Thursday, May 1, 2014

2014 Primary

RACE ME WILLAMETTE
WEEK
THE
OREGONIAN
PORTLAND
MERCURY
PORTLAND
TRIBUNE
SIERRA
CLUB
BASIC
RIGHTS OR
US SEN MERKLEY
MERKLEY
CONGER
WEHBY
US REP 3RD BLUMENAUER
OR GOV KITZHABER
RICHARDSON
KITZHABER
RICHARDSON
KITZHABER
OR REP 42ND NOSSE NOSSE NOSSE NOSSE
OR BOLI AVAKIAN AVAKIAN AVAKIAN
MULT CHAIR KAFOURY KAFOURY KAFOURY KAFOURY KAFOURY
MULT DIST 1 BAILEY BAILEY BAILEY BAILEY BAILEY BAILEY
BAILEY
WILSON
MULT AUDIT MARCH
MULT SHERIFF STATON
PTLD POS2 FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH
PTLD POS3 SALTZMAN SALTZMAN CALEB SALTZMAN SALTZMAN
PTLD AUDIT CABELLERO
METRO PREZ HUGHES HUGHES HUGHES
METRO AUDIT EVANS
PTLD WATER YES NO NO NO NO NO

THE DETAILS:

D

E

M

O

C

R

A

T

I

C





P

R

I

M

A

R

Y
MECANDIDATEENDORSEMENTS
US SENATOR
[_]Pavel Goberman A perennial candidate.
[X]Jeff Merkley INCUMBENTFormer OR House Speaker first elected to US Senate in 2008 with Obama-Dem sweep. ENDORSEMENTS:Willamette Week | The Skanner
[_]William Bryk Bizarre candidate from New York City who is simultaneous running in Alaska's and Idaho's US Senate primaries (HUFFINGTONPOST.COM).
Although now-Senator Merkley wasn't my first Democratic choice in 2008, he has followed-through on his campaign promise to seek senate filibuster reform. I concede to 2008's Democratic primary voters that Merkley was probably a better fit than Novick who I've become somewhat disenchanted with in on Portland's council.
US REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD DISTRICT
[X]Earl Blumenauer INCUMBENT
OREGON GOVERNOR
[_]Ifeanyichukwu C Diru Someone from Salem (PAMPLINMEDIA.COM).
[X]John Kitzhaber
INCUMBENT
Practically unopposed incumbent.
ENDORSEMENTS: The Oregonian | Basic Rights Oregon
I still support Kitzhaber despite Cover Oregon being a national embarrassment and his bizarre fixation on making Oregonians pay to bring job-stealing, tax-dodging Washington SUV drivers into Portland.
OREGON STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 42ND DISTRICT
[_]Don Gavitte A high school teacher endorsed by teachers unions.
[X]Rob Nosse A nurses union representative and gay rights activists. ENDORSEMENTS:Willamette Week | The Oregonian | Basic Rights Oregon
[_]Kathleen O'Brien An adoption lawyer.
[_]Teddy Keizer An environmental activist and former chair of Multnomah County Democrats. ENDORSEMENTS: Sierra Club
[_]Dan Shaw A "Game Designer; Solar Energy; Political Activist" according to his voters' guide statement.
[_]John Sweeney A perennial candidate.

I briefly spoke to Rob Nosse on our embarrassing cat-pee soaked porch when he knocked on our door one weekend morning. I wasn't willing to consider myself a supporter until I knew who else was running for this open seat. I was a little hesitant to automatically support him just because he is a partnered gay man with kids. It doesn't seem there is much else the state legislature can do to support gay rights -- the issue will be decided by either the federal courts or state voters.

From what I can tell online, it seems all of the candidates tout progressive issues. When Nosse asked me what my concerns for the state were, I was caught unprepared. Of course, jobs, wages, economy, etc., are my top concerns. But for the legislature, I'm more concerned about fixing Cover Oregon, stopping Columbia River Crossing (AKA the Vancouver SUV Bridge), and getting the bankrupt rural counties to get their acts together (without making Portlanders pay for it).

