We report. Oregon superdelegates never decide.

[May 28th, 2008]

• Global warming appears to be shaping up as the top political football for the 2009 Oregon Legislature (see “Counting Coup,” WW, Feb. 27, 2008). Lobbyist Mark Nelson , the coach for that effort (with the help of $10 million tobacco dollars) has assembled a heavyweight off-session coalition he’s calling “Oregonians for Balanced Climate Policy .” According to a recent Nelson email, the “balancers” include “metals, food processors, timber, ag, AOI [Associated Oregon Industries], ORECA [rural electric co-ops], etc.” The group has met twice and plans seven more gatherings before the Leg opens in January.

• Outgoing Portland Association of Teachers President Jeff Miller doesn’t mince words in his essay for the May 9 union newsletter, The Advocate. Trying to explain why social and economic forces outside schools shape student achievement as much as what happens inside classrooms, Miller writes, “No one is fooled by the mantra that ‘all children can learn.’ Teachers know that some children learn less well than others because of poorer health or less-secure homes. Ignoring such truths leads only to teacher cynicism and disillusion.” Marta Guembes, a Latina advocate for students, called the remarks “upsetting” and “not OK.” Miller, whose term as head of the 3,000-member union ends next month, tells Murmurs that teachers have given him positive feedback for what he wrote about classroom instruction not accounting for why some students struggle. “Everyone who thinks about this honestly knows that,” Miller says.

• A man doing 25 months in state prison for assault is seeking $6.75 million in a lawsuit against Multnomah County and a Philadelphia-based food distributor for serving food he says led to a near-fatal heart fibrillation. In a federal lawsuit, Richard Orr, 46, of Wilsonville, claims he was subjected to “criminal inhumanity” in 2007 at the county’s Inverness Jail, where he says food did not comply with the low-fat diet prescribed by his cardiologist. The lawsuit filed May 19 claims guards told him to “eat it or starve.” Christine Kirk, chief of staff at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and Aramark Foods spokeswoman Sarah Jarvis both declined to comment.

• Who paid for your junk mail? Commissioner Sam Adams’ successful mayoral campaign spent $285,800, or the equivalent of about $2.75 per vote. Opponent Sho Dozono spent $4.25 per vote. Both privately financed candidates broke their initial self-imposed spending caps of $200,000 by tens of thousands of dollars. In the race for Adams’ council seat, five out of six candidates ran with $150,000 apiece in city money. Mike Fahey, that race’s only privately financed candidate, raised a tenth of that and spent about a buck per vote to finish fifth. Fahey placed ahead of Chris Smith, who spent $11.25 in public money per vote. As an analysis by Democracy Reform Oregon shows, Portland’s public campaign-financing system did help lower the overall cost of running for office this primary. On the other hand, taxpayers picked up much of the 2008 tab.

• Portlanders this Saturday, May 31, can help out cyclone-ravaged Myanmar by attending a benefit from 5 to 7 pm at the Monkey and the Rat (131 NW 2nd Ave.). The suggested donation is $5. Find out more in the web extra story, “Cyclone Aid”.