Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Conversion Therapy, Bobbie Regan, Vapers
Friday, May 15, 2015
HOT:
Multnomah County Voters
Thanks to Tim Scott, Director of Elections, voters in Multnomah County can now track the status of their ballot either through text, email or phone. This free service is being tested out in Multnomah, Yamhill and Marion County and will tell you when your ballot has been received AND when it has been counted. This service is only going to be helpful to the projected 15% of registered voters in the county that are actually going to vote in the election next week. Unfortunately, voters cannot be notified when their ballot is counted twice. Sorry, Multnomah County GOP.
Social Venture Partners Portland
Bridging the divide between the people who have money and the non-profits who need it, SVP is addressing the biggest issues affecting our community. More than building relationships between givers and givees, they sponsor events that bring socially conscious people together. One of these such events is Changemakers Night next Tuesday, May 19th at Washington High School. So if you are a good person wanting to mingle with other good people, go to this event.
Logan Gilles
The Chief Policy Advisor to Senator Michael Dembrow has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for many years and he is finally getting some recognition. Tomorrow at the Celsi Dinner, the annual Democratic love fest where attendees rub elbows and dine on rubber chicken, Mr. Gilles will be receiving the Barbara Roberts Young Democrat Award. Hopefully this well-deserving politico will entertain the room with some of his vocal stylings as he accepts his award.
NOT:
Conversion Therapy
The Senate gave House Bill 2307 final approval this week and is now headed to Governor Brown's desk to be signed into law. For those of you who don't know, conversion therapy is the highly controversial and destructive attempt to "cure" gay people of their homosexuality. This should be filed under "How is this even a thing?". If anything, people should be cured of their self-hate and their inability to live and let live. Kudos go out to Senator Sara Gelser and Representative Rob Nosse for their efforts with this issue.
Bobbie Regan
Everyone knows the importance of an endorsement as it lends credibility to a candidate. Candidates work hard to earn these endorsements. That is what makes the actions this week by Bobbie Regan's re-election campaign so disconcerting. On Tuesday, a post on Ms. Regan's Facebook page erroneously stated that she received the endorsement from The Oregonian. She did not. They endorsed her opponent, Amy Kohnstamm. The campaign then blamed an employee for "assuming" she got the endorsement. Talk about getting thrown under the bus. It is not like Ms. Regan is short on endorsements either. She's got plenty including big names like Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Commissioner Nick Fish on her side. So, for her late-stage shenanigans, Ms. Regan earns the Burnt Biscuit Award and finds herself in the Not Column. On a side note, President Obama fully endorses this column. He told me this himself.
Vapers
Electronic cigarette users were dealt a painful blow this week when the state Senate puff, puff, passed a law making it illegal to use e-cigarettes indoors. Also banned was the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. If you are unfamiliar with what an e-cigarette user looks like, these are the people huffing on a metallic tube that looks like something a bounty hunter from the future would smoke. The bill is now headed to the House to become final which should be automatic. It should be. Don't screw this up, Democrats.
Related Slideshow: Oregon Leaders React to PERS Ruling
Related Articles
- Who’s Hot and Who’s No in Oregon Politics: Foster Youth Connection, Sonny Mehta, PERS
- Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Charlie Hales, Amanda Fritz, Kate Brown
- Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Kate Brown, Lars Larson, Clean Fuels
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