MECANDIDATEENDORSEMENTS
OREGON NON-PARTISAN
OR COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
[X]Brad Avakian INCUMBENTUnopposed incumbent seeking re-election. ENDORSEMENTS: Basic Rights Oregon | Sierra Club
OR NON-PARTISAN JUDICIARY
OR SUPREME COURT JUDGE[X]2 POSITIONS ALL UNOPPOSED INCUMBENTS
OR COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, POS. 1[X]5 POSITIONS ALL UNOPPOSED INCUMBENTS
OR TAX COURT JUDGE[X]Henry C Breithaupt INCUMBENT
OR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 4TH DIST[X]18 POSITIONSALL UNOPPOSED INCUMBENTS
MULTNOMAH COUNTY
MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR: UNEXPIRED TERM THROUGH DEC 2014
[_]Aquiles Montas Skimpy campaign website without endorsements, Republican slogan (e.g. "Restrict the growth of government"). Failed to file a voters' pamphlet statement.
[_]Steven Reynolds I couldn't find his campaign website. His voters' pamphlet statement was an assortment unlikely plans. In 2012, he ran for congress as a self-described "unemployed, disabled veteran" (KGW).
[_]James O Rowell Apparently withdrawn -- he didn't file for next term (below). I couldn't find his campaign website or voters' pamphlet statement.
[_]Patty Burkett Impressive voters' pamphlet statement, but no applicable experience. I couldn't find her campaign website, but a 2012 article described her as an "activist, mom, and psychic medium" (PORTLAND MERCURY).
[X]Deborah Kafoury "...Kafoury points to the execution of the Sellwood Bridge replacement project as her top accomplishment at the county...." -WILLAMETTE WEEK ENDORSEMENTS: Willamette Week | Portland Mercury | The Oregonian | Portland Tribune | Basic Rights Oregon | fmr County Chair Beverly Stein | County Commissioners Judy Shiprack and Loretta Smith | County Sheriff Dan Staton | OR Gov. John Kitzhaber | fmr Portland Mayor Bud Clark | Portland Business Alliance
[_]Wes Soderback A perennial candidate.
[_]Jim Francesconi YIKES: Won union endorsments "after making explicit promises that, if elected, he would work to increase union membership under county contractors—something that could violate laws preventing elected officials from actively favoring unions..." (WILLAMETTE WEEK). ENDORSEMENTS: Sierra Club | Basic Rights Oregon Green Light | The Skanner
MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR: FOUR-YEAR TERM BEGINNING JAN 2015
[_]Aquiles Montas (See above)
[_]Steven Reynolds
[_]Patty Burkett
[X]Deborah Kafoury
[_]Wes Soderback
[_]Jim Francesconi
MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1: TWO-YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM
[_]Brian Wilson A financial planner (KATU) with extensive civic volunteer experience. ENDORSEMENTS: Basic Rights Oregon Green Light | fmr County Commissioners Maria Rojo de Steffey and Barbara Willer | fmr Portland Mayor Bud Clark
[X]Jules Kopel Bailey An economist and former state Representative. ENDORSEMENTS: Willamette Week | The Oregonian | Portland Mercury | Portland Tribune | The Skanner | Basic Rights Oregon Green Light | Sierra Club | Portland Business Alliance
Jules Bailey, who was my district's state representative, has a slightly more relevant background. Brian Wilson seems like a good candidate, but I haven't seen a compelling reason to vote for him over Bailey.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY AUDITOR
[X]Steve March INCUMBENTUnopposed incumbent seeking re-election.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY SHERIFF
[X]Dan Staton INCUMBENTUnopposed incumbent seeking re-election.
CITY OF PORTLAND
PORTLAND COMMISSIONER, POSITION 2
[_]Sharon Y Maxwell General contractor.
[_]Michael W Durrow An activist.
[X]Nick Fish INCUMBENTIncumbent and former civil rights attorney. ENDORSEMENTS: Willamette Week | Portland Mercury | Portland Tribune | The Skanner | Basic Rights Oregon Green Light | Sierra Club | Portland Business Alliance
I appreciate that Nick Fish sold the infamous water house (unfortunately at a loss). And I cynically appreciate that he conveniently opposes the dubious transportation tax like the other commissioner up for re-election. I'm tempted by Maxwell's candidacy. Adding a small business owner, building contractor, and woman of color to the council would add much needed diversity to council and city government. One of the major drawbacks to Portland's quirky five city-wide elected commissioners is that there are few opportunities for candidates to build-up support and experience like what be possible in having commissioners elected by local neighborhood.
PORTLAND COMMISSIONER, POSITION 3
[_]Joe Meyer KBOO reporter. "...does not expect to raise or spend more than $750 in the race." (PORTLAND TRIBUNE)
[_]Leah Marie Dumas A 17-year Portland Community College employee. "...does not expect to raise or spend more than $750 in the race." (PORTLAND TRIBUNE)
[_]Nicholas Caleb Concordia University professor. ENDORSEMENTS: Portland Mercury | Bike Walk Vote | Socialist Alternative | Pacific Green Party | 15 Now PDX
[X]Dan Saltzman INCUMBENTFour-term incumbent ENDORSEMENTS: Willamette Week | | Portland Tribune | The Skanner | Basic Rights Oregon Green Light | Oregon League of Conservation Voters | The Skanner | The Portland Observer | Portland Business Alliance | The Portland Timbers and owner Merritt Paulson | railcar manufacturer The Greenbrier Companies | Schnitzer Steel | Governor John Kitzhaber | DNC at-large member and HRC co-founder Terry Bean | philathropist Arlene Schnitzer | Made In Oregon founder Sam Naito | The Yoshida Group founder Junki Yoshida | child education co. Knowledge Universe and CEO Tom Wyatt | developer and fmr mayor candidate Bob Ball | developer Homer Williams | insurance agency Bolliger and Sons | Umpqua Bank | real estate firms: Melvin Mark Companies, Income Property Management, Venerable Group |

