Go
to Measures
Jump
to a specific candidate or division
We're disgusted. And we're delighted.
We're disgusted by the odor coming from Volume 1 of the
Voters' Pamphlet two-pack. That's the one dealing with ballot
measures. Do you smell it too? It's the stench of Oregon's
initiative system in the early stages of decay.
Over the years, this paper has been a strong defender of
Oregon's dance with direct democracy. We still are, but
this election tested our allegiance.
We've spent the past seven weeks listening to friends and
foes of 31 state and local ballot measures. Never before
have we met so many people who've cluttered up the ballot
to take on problems that don't seem to exist:
--Taxpayers oppressed by out-of-control fee hikes? We didn't
see them.
--Innocent victims of power-hungry drug cops who've seized
and sold their homes? Non-existent.
--The legions of union members upset about payroll deductions
spent on politics? Ghosts in Sizemore's closet.
--Legislators so addicted to tax dollars that they're outspending
state resources? A myth of McIntire.
--Parents of kids who've been brainwashed by the public-school
teachers' pro-gay propaganda? Only in Lon's dreams.
We suggest that you wait until Halloween to mail in your
ballot, to pay tribute to all the political phantoms that
need to be buried.
There was a time, not that long ago, when the fall election
season brought spirited debates over real issues: bear-baiting,
nuclear safety, rising property taxes, adoptee rights, streamside
protection, assisted suicide and wasteful packaging. We
didn't always agree with the proposed remedies, but at least
there was substance to the debate.
This year, with a couple of notable exceptions, it's a
ballot stuffed full of solutions in search of problems.
The mugging of the initiative process, in part, reflects
a lack of leadership in Salem. Which brings us to our second
sentiment.
We're delighted.
That's because this is the best crop of candidates we've
seen in a long time. From Earl Blumenauer and David Wu,
our two up-and-coming metro-area congressmen, to Paul DeMuniz,
a near-perfect fit for the state Supreme Court, the ballot
is crammed full of bright, hard-working folks who are trying
to make this state even better.
But we're most excited by the legislative candidates. Incumbent
lawmakers, from right-wingers like Bruce Starr and Karen
Minnis to bleeding hearts like Jeff Merkley and Kate Brown,
seem eager to get past the divisive partisanship that has
soured the public. And, thanks to a variety of factors,
some of the most disruptive members of the state Legislature--like
Rep. Ron Sunseri and Sens. Thomas Wilde, Marylin Shannon
and (voters willing) Eileen Qutub--won't be back. Hoping
to take their place are newcomers, like Steve March, Jan
Lee, Mary Nolan and Carolyn Tomei, who could provide a much-needed
breath of fresh air to the political process.
FEDERAL
CANDIDATES
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Al Gore
DEMOCRAT
Have you really not made up your mind yet? Frankly, we
find it a bit hard to believe. But for those of you in that
category of undecideds, listen up. Get over the fact that
everyone who runs for president is flawed. Yes, Al Gore
has the warmth of a hubcap and has been singed by fund-raising
shenanigans. Yes, George W. Bush is walking evidence that
genetics and good schooling are no match for intellect.
But that's no reason to approach this election with cynicism.
There is a choice to be made. And its not just between Tweedledum
and Tweedledee.
It's easy to be charmed by George Bush. It's also easy
to see that a Bush presidency would pursue an agenda that
directly contradicts the values this newspaper and this
state have long held dear. The Texas governor's environmental
record is laughable. His position on choice is worrisome.
His inexperience in foreign affairs is frightening. His
opposition to meaningful campaign-finance reform is indefensible.
If you believe Al Gore on no other issue, believe this:
George W's tax relief is as regressive as the vice president
claims.
The vice president, for his part, has an environmental
record that is among the most impressive of any presidential
candidate--ever. His committment to civil rights is unquestioned.
And as one of the budget hawks in the Clinton administration,
he simply cannot be tagged as a liberal who never saw a
program he wouldn't fund. Gore is no John Muir, and he is
no Ghandi. But that's not what national politics in the
year 2000 is about.
Of course, for many of you undecideds, the choice is less
between Gore and Bush than between Al and Ralph. We understand.
Four years ago, we endorsed Ralph Nader, partly out of our
growing disgust for Clinton. It was also, as we said at
the time, a safe way to lodge a protest, as Clinton was
on his way to a certain victory.
Four years later, it's a different story. This is the closest
presidential election in decades.
There are Nader supporters who say there is no difference
between Bush and Gore. To them we say: Get real. Just think
about what's going on in the Middle East right now--which
do you want running our
foreign policy?
There are Nader supporters who think that a Bush presidency
will be so heinous it will reenergize the left. To them
we say: Wake up. History suggests such a strategy has never
worked.
In Oregon, one of the few swing states left in America,
your vote will make a huge difference. Make it count.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1ST DISTRICT
David Wu
DEMOCRAT
Last year, as a freshman congressman from a marginal district,
David Wu made a remarkable stand of conscience: Despite
enormous pressure from powerful interests in his district,
he led opposition to normalizing trade relations with China.
Although Wu's effort to promote human rights over "cash-register
engagement" ultimately failed, the prospect of America's
only Chinese-American congressman defying the Chinese government
was a powerful symbol of what's right with American politics
and a telling example of Wu's independence. "Once you realize
that the worst that can happen is that you get tossed out
of office, you have a lot of freedom," he told WW
shortly before the vote.
Wu's stand has cost him support from towering Silicon Forest
giants such as Intel, but it certainly won him our admiration,
and our endorsement. He is perhaps the best example of a
politician who stood up to corporate interests in the name
of freedom for oppressed workers overseas--we wish we saw
it
more often.
Wu's Republican challenger, state Sen. Charles Starr, a
former school teacher, gentleman farmer and roofer, is a
starchy, principled conservative with a courtly manner and
a piercing gaze. But Starr's shopworn shibboleths--cutting
taxes, privatizing Social Security, overturning Roe vs.
Wade--and lackluster record in Salem hardly make a convincing
argument for pitching Wu.
The Libertarian candidate, Beth King, has staked out the
classic Libertarian platform: cut taxes, legalize drugs,
support abortion, and get your hands off my guns--but she
demonstrates a troubling vagueness when confronted with
the nitty-gritty. Asked how she would apply her philosophy
to specific issues, her response was: "OK, specific issues,
oh, let me think of some specific issues." We remain unconvinced.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
3RD DISTRICT
Earl Blumenauer
DEMOCRAT
Earl Blumenauer is as constant and predictable as the wet
chill that passes through Portland this time of year. He
wears a bow tie, bicycles to Capitol Hill, is obsessed with
better living through urban planning--and is about as cuddly
as a Pioneer Courthouse Square brick. But you can be that
way when your seat is as safely Democrat as any this side
of San Francisco. That's not to say Congressman Bow Tie
hasn't done much to earn our endorsement.
