2010 Election Endorsements

	ME ↓	WILLA- METTE WEEK ↓	OREGON- IAN ↓	PTLD MERC ↓	BASIC RIGHTS OR ↓	NARAL ↓	SIERRA CLUB ↓	OLCV ↓
CANDIDATES
US SENATOR	WYDEN	WYDEN	WYDEN	WYDEN		WYDEN
US REP OR 3RD	BLUMEN- EAUR	BLUMEN- EAUR	BLUMEN- EAUR	BLUMEN- EAUR		BLUMEN- EAUR	BLUMEN- EAUR
OR GOV	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER	KITZ- HABER
OR TREAS	WHEEL- ER	WHEEL- ER	WHEEL- ER	WHEEL- ER	WHEEL- ER	WHEEL- ER		WHEEL- ER
OR ST REP 42ND	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY	BAILEY
METRO PREZ	STACEY	HUGHES	HUGHES	STACEY			STACEY	STACEY
EMSWCD DIR 2	KUEHLER							KUEHLER
	EAST MULTNOMAH SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT DIRECTOR AT LARGE 2: Through my work, I know a little bit about this obscure agency; however, I was surprised to see four candidates on the ballot for this unpaid position. Only three candidates managed to get statements in the official voters' guide. And only two candidates responded to the League of Women Voters (PDF). Decidedly, Kuehler is the only candidate with endorsements and a related resumé.
	ME ↓	WILLA- METTE WEEK ↓	OREGON- IAN ↓	PTLD MERC ↓	BASIC RIGHTS OR ↓	NARAL ↓	SIERRA CLUB ↓	OLCV ↓
STATE MEASURES
OR MEAS 70	YES	YES	YES		E.M.O.: YES
	EXPANDS WAR VETERANS HOMEOWNERSHIP LOANS: Updates program to include recent vets.
OR MEAS 71	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	LWV: YES
	REQUIRES LEGISLATURE TO MEET ANNUALLY: The legislature already meets annually, but has to pretend there is an emergency.
OR MEAS 72	YES	YES	YES
	AUTHORIZES EXCEPTION TO $50K BORROWING LIMIT: I'm still pondering this one. Although Republican legislators voted against this measure, no arguments against this measure were filed and I haven't found anyone recommending a no vote. Apparently this measure changes an 1859 law by allowing the state to obtain slightly lower interest rates by issuing general obligation bonds instead of certificates of participation. Recently, governments have defaulted on certificate of participation, therefore they are riskier and have higher interest rates. General obligation bonds are fully secured by the 'full faith and credit' of the government and are therefore less risky and have lower interest. It seems to make sense. Our state should use all available resources (i.e. taxes, general revenue, etc.) to repay its loans. (djcoregon.com)
OR MEAS 73	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	E.M.O., L.W.V.: NO
	INCREASES MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE FOR REPEATED SEX CRIMES AND REPEATED DUI: This seems like a good idea on the surface, but it's unclear what the unintended consequences will be. The state already spends more on prisons than universities. This measure would increase spending $29 MILLION, but doesn't specify where the funds will come from. There has to be a more effective and less costly alternative to warehousing criminals for longer periods.
OR MEAS 74	YES	YES	NO	NO
	ESTABLISHES MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPLY SYSTEM: The state should control marijuana distribution like it does liquor. This measure is a good start, but it unfortunately doesn't replace the current problematic grow-your-own or find-a-'dealer' system.
OR MEAS 75	NO	NO	NO	NO	E.M.O.: NO
	ALLOWS MULTNOMAH COUNTY CASINO: There is no reason Multnomah County should be exempt from the non-tribal casino ban. Worse, the state government (not our county) receives a portion of revenue.
OR MEAS 76	YES	NO	YES	YES	E.M.O./LWV YES		YES	YES
	CONTINUES TO DEDICATE 15% OF LOTTERY PROCEEDS TO PARKS, BEACHES, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND WATERSHED PROTECTION: Yes, it seems appropriate to me to lock-up funds from an essentially recreational activity for the benefit of the environment.
	ME ↓	WILLA- METTE WEEK ↓	OREGON- IAN ↓	PTLD MERC ↓	OTHERS ↓
LOCAL MEASURES
MULTCO 26-109	YES	YES	YES	NO	BOJACK: NO
