Campaign Notebook

[January 16th, 2008]

THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY: “There are some dark theories about why a person who represents the business community would seek public financing,” says Commissioner Randy Leonard , who supports Commissioner Sam Adams for mayor. Leonard is referring to Azumano Travel exec Sho Dozono , who is seeking public financing for his mayoral bid.

Here’s one way big money could theoretically exploit the system: Imagine a wealthy Dozono supporter independently spending $1 million to mail pro-Adams fliers to Portland’s 75,000-odd Republicans. That would do jack for Adams, with his liberal base, but it would be great for Dozono.

Why? Because such independent expenditures could trigger a matching provision in the public financing system, and entitle Dozono to an additional $500,000 for the general election. In that event, Adams—who isn’t taking public financing but has conditionally promised to cap his spending—would be forced to raise more private funds to keep up.

“That’s devious,” says Commissioner Erik Sten , who helped design Portland’s publicly financed elections. “Let’s cross that bridge when it comes.” The Citizen Campaign Commission is drafting new independent expenditure rules. For the record, there’s no evidence either mayoral campaign is plotting such tricks.

STENNING THE TIDE: As first reported on wweek.com, Sten’s chief of staff, Jim Middaugh , will seek to replace his boss. Additional candidates, besides the previously reported Brendan Finn , Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s chief of staff, and two-time candidate Nick Fish , are consultant Harold Williams Two , psychotherapist Ed Garren and economic policy analyst Nick Popenuk .

DESTROY MY SWEATER : The Jan. 11 Portland Tribune had a cover shot of Dozono—in a weird peyote-trip sweater—gathering $5 contributions at Woodstock Wine&Deli, a favorite hangout of Mayor Tom Potter . Potter hasn’t endorsed Dozono (yet), though the mayor’s wife, Karin Hansen , has. Maybe that will change if Dozono keeps hanging around the bar.

CARE TO DONATE? : Namibia, where most people live on less than $1 a day, isn’t the place to go hunting for $5 campaign contributions.

But that’s where former Peace Corps volunteer Charles Lewis was last week, when his council campaign passed the 1,000-signature threshold to qualify for public financing. He was building a well. “It’s very hot,” Lewis said.