Over the past four years, this former state rep, county
commissioner and city commissioner has slowly figured out
the congressional maze and branched out from his incrementalist
agenda. He brought home, for example, $40 million in federal
funds for the Interstate MAX and, recently, pulled down
another $40 million for estuaries in the lower Columbia
River and Tillamook Bay.
Blumenauer is one of the few house Democrats on whom no
one can hang the "spendocrat" label; he's fiscally conservative
and, if the Dems capture the House, likely to end up on
the Ways and Means Committee, which gives birth to federal
spending.
His opponents are a motley crew, each relying on little
more than empty rhetoric to assail the incumbent. While
we can easily dispense with Republican Jeffery Pollock's
"government as business" pablum, we almost admire Pacific
Green Tre Arrow's ability to come down off his ledge and
run for office. If the bare-footed one had something more
encompassing than saving old-growth forests and a vague
suspicion of all elected representatives to run on, he might
be a real alternative.
This time out, we'll remain thoroughly predictable and
endorse Blumenauer for his third full term in the House
of Representatives
STATEWIDE
SECRETARY OF STATE
Bill Bradbury
DEMOCRAT
The secretary of state is Oregon's top multi-tasker--overseeing
elections, auditing state agencies and helping manage state
lands. We know women are supposed to be better at juggling
jobs, but there's no way we can endorse Lynn Snodgrass.
In fact, the Republican House Speaker is so ill-suited for
this important job that she finishes a distant third on
our scorecard.
Beyond her partisanship, beyond her poor management skills,
beyond her unpreparedness for the job, our biggest problem
with Snodgrass is that she's little more than a talking
doll. Pull her string and she'll say, "Government waste."
Pull it again: "Accountability." One more time: "I'm a fiscal
conservative."
She's clearly spent the last six months working on slogans
rather than doing her homework. During her campaign, Snodgrass
has failed to give a single example of government waste
that was turned up using the secretary of state's audit
function. Nor can she provide even the broadest example
of where she would take a stand on the state land board.
For us, this race came down to a choice between Democrat
Bill Bradbury, a proven, progressive insider, and Pacific
Green Party activist Lloyd Marbet, a feisty, bright outsider.
Marbet is by far the best third-party candidate on Oregon's
ballot (and we include Ralph Nader on that list). A master
of Oregon's initiative system, he knows the state's elections
process. His background in environmental activism would
shake things up on the state lands board. And if he went
after wasteful public agencies with the tenacity he's used
to attack private utilities, the state auditors would be
very busy.
Finally, we applaud his serious candidacy, which should
serve as a model for his fellow Greens. One of the most
moving moments of Campaign 2000 was when Marbet got a standing
ovation in the Memorial Coliseum during the Nader rally
in August.
We'd be tempted to back Marbet, if not for Bradbury's strong
qualifications.
Since Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed Bradbury last November
to replace Phil Keisling, he has proven more than up to
the job. In his role as Oregon's top elections officer,
for example, he's stumped around the state giving school
kids a powerful presentation to show them that when they
don't vote, the minority rules.
Bradbury will do well on the state land board. Bradbury
was the president of For the Sake of the Salmon before taking
the SOS job, and he's in synch with the governor's ideas
for managing state lands. As a former state senator representing
the rural south coast, he understands how decisions in Salem
affect people on the ground.
As auditor, Bradbury has already found rampant abuse in
the state lottery agency.
But if you need one single reason to keep Bradbury in office,
consider this: Every 10 years, the secretary of state gets
stuck with redrawing legislative districts after partisan
gridlock prevents the Legislature from doing the job. As
Senate president, Bradbury earned the respect of Republicans
for treating them fairly. On the other hand, as House Speaker,
Snodgrass presided over one of the most partisan sessions
in decades.
STATE TREASURER
Randall Edwards
DEMOCRAT
If Dr. Frankenstein worked in Salem, we'd ask him to do
some cutting and pasting with the candidates for state treasurer.
We'd start with the brains and poise of Mitch Shults, the
Libertarian candidate from Intel. Then we'd extract Republican
Jon Kvistad's sense of humor. After steadying his hand with
a shot of Jägermeister, we'd ask Franky to graft these
qualities onto Randall Edwards, a Democrat bubbling over
with energy and ideas but lacking some of the maturity desirable
in the state's highest financial post.
Oregon's treasurer serves as the state's banker. He (and
for 157 years it's always been a "he") manages $50 billion
in retirement and other funds; he also manages the state's
debt and, along with the governor and secretary of state,
Oregon's public lands.
Shults may be the brightest candidate in the running to
succeed incumbent Jim Hill. A former accountant who helped
build a large systems-development company before joining
Intel, he offers impressive experience. But Shults, a former
Republican, falls into the shortsighted thinking typical
of his new Libertarian creed. He favors selling state lands
and privatizing every government function. His endorsement
of measures 8 and 91 raise further questions about whether
he's simply a me-firster with no interest in funding essential
services.
After three lackluster terms as a Metro councilor and a
failed congressional bid, Kvistad is running a campaign
based almost entirely on trash-talking Edwards. He's vague
about his reasons for seeking the state's third-highest
post and short on relevant experience (he cites Metro's
oversight of the Expo Center and Oregon Zoo as examples
of his financial skills). More troubling is that colleagues
say he's often disruptive and difficult to work with.
Edwards is also unloved by his peers. His campaign reported
more contributions from Republican state legislators than
Democrats. On the campaign trail, he rises to Kvistad's
baiting with Pavlovian predictability.
Despite these shortcomings, Edwards remains the best candidate.
In his two House terms, he led the charge for K-12 funding,
backed legislation that lowered school districts' borrowing
costs and established a college savings program.
Even his detractors admit he's smart and experienced; he
spent four years at the treasury as an aide
to Hill.
In the absence of a Frankensteinian hybrid, Edwards is
the candidate who best combines an understanding of the
treasury with a track record and a desire to enhance the
treasurer's role. We hope he'll grow into the job.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Hardy Myers
If this were a contest for the president of the debate
team or the chairman of the pep squad, Kevin Mannix would
get our vote.
But this is an election to decide who should be the state's
top law-enforcement official, overseeing 190 lawyers and
900 other employees of the state Department of Justice.
