?	Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden
US Senator (OR): 10/30, 500 "likely" OR voters, +/-4.5%, (Rasmussen Reports): Merkley 49% Smith 46% 4% 1% 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Merkley 51% Smith 43% 4% 2% 10/25-10/26, 672 "likely" OR voters, +/-3.9%, (SurveyUSA): Merkley 49% Smith 42% 5% 4% 10/10-10/20, 499 OR voters, +/-4.39%, (Riley Res. Assoc.(pdf)): Merkley 36% Smith 35% O/U 29%
Merkley	Merkley	Merkley	Merkley	Smith	Smith	Merkley	N/A	N/A	?	Merkley	Merkley
US Representative (OR 1st District):
Wu	Wu	?	Haugen	Wu	?	Wu	N/A	N/A	?	?	Wu
OR Secretary of State: 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Brown 51% Dancer 40% 9% 09/11-09/14, 500 OR voters, +/-4.4%, (DHM-Tribune): Brown 33% Dancer 25% Undec. 38%
Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	N/A	N/A	Brown	Brown	Brown
OR Treasurer: 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Westlund 47% Alley 41% 12% 09/11-09/14, 500 OR voters, +/-4.4%, (DHM-Tribune): Westlund 34% Alley 22% Undec. 40%
Westlund	Alley	Alley	Westlund	Alley	Westlund	Westlund	N/A	N/A	Westlund	Westlund	Westlund
OR Attorney General:
Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	?	Kroger	N/A	N/A	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger
OR BOLI Commissioner:
Avakian	?	Avakian	Avakian	Avakian	?	?	N/A	N/A	Avakian	Avakian	Avakian
OR State Senator (District 18):
Burdick	Burdick	Burdick	?	Burdick	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	Burdick
OR State Representative (36th District):
Nolan	Nolan	Nolan	?	Nolan	?	?	N/A	N/A	Nolan	Nolan	Nolan
Multnomah County Sheriff:
Skipper	Skipper	Skipper	?	Skipper	Skipper	Skipper	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
Portland City Commissioner, Position #1:
Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Lewis	Fritz	N/A	N/A	green light: Fritz & Lewis	green light: Fritz & Lewis	Fritz
OR Supreme Court Judge (Position 7): (unopposed incumbent)
Walters	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR Court of Appeals Judge (Position 4): (unopposed incumbent)
Sercombe	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 18): (unopposed incumbent)
Ryan	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 21): (unopposed incumbent)
Bushong	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 27): (unopposed incumbent)
Stuart	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Director, At Large 1: (No Candidate Filed)
(None)	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
me↓↑	WW↓↑	Merc↓↑	J.O.↓↑	TheO↓↑	Trib↓↑	Skan↓↑	LWV↓↑	EMO↓↑	BRO↓↑	NARAL↓↑	Sierra↓↑
OR Measure 54: Removes 21-year-old voting requirement:
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Neutral	?	?
OR Measure 55: Allows Legislators To Finish Term After Redistricting:
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Neutral	Neutral	?	?
OR Measure 56: Removes Property Tax Double Majority Requirement:
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
OR Measure 57: Increases Sentences and Addiction Treatment:
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?
OR Measure 58: Limits ESL Teaching To Two Years:
No	No	No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 59: Creates Unlimited Oregon Income Tax Deduction:
No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OR Measure 60: Determines Teacher Pay By Undefined "Classroom Performance", Removes Seniority Pay:
No	No	Yes	No	No	?	No	Neutral	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 61: Creates Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Some Crimes:
No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 62: Allocates 15% of Lottery to Public Safety:
No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OR Measure 63: Exempt Homeowners/Farmers From Building Codes:
No	No	No	?	No	?	No	No	No	Neutral	No	No
OR Measure 64: Penalizes Public Employee Unions For Political Purpose:
No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 65: Top Two Run-Off Election System:
Yes	Yes	No	?	Yes	?	Yes	Neutral	Neutral	No	?	?
