Average may be OK in Oregon. Just not here.

[May 23rd, 2007] She-a culpa : State Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), a front runner for whatever statewide office interests her, has stumbled on a controversial bill that would limit development in the Metolius River basin. Johnson has acknowledged a potential conflict on Senate Bill 30, which would increase the value of land she owns in the central Oregon basin. But she says she only learned this week that the Elizabeth Johnson who's the plaintiff on an appeal to the state Land Use Board of Appeals is herself and not her mother, who died Jan. 1. "This was a pretty material thing for me to screw up," Johnson tells Murmurs. "But there was no attempt to hide the ball. I genuinely believed it was my mother's name, not mine."

Election Night Surprise : Portland Development Commission Chairman Mark Rosenbaum showing up at the same party as Mayor Tom Potter, and the two talking amicably. Rosenbaum's cameo shocked many because Potter and Rosenbaum opposed each other on one of the changes OK'd by Portland voters—giving City Council more control of the PDC's budget. Potter and Rosenbaum reject any talk of a falling-out, saying they "agreed to disagree'' on the measure Potter supported. But Murmurs expects Potter's past lack of protection for Rosenbaum when he's been berated at City Council will prompt the PDC chair to start lashing back at Commissioner Randy Leonard and other critics.

Shilo Inns owner Mark Hemstreet and Republican political strategist Gregg Clapper are madder than wounded bull elks. They filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit last week, accusing three Oregon State troopers of "malicious prosecution" for a four-year-long probe into elk hunting at Hemstreet's Wallowa County ranch . A judge threw out most of the case against Hemstreet last year and cleared Clapper of all charges in January. The suit seeks restitution of legal fees and unspecified damages. An Oregon State Police spokesman said he was unaware of the lawsuit.

Hey buddy, can you spare an executive office ? Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Treasurer Randall Edwards and Secretary of State Bill Bradbury face eviction if a proposed Capitol renovation proceeds. The wings housing legislators and legislative staff would be closed for fix-up if lawmakers can find the money for seismic and other upgrades. Statewide electeds like the guv are legislative tenants. And a May 4 letter from Legislative Administrator Dave Henderson gave them a 90-day notice of "intent not to renew the tenant lease agreement for a major portion of your office space."

A happy ending to PGE's tax dodge (See "Pants on Fire," WW, Nov. 30, 2005). A Portland State University program honoring the late U.S. attorney for Oregon, Sid Lezak, and several other worthy nonprofits will get $1.6 million from a settlement reached last year between PGE and the Utility Reform Project. The URP had sued to recover Multnomah County taxes the utility overcharged, and the $1.6 million is money that went unclaimed by ratepayers who have left the county. For a complete list of recipient nonprofits, go to wweek.com.

Now that Portland Public Schools isn't crying poverty, Supe Vicki Phillips is moving all but one of the high-school graduation ceremonies, from the schools themselves. The district will pay $46,000 to hold the Benson, Cleveland, Grant, Lincoln and Wilson ceremonies at the Memorial Coliseum. Jefferson, Madison, Marshall and Roosevelt will be at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Franklin's seniors will parade across the school's football field, following its annual tradition.

WEB-ONLY MURMUR:

The threat of errorism remains high at Portland State University. Junior Rudy Soto, who got the most votes for student-body president in April, was recently stripped of that title by the school's student government following an eligibility dispute over a technicality. (See Rogue of the Week, May 9, 2007.) The elections board of PSU's student government on May 15 upheld a judicial board ruling that Soto's opponent is the real winner. But Soto was challenging that decision at a new judicial board meeting (does anybody have time to go to class at PSU?) after press time Tuesday night. Check WWire at wweek.com for the result.