It's a post that could use some of Mannix's high-octane
energy, but mainly it's a job where state law must be enforced
impartially. And under that test, incumbent Hardy Myers
comes out on top.
Myers, 60, who served 10 years in the Legislature before
taking this job, has performed effectively, albeit without
the fireworks that might have made his re-election bid easier.
He supports his lawyers and lets them enforce the law, rather
than overriding them for political purposes.
Mannix, meanwhile, is a politician who happens to be a
lawyer. His shoot-from-the-lip style of problem solving
and his boundless energy have made him a talented and productive
legislator. But his cavalier attitude--typical of some legislators--could
not be less suited to an office where you're supposed to
follow the law, rather than your political instincts.
Both candidates, for example, have stated their personal
opposition to doctor-assisted suicide. Myers has made clear
that under him, the Department of Justice will enforce the
law. Mannix has said his personal objection to legal suicide
would make it difficult for him to do so.
Mannix has gotten a good deal of mileage promoting himself
as the brains behind Measure 11, the initiative that created
mandatory minimum sentences for a number of violent crimes
in Oregon. And his television ads freely paint him as an
Eliot Ness-type crime fighter while portraying Myers as
a wimp on violent-crime issues. This is misleading, as the
attorney general has little to do with battling violent
crime.
Our only hesitation in endorsing Myers is his less-than-vigorous
fulfillment of the consumer-protection role of his office.
But this is a small concern compared with the idea of a
cowboy like Kevin Mannix serving as Oregon's chief lawyer.
SUPREME COURT
Paul DeMuniz
This choice is among the easiest this election. Paul DeMuniz
is one of the most qualified candidates we've seen for Oregon's
highest court in quite some time. One of the most prolific
judges on Oregon's Court of Appeals, DeMuniz has a reputation
as smart, hard-working and judicial in temperament.
Raised in Northeast Portland, DeMuniz served in the Air
Force in Vietnam, then threw freight on Swan Island while
working his way through PSU. He graduated from Willamette
University and represented low-income defendants and death-row
appeals. Gov. Neil Goldschmidt appointed him to Oregon's
appeals court
in 1990.
DeMuniz has the support of judges, legal groups and, as
far as we can tell, every single newspaper in the state.
In addition, last April the Oregon State Bar polled lawyers
and found that DeMuniz was preferred over his opponent Greg
Byrne by a margin of 15 to 1.
Byrne is a Portland lawyer whose campaign has been fueled
by TV ads financed by, among others, Loren Parks, the millionaire
who made part of his fortune manufacturing a penile plethysmograph.
Among Byrne's clients has been Bill Sizemore.
Byrne is running as a conservative who would balance what
he views as a liberal state Supreme Court. It's not his
politics that bother us, however, but his lack of experience
as a judge and his temperament, demonstrated by his willingness
to comment on legal issues and specific cases that could
come before the state Supreme Court. Normally, we expect
challengers to state how they would vote on key issues,
but this is one race where candidates should show restraint.
DeMuniz stood high above a large field in the primary.
In this run-off, the gulf between him and his remaining
challenger is even greater.
COUNTY
MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSION
DISTRICT 4
Frank Shields
During the May primary, we gave Frank Shields such a tepid
endorsement for the open County Commission post that you
could have floated an iceberg in it. We'd been frustrated
by his role in the battle over a homeless feeding program
at Sunnyside Methodist Church, where he used to be pastor.
We were also nonplused by the Democratic state senator's
1999 legislative performance, in which his key bill banning
auto title loans didn't clear the Senate.
But we're in more of a giving mood these days. Shields
admits that he screwed up at Sunnyside. And prior to his
rookie year in the Senate, he'd had a solid string of sessions
in the House, where he was an impassioned advocate for kids,
senior citizens and the poor.
That's why we're endorsing the progressive pastor to replace
the termed-out Sharron Kelley for this district, which stretches
from 122nd Avenue to the Bonneville Dam.
Besides, he's running against former state Rep. Lonnie
Roberts, whose nine terms representing east county in Salem
established that he'd make a fine lobbyist for the trucking
industry. In WW's biennial ratings of metro lawmakers,
you could always count on Lonnie to be sitting contentedly
in the basement.
Now, they both want to step up to the Multnomah County
Commission. You know the county: It's that ignored $900
million-a-year behemoth that administers the local jails,
parole and probation, as well as a host of social-service
programs.
It's a key election for District 4 residents, furious with
the remainder of the county commissioners who seem to travel
east of 122nd Street only when flying eastbound out of PDX.
Each candidate promises to ensure that attention is paid
to east county's needs.
Roberts argues that Shields can't possibly serve east county
because he only recently moved into the district (into a
house he owned but had rented out) from his previous residence
a half-mile away.
While we're not thrilled with Shields' politically expedient
change of address, we're even less thrilled with Roberts'
track record on issues that are central to the commission.
Consider three votes from their legislative careers. Shields
supported efforts to require employers to participate in
the Oregon Health Plan. Shields supported legislation to
guarantee farmworkers the right to organize. Shields supported
the state's family leave bill, which guarantees workers
unpaid leave to care for newborns and ailing family members.
All three issues are along the lines of what a county commissioner
deals with each day.
Lonnie Roberts opposed each bill.
If east county residents want a commissioner who'll be
able to get his colleagues to listen, Shields is far better
suited, in temperament and politics, to negotiate with the
People's Republic of Multnomah.
STATE
SENATE
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 4
TIGARD, KING CITY, RALEIGH HILLS,
BITS O' BEAVERTON
Ryan Deckert
DEMOCRAT
It is time to retire Eileen Qutub from the Oregon Legislature.
For three sessions we have disagreed with just about everything
the senator has done in Salem, from her effort to make abortions
inaccessible to her attack on the Oregon Health Plan.
It's not her voting record, however, that prompts us to
call for her ouster. In the pages that follow we've endorsed
several lawmakers who don't match up with
us on key issues. But they all have something Qutub doesn't:
a respect for the process.
We've been appalled at Qutub's methods. She misleads other
lawmakers and her constituents, berates witnesses, attacks
those who don't agree with her and, as both legislator and
candidate, has played fast and loose with the facts.
In 1997, for example, Qutub led the fight to repeal the
state's physician-assisted suicide law, citing a report
from the Netherlands that depicted slow, gruesome deaths
from a similar law in that country. It was later discovered
she had not read the report and had grossly mischaracterized
the findings.
That same year, her venomous opposition to Michael Powell's
reappointment to the Port of Portland Commission took a
normally routine vote and made it a partisan bomb.