	REPEAL TERM LIMITS: Term limits don't work (see: state legislature). Also, county commissioner is such an unknown office that it is unlikely an incumbent would become politically unbeatable.
MULTCO 26-110	NO	NO	YES	YES	BOJACK: NO
	ALLOW COUNTY COMMISSION TO RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE: The county's critical problems are too important to have part-time commissioners campaigning for other offices.
MULTCO 26-111	YES	YES	YES	YES
	SALARY COMMISSION TO SET SHERIFF'S AND D.A.'S SALARIES: Shifts salary-setting from county board to a salary commission appointed by the county auditor.
MULTCO 26-112	YES	YES	YES	YES	BOJACK: YES
	RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR COMMISSIONERS: Fixes current loophole that allows commissioners to move out of county.
MULTCO 26-113	YES	YES	YES	YES	BOJACK: NO
	LIMIT COUNTY ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCY TO MAY AND NOVEMBER: Fixes the current law that would potentially force the county to hold a costly ($400k) and rare March or September election (wweek.com).
MULTCO 26-114	YES	YES	YES	YES	TRIB: YES BOJACK: NO
	ALLOW FORMATION OF A LIBRARY DISTRICT: Seems like a routine change. It makes sense for the library system to eventually become separate from the county.
MULTCO 26-118	YES	YES	YES	YES	TRIB: YES BOJACK: NO
	FIVE-YEAR 0.005% TAX FOR OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Certainly a worthy cause, but it is unfair that county residents should subsidize a state non-profit. I changed my mind after reading the measure will provide FREE ADMISSION to Multnomah County residents. That seems like a reasonable offer (the "Oregon" Zoo and other locally-subsidized attractions should consider rewarding local residents).
PTLD 26-108	NO	YES	NO	YES	E.M.O.: YES BOJACK: NO
	PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING: A nice idea, but the City's inept plan has turned into an embarrassing cash give-away. In five years and $1.7 MILLION, the plan has only produced one elected official (not counting the plan's brazen designer). I would support a public campaign financing plan that had more effective safeguards to the public's cash (i.e. limit funds, adhere to City's purchasing rules, etc.). Unbelievably, instead of fixing and fine-tuning the current experiment for the greater public financing movement, proponents instead defend the fraud and waste as well worth the enormous cost.
PTLD 26-117	NO	NO	NO	YES	BOJACK/TRIB: NO
	0.009-0.014%* TAX FOR FIRE TRUCK & RADIO UPGRADES: Certainly a worthy cause, but the City should have budgeted for these normal upgrades. This is merely a City scare tactic of putting vital items to a vote while quietly approving discretionary items like the new, unneeded fire yacht, consultants, etc., etc. *(wweek.com)
TRIMET 26-119	NO	YES	NO	YES	TRIB: YES BOJACK: NO
	21-YEAR 0.008%* TAX FOR SENIOR/DISABLED BUS UPGRADES: I changed my mind and decided to vote against this tax. It's a worthy cause, but TriMet should be able to cover this cost in its normal budget. TriMet has put rail expansion before the needs of the disabled and elderly. *(lwvpdx.org)

Here are the endorsements I've found so far. I was a little surprised and disappointed that Just Out did not issue any endorsements due to lack of staffing. Also, I can't find Portland Mercury's list either.

UPDATE: I'm surprised the alternative alternative-weekly, The Merc, opposes Measure 74 (marijuana dispensaries) supposedly because the quality safeguards and criminal background requirements may not be strict enough. Their fuzzy headed reasoning doesn't make sense. The current grow-your-own or get-a-'dealer' system certainly lacks any sufficient rules and regulations. Measure 74 would at least give patients an alternative to becoming pot farmers or finding a suspicious unpaid grower. I cynically suspect The Merc really fears this law will eventually lead to the demise of the current murky grow-your-own/black-market system which benefits recreational users' access.