|
The race is on: Wu continues to wow, Gordly marches to own drummer, House candidate wears out foot.
David Wu: Get used to the name. You'll be hearing it a lot more in coming weeks. Wu is gaining serious ground on free-falling frontrunner Linda Peters in the 1st Congressional District Democratic primary. Ten days ago, Wu snatched the endorsement of the Oregon Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, from Peters, a former teacher. Five days ago, Wu shot a TV ad in a Portland school (more on that below). Two days ago, he won endorsements from Clackamas County commissioners Judie Hammerstad and Ed Lindquist, who've worked frequently with Peters. Hammerstad says she was swayed by news that Peters took a $3,500 personal loan from developer Homer Williams. "I thought I would support Linda," says Hammerstad. "But I was offended by Linda's taking an unsecured loan from someone who does business in the county. That action was, in my mind, one that calls into question who you do business with, and how. We've had enough of that kind of behavior in Congress." The TV spot that Wu shot at Portland's Laurelhurst Elementary School was not without controversy. Principal Judy Wathen sent home a letter to more than 500 parents inviting their kids to participate in Wu's 30-second spot. The second paragraph of Wathen's letter said: "David is fighting for smaller class size and improved funding for education. He has been endorsed by the Oregon Education Association." Wathen didn't return WW's call, but Portland Schools spokesman Lew Frederick concedes she went too far in touting Wu's credentials. "It's a little step past what she needed to say," says Frederick, who sent a message to all principals reminding them that "we are not allowed to be advocates." No one tells Avel Gordly who she can support. The Portland state senator is bucking her own Democratic party leaders by backing not one, but two Republican state senators in their quest for office. Gordly has told both state Sen. Tom Hartung, who's up for re-election, and John Lim, who's running against U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, that she's endorsing them. Democratic honchos are smarting because they desperately want their man, Brad Avakian (Jim Francesconi's former law partner), to unseat Hartung in November. Gordly, who was registered as an independent until 1994, says her decisions are "prayerfully" thought out and she's not worried about irking fellow Dems. She insists there's nothing against Wyden or Avakian. She says Lim, a Korean-American, will bring diversity to Oregon politics, and Hartung embraces a view of education reform and accountability most Democrats lack. "I don't do lockstep well, or at all," Gordly says. "Someone told me I'm naive and this could cut short my political career. But I'm not looking at the next race." |
|