Last summer, she voted against the gun-show bill. This
fall she's campaigning as a gun-safety advocate. Last session,
she tried to lowball K-12 funding. Now she's a pro-education
candidate.
Going into this campaign, we knew Qutub's poor reputation
in Salem. We soon learned that she's also alienated her
constituents in the suburbs. In the past several weeks we've
talked to parents and school board members--even the Washington
County Sheriff--who say they've been unable to meet with
her to talk about key issues. We're left to conclude that
Eileen Qutub views her job as representing just one person--herself.
Voters in the district deserve a better voice in Salem--and
they've got one.
State Rep. Ryan Deckert is the Democrat who is trying to
unseat Qutub. His background is in program development,
both at ARC and with an education program tied to Hewlett-Packard.
He is a much better fit, both philosophically and stylistically,
for the westside suburbs. It's true that he hasn't always
shown bold leadership in his two House terms, but he has
managed to carve out some niches that show a broad range
of interest. He put through a bill to crack down on direct-mail
sweepstakes scams and did the heavy lifting for the house
Democrats on the energy restructuring and telecommunications
deregulation bills. He also worked to form the state Internet
Commission and will represent the district's strong interest
in high tech.
Most important, Deckert has earned a reputation for listening
to voters and putting their concerns before rigid ideology.
That will be a good change both for this district and for
the state.
Say good night, Eileen.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 7
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Kate Brown
DEMOCRAT
For five sessions--three in the House and two in the Senate--Kate
Brown has set the standard for lawmaking in Salem. The former
family-law attorney is smart, compassionate and political
enough to get things done but real enough to be trusted.
Last session, as Senate minority leader, she was up against
Republican leaders who refused to show their budget numbers
until the last minute.
Still, she pushed through a women's health-care bill that
extends insurance coverage of preventive health-care screenings,
such as mammograms, and made it legal to breastfeed in public.
On the Senate judiciary committee, she often quelled the
outbursts of GOP Sen. Eileen Qutub.
This year, Brown is leading the Senate Democrats to their
most successful election in a session, pushing to raise
$800,000 and take back the Senate. If successful, she would
be the next Senate president.
Her opponent, Charley Nims, is a pleasant punk-rock bass
player running in hopes of keeping the Socialists' official
minority-party status.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 8
NORTH/NORTHEAST PORTLAND
Margaret L. Carter
DEMOCRAT
The term-limit pit bulls will snarl, but after watching
the freshman-dominated free-for-all of the '99 Legislature,
we're backing a veteran in this race.
Margaret Carter, who's getting good reviews as the new
president of the Urban League, was elected to the state
House back when Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House (actually,
it was Ronald Reagan) and served admirably until term limits
forced her out in 1997. She was known for looking out for
her Northeast Portland constituents while forging alliances
with the rural folks. We expect she'd continue that in the
Senate.
Her opponent, Pacific Green Party candidate Whitney Smith,
an asbestos remover, is one of the few candidates with a
specific plan that outlines tax relief for low-income people,
and we're glad to see him involved in politics.
Carter says she's taking his campaign seriously, although
she didn't even file a Voters' Pamphlet statement. Still,
her experience outweighs that oversight.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 10
NORTH PORTLAND
Avel Louise Gordly
DEMOCRAT
Avel Gordly has been called the conscience of the Senate.
We're relieved that after five sessions, she hasn't given
up on the system.
Last session's GOP-fest was a tough one for an urban liberal,
but Gordly handled it well. As a member of the minority
party, she couldn't push forth much, but she forged an alliance
with eastside Sen. Ted Ferrioli and the two made a show
of the senator delivering timber to be used to build low-income
housing in her district.
We predict the next session will be more satisfying. The
budget, as always, will rule, but there's a growing coalition
of sharp, experienced women in the Senate driven to battle
for social justice: Portland Democrats Kate Brown, Ginny
Burdick and Gordly will be joined by Margaret Carter. Eugene's
Susan Castillo and Astoria's Joan Dukes round out a lineup
that will be tough to ignore.
Gordly's opponent, Roy Burkett, is a pastor and hearing-aid
consultant running on the Constitution Party ticket. He
advocates small government, home-schooling and privatizing
social services.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 11
GRESHAM
Chris Gorsek
DEMOCRAT
The question in this race is, "Which John Minnis is running
for the state Senate?"
Minnis, a homicide detective for the Portland Police Bureau,
had a roller-coaster tenure in the state House, ending up
where he started--down in the dumps.
During his first several sessions he was arrogant, homophobic
and childish.
Then, after Republicans took control, he stopped whining
and started working. In WW's biannual survey on lawmakers,
the Republican rep went from awful to very good to excellent--largely
because of his solid work on the budget committee. In 1993,
he emerged as the unlikely champion of social services,
a cop who understood that keeping toddlers out of poverty
is often the best way to keep juveniles out of jail. He
won high marks for being fair and straightforward. There
were whispers about a bid for Speaker.
Unfortunately for Minnis, Bev Clarno got the job, and after
he led an ill-fated challenge, she stripped him of his commmittee
powers. He spent the rest of his final two sessions sulking.
His ratings dropped to average.
If we could be guaranteed to get the John Minnis of 1993,
we'd endorse him (as we did in 1994 and 1996). But a couple
of factors prevent us from doing that.
First, Minnis is unwilling to consider needed changes to
Oregon's mandatory minimum sentencing law. Gov. John Kitzhaber
has said he will make this a priority in the 2001 session,
and Minnis' blind adherence to such a flawed law would be
a major obstacle.
Second, Minnis' Democratic opponent is a good match for
this East County district. Like Minnis, Gorsek has spent
time on the Portland police force (from 1980 to 1987); he
now teaches criminal justice and geography at Mount Hood
Community College. He has an obvious passion for social
justice and was one of the few candidates we met who pointed
out the high poverty level in the state, particularly among
Latinos.
In addition to his inexperience, we're a bit worried by
Gorsek's thin skin. During our endorsement session he let
Minnis get to him and flew off the handle in a way that
was, well, Minnisish. But, in the end, given his expertise
in geography, we think he can find his way around Salem.
STATE
HOUSE
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 3
RURAL WASHINGTON COUNTY
Bruce Starr
REPUBLICAN
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
--Matthew 7:1
Clearly Matthew didn't work on an editorial board. Endorsement
interviews are in fact Judgment Day, when we have the audacity
to proclaim who is and who isn't fit for public office.
Sometimes we bloweth it.
