calling them as we see them

[May 15th, 2002] WINNERS
1. While Mayor Vera Katz continues to cast about for a suitable legacy (a bronzed copy of Portland Family Entertainment's business plan, perhaps?), lame-duck City Commissioner Charlie Hales has ensured that, at least by wing-weary pigeons, he will never be forgotten. Continuing Portland's grand tradition of inexplicable public art, Hales, a progressive Democrat, leaves behind him the (unsolicited) gift of a 11-by-13-foot bronze elephant from a Chinese foundry owner he befriended while traveling for the city.

2. What was looking to be a bloody battle to succeed Hales now looks a little less fierce with the news that Sam Adams, Mayor Vera Katz's chief of staff and a powerful behind-the-scenes operator, will bow out of the September special election. Instead, he's thrown his support behind rambunctious County Commissioner Serena Cruz , thus giving her a major boost against state Rep. Randy Leonard, a blue-collar firefighter, and Josh Alpert, a less visible Hales aide.

3. Beaver believers at Oregon State University fraternities can breathe a boozy belch of relief. Thanks to the indecision of OSU administrators, 14 of the university's 22 fraternities can continue to follow their own liberal interpretation of Oregon's drinking laws. Meanwhile in Eugene, fratboys will have only until the end of the year to cry in their beers. Next school year, Animal House goes dry.

LOSERS
1. Formerly best known for being Portland's largest law firm, Stoel Rives is now more famous as the answer to the question "What do Jeff Grayson and Enron have in common?" Having already coughed up $12.5 million for its role in Grayson's mismanagement of union pension funds, Stoel Rives now finds itself in the spotlight for memos the firm produced analyzing the controversial (and possibly illegal) trading strategies of its once-prized client Enron.

2. A couple of generations of ex-kids shed a collective tear last week over the loss of former cartoon-show emcee Ramblin' Rod. Rod Anders began his local kiddies' program in 1964, delighting audiences for 30-plus years. The show eventually became a rite of passage for school-age children in Portland, who brought buttons for Rod to pin on his signature sweater. Anders was 69 years old.