I respect that Dan Saltzman has stayed on the council for so long and seems to genuinely motivated in improving the city and its government. I also appreciate that, like the other commissioner up for re-election, he has come-out against the proposed transportation tax.

Of the three challengers, Nicholas Caleb has the most organized campaign online. He proposes a lot of big ideas (e.g. $15 minimum wage, rent controls, stop gentrification, stop police brutality, teacher reform, etc.) that seem unlikely. I was surprised he supports an effort remove the city's management of the water bureau, but realized that he supports a third group that failed to get its initiative on the ballot. It's unclear whether he supports the current water initiative that he shares the ballot with.

PORTLAND AUDITOR
[X]Mary Hull CabelleroUnopposed Metro Performance Auditor, former ODOT Performance Auditor, and former reporter.
ENDORSEMENTS: fmr City Auditors Gary Blackmer & Jewel Lansing | Working Families Party of Oregon | Portland Business Alliance
METRO
METRO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[X]Tom Hughes INCUMBENTIncumbent, former Hillsboro Mayor, and former high school teacher. ENDORSEMENTS: Willamette Week | The Oregonian | 3 of 6 Metro Councilors Kathryn Harrington (Dist 5. ~N. Washington Co.), Bob Stacey (Dist. 6 ~NE/SE/SW Ptld), Sam Chase (Dist. 5 ~NW/N/SW/NE Ptld), fmr Gov Barbara Roberts, fmr OR State Rep. Jules Bailey | Portland Business Alliance
[_]Jeremiah William Johnson Bottling company Admin Asst., Community Organizer
METRO AUDITOR
[X]Brian Evans Unopposed auditor. ENDORSEMENTS: Metro Auditor Suzanne Flynn, OR Dir of Audits Gary Blackmer, MultCo Auditor Steve March | Portland Business Alliance
CITY OF PORTLAND
PORTLAND MEASURE 26-156: Amends Charter: Creates water and sewer district with elected board.
[X]YesWater District will end City of Portland practice of raising rates for councilors pet projects. SUPPORTERS: Taxpayers Assoc. of OR
[_]No District would not lower rates and is poorly designed. OPPONENTS: Willamette Week | Portland Mercury | The Oregonian | Portland Tribune | League of Women Voters | City Club | Audubon Society | Sierra Club | Democratic Party of MultCo | Green Party | OR Progressive Party | Portland Mayor and all four Commissioners
Yep, I'm letting my secret anti-government side show. While much of the increase in the city's water and sewer rates is due to the huge big dig sewer project, it is obvious that the current and past mayors and commissioners have improperly managed the city utilities and continue to use ratepayers' bills to fund pet projects. Sure, the current initiative has several flaws and is far from perfect; however, I believe it is more important for voters to take action now instead of waiting for the perfect initiative to come along. After all, voters can revise the charter again if the current initiative is unworkable.