Such was the case two years ago, when we trashed Bruce
Starr based on his right-wing rhetoric and his father's
abysmal performance representing this largely rural district
(Charles Starr, now a state senator, is running for Congress;
see page 31). Starr the younger proved to be just as conservative
as we predicted--he got a 95 percent rating from the Christian
Coalition--but far more effective than his dad. He was a
key player within the GOP caucus in the fight for more money
for schools and was willing to tick off some of the Christian
Coalition crowd by working on a bill to ensure that believers
in faith healing don't endanger the lives of their children.
On top of that, he had enough guts to walk through our door
and make the case for his endorsement.
He's got it.
Democrat Cathy Lamb-Mullin would provide a far more progressive
vote for the environment and civil liberties. But we get
the impression this is a trial run. When asked what she'd
focus on if elected, she replied, "It's something I haven't
thought much about."
We figure she'll have another couple of years to get around
to it.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 5
HILLSBORO, CORNELIUS,
FOREST GROVE
Jim Hill
REPUBLICAN
Give James Draznin credit. As a Democrat trying to unseat
a popular incumbent in a traditionally Republican district,
he's running hard. Draznin's background as a fund-raiser
for colleges and nonprofits has spurred his interest in
education and social services. He gets solid reviews for
his tenure on the Forest Grove City Council. And he's got
the endorsement of several prominent Democrats, including
the state treasurer, who just happens to share his opponent's
name.
Our vote, nonetheless, goes to the other Jim Hill.
Hill was a key voice of moderation within the GOP during
the '97 session. He moved closer to the Republican Party
line under Speaker Lynn Snodgrass in '99, yet still got
some credit for brokering the middle road on the telecommunications
deregulation bill.
The rap against Hill is that he's rude. It's true that
if he doesn't think a bill is worth his committee's time,
he'll shoot it down with little ceremony. He explains that
he's often abrupt because he doesn't want to waste time,
his or others', by talking about proposals that aren't even
going to be debated, let alone passed. That style may turn
some people off, but it's no reason to oust a productive
legislator.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 6
BEAVERTON, ALOHA, HILLSBORO
Charlie Ringo
DEMOCRAT
Voters in this suburban district have been mugged by term
limits. Three-term Republican Ken Strobeck has done a great
job in Salem but is being forced into early retirement.
Luckily, voters have a chance to build on Strobeck's solid
record by electing one of the best first-time candidates
we've seen--Charlie Ringo.
Like everywhere in Oregon, education is priority number
one on the west side of the zoo. But the elephant sitting
on the Sunset Highway is growth--how to manage it and how
to pay for it. Ringo is clearly the best candidate for handling
this task. The Beaverton lawyer is the former head of the
Oregon Sierra Club, and his heart obviously bleeds green.
But the Air Force veteran is not the militant car-hating,
owl-hugging, big-government radical that his GOP opponent
claims he is. (After all, Ringo supports widening the Sunset
Highway.)
In fact, at the core of Ringo's approach to growth is a
very Republican idea: Require that those who put demands
on government services pay part of their costs. He says
developers, whose houses bring families into already-crowded
school districts, should pay extra fees to offset the costs
of school construction. Ringo also opposes the tax breaks
given to corporations such as Intel whose expanding business
operations are straining public services.
We liked Ringo's Republican opponent a lot more before
last week.
John Scruggs, a Portland cop, has a solid record of public
service and co-authored Portland's anti-prostitution-zone
ordinance. He has come out against Lon Mabon's Ballot Measure
9 and Bill Sizemore's federal tax-deductibility measure.
We are, however, a bit nervous about Scruggs' casual use
of statistics. He told us, for example, that Oregonians
are suffering under the third-highest tax burden in the
country (a statement that is flat-out wrong), but couldn't
cite his source. We're also troubled by his stated willingness
to bust the urban growth boundary.
But our main concern about Scruggs surfaced after our interview.
During a Sept. 18 public forum, Ringo responded to a question
about global warming by joking that the solution is to increase
registration fees on sport utility vehicles to $5,000. He
got the desired laugh, but just to ensure there was no confusion,
he went up to Scruggs after the forum and made it clear
he was kidding.
Last week, Scruggs twisted the incident in a hit-mail piece,
adding SUVs to the list of taxes Ringo wants to raise (the
mailer also misstates Ringo's stance on the personal income
tax kicker). It's the kind of dirty garbage that turns voters
off of politics. Scruggs defended his sophomoric cheap shot
by telling WW he "believes" Ringo's statement is
in keeping with his philosophy. As a cop, Scruggs ought
to understand the importance of proof, rather than suspicion,
when claiming to state the facts.
For fiscal conservatives who find Ringo's politics unpalatable,
there's a better choice than the integrity-challenged Scruggs.
Kevin Schaumleffle is the most impressive Libertarian candidate
we've seen this election. His shoulder is free of the nasty
chip that weighs down many third-party candidates. The cheerful
professional hypnotist walked into our interview prepared,
carrying a list of the ballot measures and his positions
on each one with a thoughtful explanation of each. He followed
up by sending us his proposed state budget.
Schaumleffle has bucked his party on the teacher merit-pay
initiative because he finds it poorly written, although
he supports the concept. His primary passion is fighting
for the rights of non-custodial parents, and he's worked
to that end on a ballot measure and at the Legislature.
He's a good second choice, but he can't match Ringo in
this race.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 7
WEST PORTLAND, CEDAR MILL, SAUVIE ISLAND
Mitch Greenlick
DEMOCRAT
We cringed two years ago when Bill Witt, a small-business
owner from Cedar Mills, unseated fellow Republican Chuck
Carpenter. We knew Witt from two nasty and unsuccessful
congressional bids and found him too socially conservative
for this district and too volatile to be effective.
We were half-right.
Witt is a founding board member of the Christian Coalition
in Oregon, and he stubbornly pushed his social agenda in
Salem. Midway through the session he worked--and failed--to
pass a bill that would define marriage as a hetero union
in the Oregon Constitution.
Then, in the final days of last session, Witt told Speaker
of the House Lynn Snodgrass she shouldn't count on his vote
on the education budget because she hadn't scheduled a floor
vote on a bill to ban late-term abortions. His grandstanding
slowed down negotiations and increased partisanship in the
Legislature at the worst possible moment.
At the same time, that willingness to clash with party
leaders and political heavyweights was sometimes admirable.
He fought for more education funding than most members of
his caucus wanted, supported the right-to-know bill on pesticides
and thumbed his nose at the biggest employer in his district,
Intel, by putting forth a bill to eliminate the corporate
tax break known as the strategic investment program.