Portland Measure 26-94: Renew $70M (0.04026%) Children's Investment Fund:
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
PCC Measure 26-95: $375M (0.03290%) Bond to Expand Facilities :
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
Metro Measure 26-96: $125M (0.00900%) Zoo Improvements:
No	No	Yes	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
me↑	WW↑	Merc↑	J.O.↑	TheO↑	Trib↑	Skan↑	LWV↑	EMO↑	BRO↑	NARAL↑	Sierra↑
WW: Willamette Week | Merc: Portland Mercury | J.O.: Just Out | TheO: The Oregonian | Trib: Portland Tribune | Skan: The Skanner | LWV: League of Women Voters of Oregon | EMO: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon | BRO: Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC | NARAL: NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC | Sierra: Oregon Sierra Club
other races I'm watching:
US Representative (OR 5th District): 10/27-10/28, 668 OR 5th Dist voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Schrader 55% Erickson 31% 14%
me↓	WW↓	Merc↓	J.O.↓	TheO↓	Trib↓	Skan↓	LWV↓	EMO↓	BRO↓	NARAL↓	Sierra↓
N/A	Schrader	?	Schrader	Schrader	Schrader	Schrader	N/A	N/A	?	Schrader	Schrader
US Senator (MN): I'm a fan of Franken and think it's great that a critic is actually running for office. It would also be great to win back Paul Wellstone's seat. 10/30-11/01, 699 "likely" MN voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Coleman 44% Franken 39% 16% 1% 10/28-10/30, 1,050 "likely" MN voters, +/-3.0%, PPP (pdf): Franken 45% Coleman 40% 14% 1% 10/28, 500 "likely" MN voters, +/-4.5%, Rasmussen Reports: Coleman 43% Franken 39% 14% 4% 10/22, 500 "likely" MN voters, +/-4.5%, Rasmussen Reports: Franken 41% Coleman 37% 17% 5%
US Senator (NC): Admittedly as a partisan, I think it would be sweet payback that Dole would lose Jesse Helms' seat after only one term. Unfortunately, Hagan has refused to issue a statement regarding LGBT issues (see: Pam's House Blend). 10/31-11/02, 2,100 "likely" NC voters, +/-2.1%, PPP (pdf): Hagan 51% Dole 44% 3% 1% 10/30-11/02, 682 "likely" and actual NC voters, +/-3.8%, SurveyUSA: Hagan 50% Dole 43% 5% 2% 10/29, 700 "likely" NC voters, +/-4%, Rasmussen Reports: Hagan 52% Dole 46% 2% 10/18-10/20, 627 "likely" NC voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Hagan 46% Dole 45% 5% 3%
WA Governor: I favor the Democratic candidate for governor of the neighboring state. 10/30-11/02, 663 likely/actual WA voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Gregoire 52% Rossi 46% 2% 10/26-10/27, 630 likely/actual WA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Gregoire 50% Rossi 48% 2% 10/18-10/26, 600 WA reg voters, +/-4.0%, The Washington Poll: Gregoire 51% Rossi 45% 3%
WA Initiative 1000: Right To Die: Law is similar to OR's physician assisted suicide which I support. 10/30-11/02, 663 likely/actual WA voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Yes 55% No 40% 5% 10/26-10/27, 630 likely/actual WA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Yes 54% No 37% 9% 10/18-10/26, 600 WA reg voters, +/-4.0%, The Washington Poll: Yes 56% No 38% 6%
CA Proposition 8: Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment: 10/29-10/31, 637 CA "likely" voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: No 50% Yes 47% 3% 10/18-10/28, 966 CA "likely" voters, +/-3.3%, Field Poll (pdf): No 49% Yes 44% 7% 10/12-10/19, 1,186 CA "likely" voters, +/-3%, PPIC: No 52% Yes 44% 6% 10/15-10/16, 615 "likely" CA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Yes 48% No 45% 7%
AZ Proposition 102: Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment: 09/25-09/28, 976 reg. voters, +/-3.1%, Cronkite-Eight Poll: Yes 49% No 42% 9%

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10/21/2008 UPDATE: Although I already voted, I added The Skanner because it's a local paper that published a comprehensive endorsement list.
10/27/2008 UPDATE: I added the other races I've been following.
10/30/2008 UPDATE: Added a couple more of The Portland Tribune's endorsements. Oddly, for a "daily" publication, the Trib has been very slow to issue its recommendations. More disturbingly, it hasn't endorsed a presidential candidate, but its Smith for Senate endorsement presumes an Obama presidency.