Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Ted Wheeler, Tina Kotek, Loretta Smith

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Douglas Fasching, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Every Friday, GoLocalPDX breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Oregon politics. Check out who made the lists this week.

Hot

Jessica Vega Pederson

With several Multnomah County Commission seats opening up in 2016 due to term limits, the line of potential challengers is beginning to form. Who is at the front of this queue? Why none other than District 47's own Jessica Vega Pederson. Word on the street is that Representative Vega Pederson, is eyeing the seat of Commissioner Judy Shiprack. Rep. Vega Pederson is currently in her second term as representative of District 47 following unsuccessful Mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith's  time in the position. Maybe, if all of this works out, Jefferson can get his old job back.

Tinka Kotek and Ted Wheeler

When discussing the next mayoral race at my local watering hole, a few names get bandied about, but none more than House Speaker Tina Kotek and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. Why would these two firebrands be willing to go against an incumbent? That is just crazy. He could just campaign on his strong stand against Uber or his strong stand against Airbnb or his strong stand against greedy developers or his ingenious street fee...OK, I get it now.

Knute Buehler

Lastly, the most maddest of props goes to Representative Knute Buehler R-Bend. Not because he is everybody's favorite politico whose name begins with a silent letter, but because of the positive impact he is having in Salem in spite of residing in the minority. In the last several weeks he has been an advocate for terminally ill patients, veterans and gays. Can a loss in a state-wide election turn one into a Democrat?

 

Not

Loretta Smith

Light has been shed recently on County Commissioner Loretta Smith regarding her public spending habits. What, pray tell, is she spending the taxpayer's money on? According to Willamette Week, nearly 2k for 4 nights at posh hotel in San Diego and nearly 27k to travel around these great United States. Add to this the fact that she has had to repay nearly $1400 back in questionable expenditures. Is it too soon to refer to her as the Ex-Rep. Aaron Schock of 501 SE Hawthorne? Of course. That is, until she Downton Abbey's her office.

The Oregonian

Usually the most punished people are those reading The Oregonian, but not this weekend. That honor goes to the reporters and editors who had to spend their Easter weekend combing through 94,000 emails from, to, regarding, hinting at, alluding to and mentioning Cylvia Hayes looking for who knows what. As of Monday, they have found absolutely nothing that wasn't already public knowledge. So congrats to The Big O for giving us the 4th Estate's version of Al Capone's vault. 

Jeanne Atkins

Jeanne Atkins. "Who is Jeanne Atkins," you are asking yourself. Why she is currently our Secretary of State. Her future in that position seems to be in doubt, though, with House Majority Leader Val Hoyle D-14 the odds on favorite to run for the seat in 2016. How did that conversation with Ms. Atkins go,  "We want you to want this job, to be passionate about this job, to give your all to this job, to act like this is the only position you have ever wanted...for the next 18 months."

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• 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: Denis Therauilt, John Kitzhaber, The Oregonian
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Jeanne Atkins, Tobias Read, Oregon Right to Life
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Kate Brown, Lars Larson, Clean Fuels
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Kate Brown, Racial Profiling, Women’s Rights
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Oregon Right to Life, Michael Jordan, Oracle
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Ron Wyden, Ellen Rosenblum, City of Portland
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Steve Novick, Chief Reese, Cylvia Hayes
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Steve Novick, Reservoir Dogs, Working Class Oregonians
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Teressa Raiford, Nick Fish, GMOs
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: The All Kitzhaber Edition

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