While Witt has earned our grudging respect, he still isn't
getting our endorsement.
That's because of his voting record on social and environmental
issues. He notes that he got a better rating from the Oregon
League of Conservation Voters than any other Republican.
But his score (58 percent) was still lower than any Democrat's.
We'd be more inclined to give Witt another chance if it
weren't for the potential we see in his opponent.
As the Oregon Health Plan again lurches toward life support,
Mitch Greenlick is needed in Salem. He headed the Kaiser
Center for Health Research for more than 30 years and has
spent his career studying the way health care and systems
interact to serve the people. He says when he goes to Salem,
Job One for him is to make sure every uninsured kid in Oregon
gets covered. That is important work, and Greenlick is ready
to jump in. He's worked in Salem enough to understand the
system, making it easy to put aside Witt's single term.
Our biggest concern with Mitch Greenlick is that the guy
can come off as a pompous elitist. But that doesn't change
the fact that he's the best choice for this seat.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 8
BEAVERTON
Mark Hass
DEMOCRAT
Chuck: Good evening. Our top political story tonight involves
a journalist who, after years of reporting on state legislators,
has decided to become one. For more, we go to our Capitol
correspondent, Anita Newk-Lishay.
Anita: That's right, Chuck. Veteran KATU reporter Mark
Hass is hoping to succeed Ryan Deckert in this west suburban
district. The Tigard High graduate is running on a traditional
Democratic platform of funding schools and protecting Oregon's
vaunted quality of life.
Chuck: That's fascinating, Anita. What do we know about
his Republican opponent?
Anita. Well, Chuck, Lisa Michaels is a self-described "soccer
mom from Beaverton" who herself has a link to local television.
She's an account executive at cable station KXPG-TV. Ironically,
this media-savvy gal is shunning the spotlight, refusing
to talk to editorial boards, so we don't really know where
she stands on the issues. Still, Hass is the clear front-runner
in this horse race.
Chuck: Thanks, Anita, for that in-depth analysis. Of course,
as Mark well knows, should he win this race, television
news personalities like us will completely ignore him unless
he submits a silly bill or dresses up in buckskin on the
House floor. And speaking of Bucks, the Blazers travel to
Milwaukee tonight. Here to tell us more is our own Jacques
Strapp....
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 9
TIGARD
Max Williams
REPUBLICAN
(With apologies to Maurice Sendak.)
The year Max was elected, his fellow Republicans made mischief
of one kind and another and the right-wingers called him
"MILD THING!" and Max said, "I'LL STAND MY GROUND!" so he
was sent out of the caucus room without a chairmanship.
That very year within the caucus a coalition grew...and
grew...and grew until it came to the place where the mild
things are. And the mild things are now ready to roar their
moderate roars and gnash their moderate teeth and roll their
moderate eyes and show their moderate claws and say to their
party's right-wingers "BE STILL." And they will be frightened
and make Max king of all mild things.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 10
HAPPY VALLEY, DAMASCUS, BORING
Jan Lee
REPUBLICAN
After three years of rule by Lynn Snodgrass, voters in
this Clackamas County district will get an upgrade no matter
who is elected in November. In a close contest between two
impressive candidates, our vote goes to the Republican.
Jan Lee is a completely different kind of Republican than
Snodgrass. She calls herself pro-choice (although she is
against late-term abortion and says she could support parental
notification bills) and is against Bill Sizemore and Don
McIntire's anti-government initiatives.
We were most impressed by Lee's work as the executive director
of the Oregon Water Resources Council, which works on water-rights
issues for farmers, irrigation districts and the like. Water
is the oil of the West, and everyone is fighting to get
a piece. Lee says she takes the moderate's approach, trying
to balance water use for agriculture with keeping water
in the streams where it belongs for fish and wildlife. Her
work with state natural-resource agencies gives her a solid
understanding of the rule-making and budgeting process.
Finally, her service on the board of the Clackamas Women's
Shelter gives her valuable insight into domestic-abuse issues.
It was difficult, however, to turn down Mike Smith. This
easy-going civil engineer is proof that the campaign trail
offers a good education to those who seek it. Two years
ago, running against Snodgrass, Smith was tentative and
subdued. Now, he speaks with confidence and conviction.
His work on the North Clackamas School District's budget
committee has convinced him that we need to find a way to
ensure that school districts don't suffer from either too
much growth or too little. And he understands that his district
is a microcosm of the urban-rural split that plagues Oregon's
policy making.
We're confident Smith would do a fine job in Salem, but
Lee's government experience on social and water issues gives
her the edge.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 11
SOUTHWEST PORTLAND
Mary Nolan
DEMOCRAT
Eight long months from now, WW will rate local legislators
on their brains, diligence, integrity and clout. We have
a hunch Mary Nolan will do better than most rookies. As
manager of the city's Bureau of Environmental Services,
Nolan took some heat for management lapses but was praised
for her ability to understand complex problems and seek
creative solutions. As head of the state's leading abortion-rights
group, she led the charge against Lon Mabon. And during
this campaign, she's shown a willingness to take a principled
stand that could cost her votes.
Most folks in District 11 aren't thrilled by the prospect
of adult video stores in their neighborhoods, yet Nolan
is opposing a city-backed effort (Measure 87) that would
allow sex businesses to be zoned into X-rated ghettos and
open the door to censorship. "I have a 5-year-old daughter,
and I don't want her to walk past a smut shop," says Nolan.
"But it scares me more that someone else will decide what's
in her library."
Nolan is being challenged by Joan Gardner, a somewhat prickly
fund-raiser for the University of Oregon. Gardner's "progressive,
non-partisan" agenda would be a nice addition to the GOP
caucus in Salem, but she can't match Nolan's experience
or potential.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 12
SOUTHWEST PORTLAND
Chris Beck
DEMOCRAT
Maybe we've been too hard on Chris Beck. In our endorsement
two years ago we accused him of "limousine liberalism" and
of having a "pompous personality." Maybe it's because the
tousle-haired Democrat, who works as a project manager for
the Trust for Public Land, was burdened with high expectations
when first elected in 1996. He's struggled to find a niche
in the Legislature, where his expertise in land-use planning
went begging under the Republican agenda.
Beck, however, knows where he's fallen short and promises
to return to Salem and find a way to advance more of his
causes. During our interview, he even got the de facto endorsement
of his GOP rival, Jeanne Schoel. "I'm not altogether sure
you should unseat him," said the first-time candidate, who
had not bothered to study Beck's voting record.
