Jefferson Smith Campaign Will Stump for School Bond

Smith amends filings with state, gives money to PPS campaign

Jefferson Smith
By NIGEL JAQUISS

Mayoral candidate Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-Portland) took an unusual step on Monday—he amended his campaign committee filings with the Secretary of State's elections division to reflect that his staff will now shift some of their time and energy to helping support the campaign for Portland Public Schools $482 million capital bond measure.

Smith is also giving $5,000 of his scarce campaign cash to the bond measure. "We're hoping other folks can match that," says Smith's campaign manager, Henry Kraemer. (Prior to that gift, Smith had $142,000 on hand; his opponent, former City Commissioner Charlie Hales, who last week announced he will be accepting union contributions above his self-imposed $600 contribution cap, has $121,000 on hand).

Election laws require that political action committees disclose all the candidates and issues on whose behalf they are expending resources. Until Monday, Smith's campaign was working solely to get him elected.

But Smith's canvassers will now urge voters to support the bond when they knock on doors, in addition to encouraging a vote for Smith.

"They are telling voters the most important thing for Jefferson right now is to vote for the bond," Kraemer says.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Smith acknowledged the change in emphasis:

Charlie Hales,
cancelled

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