A scheduling screw-up prevented us from meeting Libertarian
challenger Joe Tabor, which we regret. Based on his polite
persistence and straightforward campaign literature, we
suspect he's an able spokesman for the causes of free enterprise
and civil liberties. He's certainly the the only candidate
who's touting the virtues of the bus system in Curitiba,
Brazil, while running for the Oregon statehouse.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 14
INNER SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Diane Rosenbaum
DEMOCRAT
Talking to Diane Rosenbaum, it's easy to forget that 1999
was her first session. A keen observer of the Salem sausage-stuffing
machine, Rosenbaum got a front-row seat in the House Revenue
Committee, where she watched business lobbyists slip corporate
tax breaks into bills last session, then turn around and
write checks to supportive lawmakers this fall. It's no
surprise, then, that she is a champion of this year's public
campaign-finance initiative, Ballot Measure 6. She's also
continuing the fight to eliminate the much-abused pollution
tax credit. We support both efforts.
In last year's WW survey of lawmakers, Rosenbaum,
a former lobbyist for the Communication Workers of America,
scored very high on integrity, brains and diligence, but
she bottomed out on the clout score because she stayed on
the sidelines. This year, we encourage her to speak out.
She has something to say.
Her opponent, Libertarian John McEnroe, is a jovial bartender
at the Tugboat. He seemed to get a kick out of the endorsement
interview, and we hope he continues to advance his ideas
about private schooling and constitutional sanctity--from
behind the bar.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 15
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Steve March
DEMOCRAT
It's too bad Steve March doesn't have a serious challenger--it
would justify more space to gush. Here's all you really
need to know about the former senior Multnomah County auditor
who wants to succeed fellow Democrat Randall Edwards: Even
though he's not yet been elected, March already has two
bills being drafted in Salem. One would ensure that registered
domestic partners could make health-care decisions for their
mates; the other would expand the state's Healthy Start
program to all counties.
With a long record of civic involvement--from the Laurelhurst
PTA and the Hollywood Senior Center to the board of Citizens
for Sensible Transportation--March is up to speed on the
major issues facing the state.
He's being opposed by Scott Lutz, a pleasant but politically
unprepared Warner Pacific College student. Lutz's work experience
as a janitor, home health aide and Domino's pizza delivery
technician would bring a unique perspective to Salem, but
he can't keep pace with March.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 16
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND
Jeff Merkley
DEMOCRAT
Jeff Merkley made an impression his first year in Salem
last session as a smart, direct and thoughtful lawmaker.
No wonder.
Look at the résumé: Executive Director, World
Affairs Council of Oregon. Undergrad at Stanford. Master's
in public policy at Princeton.
But he's also an East Portland native, a David Douglas
High School alum, with a clear understanding of who he represents
in Salem.
Last session Merkley fought for the underdog. He tried
to pass legislation to regulate the mobile and manufactured
home industry, stop lottery advertising and boost the affordable-housing
trust fund. He bonked heads frequently with GOP lawmakers
who do not share his passion for consumer protection, but
he managed to prevail. Working with Republican Bill Witt,
he got through a bill that puts a "this is not an investment"
warning on lottery advertisements. He also helped set up
a statewide system for an individual development account
program, which helps low-income families buy homes or attend
college.
Merkley also has a delightfully wry sense of humor and
maverick streak. Last January he earned a disapproving raise
of the eyebrow from Mayor Vera Katz, a fellow Democrat,
during a City Council meeting for dumping out on a table
1,600 postcards from eastside residents fed up with high
sewage rates.
Pacific Green Party candidate David Tillemans, a no-show
for the interview, is advocating better school funding,
affordable health care and campaign finance reform. Merkley
is already working on those issues--and a whole lot more.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 17
NORTH PORTLAND
Gary Hansen
DEMOCRAT
There once was a plumber named Gary
Who served with some cranks like Sunseri
He suffered the fools
And fought for the schools
So send him on back, do not tarry.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 19
NORTH PORTLAND
Jo Ann Bowman
DEMOCRAT
Ode to Jo Ann Bowman
With deeply felt apologies to John Keats
Oh, Queen of North Portland, Oh lady justice fair
Your mighty sword is much needed in the capital to the
south.
Stand ye alone among the wretches there
As impassioned speeches fly from your mouth.
You champion the jailed, the hungry, the oppressed and
the poor;
We endorse you, salute you and send you back for more.
Your rival, Ivars Bitans, rests in the bosom of the pro-lifers.
We desire him not.
Flame on, oh deep fire of justice!
May your embers never dim.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 18
NORTHEAST PORTLAND
Deborah Kafoury
DEMOCRAT
Our favorite line from the 1999 legislative session: "Transportation,
schmansportation. People's lives are at stake. I'm changing
my vote."
That was Deborah Kafoury. Her flippant remark came from
the House floor on the last day of the session, during the
angry back-and-forth on the transportation-tax bill. Republicans
were frantically trying to cut a deal: If the Democrats
supported the Defense of Marriage Act (which would prohibit
gay marriage), some Republicans would back the Ds on a bill
to boost the gas tax.
When Kafoury, who had voted for the bill, heard about the
deal over gay rights, she changed her vote on the gas tax--undercutting
her own party's chances.
DOMA went down, and Kafoury ultimately supported the gas
tax, but her determination to put conviction before partisanship
was impressive.
Kafoury is a solid Portland liberal who works well with
the moderate Republicans in the House. She's smart and knows
the system. We see no reason to replace her.
We must admit that opponent Victoria Guillebeau is one
of the most impressive Socialist Party candidates we've
met (and we've met more than we wanted to). Guillebeau is
smart and informed and has a clear agenda that includes
raising Oregon's minimum wage to a living wage. We liked
this homemaker, social activist and PTA president. Constitution
Party candidate Roger Shipman was a no-show, and Pacific
Green Party candidate Barry Joe Stull left in a huff after
being pressed on his qualifications to serve in Salem.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 20
EAST COUNTY, WOOD VILLAGE, TROUTDALE
Karen Minnis
REPUBLICAN
Every politician in the country wants a little bit of what
East County incumbent Karen Minnis has. Al Gore doesn't
have it. George W. only pretends he has it. Lynn Snodgrass
thinks she has it--but she doesn't.
We're not even sure what to call this personality trait--it's
more subtle than charisma, more substantive than charm.
All we know is that Minnis has the kind of confidence, credibility
and practicality that goes a long way in Salem. Part of
it comes from more than a decade of legislative experience
working with her husband, John Minnis, during his seven
sessions in the House. But during her first session as his
replacement (he was pushed out by term limits), she made
it clear she is her own Minnis.
In her work on the joint Ways and Means Committee she won
kudos for her in-depth understanding of the budget process.
She reached across the aisle to help Democrat Kathy Lowe
with a bill that would grant unemployment benefits to victims
of domestic abuse who leave their jobs to escape further
violence. She also earned praise from the public employees
union after she walked a picket line for a corrections-officer
safety measure.
Make no mistake, Minnis is no moderate. She is against
the gun-show background check measure and will not take
a public position on Lon Mabon's Measure 9. Want a hint?
She was one of only seven House members to get a 100 percent
rating from the Christian Coalition. She is an environmental
disaster--only two metro-area representatives scored lower
than her 9 percent rating on the Oregon League of Conservation
Voters' scorecard.
We confess, Democrat Mike Weatherby is tempting. A 12-year
member of the Reynolds School Board and an instructor at
Mount Hood Community College, his education background would
be helpful to the Legislature. He served three years on
the Fairview City Council. He also has a criminal justice
background from the Oregon Parole Board.
Minnis, however, has proven that you can be a social conservative
in Salem and play a positive role.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 22
GRESHAM
Laurie Monnes Anderson
DEMOCRAT
For two years Laurie Monnes Anderson has been waiting to
strip this Gresham House seat from the clutches of Ron Sunseri.
Her time has come.
In 1998 she lost to Sunseri by less than 250 votes. This
year, Sunseri is sitting out the race in hopes of taking
a run at the Senate in 2002, thus clearing a path to Salem
for Anderson.
Anderson lets her passions show but grounds them in real-life
experience. This public health nurse, who served 10 years
on the Gresham-Barlow School Board, looks at education on
a continuum--kids have to be healthy when they enter school
and reading by the third grade to have a good shot at graduating.
And, when they do graduate, their skills should match what's
needed. Living in the shadow of Fujitsu, Anderson says it's
outrageous that high-tech companies hire 80 percent of their
engineers from out of state, and she says she'll work with
businesses to push private-public partnerships for engineering
schools.
Monnes, a 1964 graduate of Gresham High, says she's ready
to help with the tough decisions that need to be made in
slicing up the budget pie. Based on her experience, we believe
her. She is in charge of a $3 million public health budget
for Clackamas County. In addition to the local school board,
she's served on the Oregon School Board Association and
numerous health-care task forces.
Ed Golobay is also a local graduate (Centennial High School
class of '66) who's paid his civic dues (Centennial School
Board). Against a lesser candidate, he'd get a serious look
from us, but he can't match Anderson's passion or record
of public service.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 24
SOUTHWEST SUBURBS
Richard Devlin
DEMOCRAT
Citizens of Lake Oswego, Tualatin and points near, pay
us heed. Please do not send Jim Hansen to the Legislature.
Richard Devlin has done this district proud. He could steal
a line from Al Gore and say that he may not be the most
exciting politician in town, but he has done the job, and
well.
The quiet, studious, hard-working two-term Democrat has
been a refreshing change from the man he ousted, Bob Tiernan,
who often led with his gums flapping.
Devlin served last session on committees in charge of transportation,
legislative rules, and water and environment. He worked
on bills that covered everything from how the state transportation
officials might recover some of the costs of new road construction
to the details of voter registration. He also wrote a bill
to defer property taxes for seniors with household incomes
less than $27,500 and co-sponsored the much-hailed ODOT
accountability bill. Sexy? No. Important? You bet.
Devlin has taken some heat for bucking the party line on
issues such as the kicker referral, but he's a good match
for his district, where registered Republicans outnumber
Democrats.
His opponent, on the other hand, is a good candidate for
Insensitive Hyperactive MultiTaskers Anonymous. During their
joint endorsement interview with WW, Hansen noisily
signed fundraising letters while Devlin was speaking. When
the Republican candidate heard enough from his opponent,
he jumped up, slapped down a report in front of the interviewers
and said, "My turn." Those kind of antics would wear thin
quickly in Salem, where even a perceived snub can kill a
legislator's bill.
Hansen's biggest problem, however, is that he doesn't know
what he's doing. We're all for mavericks. We love new ideas.
We could even get used to his Tigger-like enthusiasm.
But Hansen, who's largely bankrolling his own campaign,
is trying to paint the Mona Lisa before he learns how to
draw. The former investment banker wants to tackle tax reform--but
would rather misquote Emerson (it was Thoreau who said "Build
your castles in the air") than provide any details about
his "secret" plan. If he loses this race, we encourage him
to hone his ideas and spend some time in Salem watching
how the process really works. Then he'd have a chance to
shake things up, rather than play the role of annoying court
jester.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 25
MILWAUKIE
Carolyn Tomei
DEMOCRAT
Clackamas County isn't exactly seen as a training ground
for political heavyweights, but District 25 voters have
a contender in this race.
Carolyn Tomei is one of the best-prepared first-time legislative
candidates ever to step into our endorsement ring. The mayor
of Milwaukie, she served a year on the City Council after
a seven-year stint on the city planning commission.
Before answering the siren song of government service,
she spent 30 years in education, working on child development
and mental health and with troubled teens.
She is also smart, warm and driven to serve.
Her opponent, Dick "Bulldog" Jones, spent 35 years in the
finance office of Teledyne Wah Chang. He he ran a lackluster
losing campaign for the state Senate two years ago and is
seemingly obsessed with state roads and solid waste. He's
got a better nickname than Tomei, but he can't match her
Golden Glove résumé.
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 26
OREGON CITY
Kathy Lowe
DEMOCRAT
As we come to our final endorsement, we've run out of time,
space and coffee. So it's a good thing that we end with
one of our favorite legislators: Kathy Lowe. After all,
no other candidate called us to make sure we were inviting
her opponent. And no other candidate helped her rival down
the stairs after meeting with us. Of course, it helps that
Al Ritter (who is blind) has as much of a chance of winning
as Pat Buchanan.
But the compassionate respect Lowe extended to Ritter is
typical of the way she works in Salem. The freshman Democrat
got solid reviews in 1999, in part because she was able
to work with Republicans. With the help of Republican Rep.
Bruce Starr, for example, she passed a bill to protect kids
whose parents' religious beliefs deprive them of medical
treatment--a very contentious issue in her district.
The Oregon City lawyer says she's ready to take up where
she left off, looking to find areas where she can reach
out to Republicans and get things done.
We've got a hunch that, if he weren't running himself,
even Al Ritter would endorse that idea.
|
