Oregon Politics: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

Friday, October 24, 2014

Gus Wendel, GoLocalPDX Contributor

photo credit: iStock

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

Ballot Measure 92: By now, Oregonians know they get to decide whether genetically altered foods will be labeled as such. Both sides of the issue have already raised a whopping $17 million to get their sides of the argument out, making this the most expensive campaign in Oregon’s history. Most of the money is coming in from out of state. Ben and Jerry’s for example, has donated $85,662.90 to the Yes on 92 campaign and made this going-viral-on-YouTube video asking voters to sign a petition to FDA for mandatory GMO labeling:

Gabrielle Giffords: The former U.S. Representative declared gun violence a “women’s issue” at a roundtable discussion at Grant High School on Tuesday. Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt during a gun shooting at an Arizona mall in 2011, made Portland her eighth stop on a nine-city Protect All Women tour. "Dangerous people with guns are a threat to women," said Giffords. "Criminals with guns. Stalkers with guns. Abusers with guns. That makes gun violence a women's issue. For mothers. For families. For you and me. Women can lead the way.”

The Big Five: It’s no secret that this election’s legislative battles are slated to be the most expensive on record in Oregon. In the home stretch, the Bend Bulletin takes a look at the five biggest campaign fundraisers so far: Republican candidate for house district 54 Knute Buehler leads the pack, having raised more than $630,000, more than any other House or Senate candidate in the state. He is followed, in order of descending amounts raised, by Republican Dave Dotterrer, Democrat Rep. Sara Gelser, Democrat Susan McLain, and Republican Sen. Bruce Starr.

Portland State University: The National Institute of Health awarded Oregon’s largest university a $24 million research grant on Wednesday. As GoLocalPDX reports, the grant will assist underrepresented and diverse students pursuing careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, or clinical research and other health sciences. “We’re looking at an incoming freshman class that’s 42 percent students of color,” Wim Wiewel, president of PSU, said. “Never before has there been such a robust program to create opportunities for underrepresented students to pursue degrees in health sciences.”

Voter Registration: This election cycle has been characterized by several record-breaking statistics, mostly with regards to campaign fundraising and expenditures. But another record has been set: voter registration. The Bend Bulletin reports that more voters are registered for this year’s election than in any other midterm election in Oregon history, with 832,814 Democrats registered versus 658,107 Republicans. Also interesting is that more Oregon voters registered to neither major party than at any other time in the state’s history. What does all this mean for voter turnout? We’ll find out in 11 days.

Not

John Kitzhaber: Two recently released polls, while conflicting, hint the governor’s overall lead in the gubernatorial race is ebbing. On one hand a recent SurveyUSA poll gives Kitzhaber a 13 point lead over Richardson, while on the other, a new KATU poll shows that some voters may have changed their minds, citing the recent controversy regarding First Lady Cylvia Hayes.

Goss versus Evans: No one likes an ugly race, but the two candidates for House District 20 have gone there, and more. As GoLocalPDX reports, Republican Kathy Goss and Democrat Paul Evans are facing off in what is by far the ugliest campaign in the House. In the end, the mudslinging may not pay off for either candidate. Political science professor Jim Moore told GoLocalPDX of the potential consequences of casting too much negative information when he said “Most often it actually makes you (the voter) just not vote in that race.”

Portland City Council: The five-member council voted 4-0 on Wednesday to appeal part of a federal judge’s order on periodic court hearings to check in on the progress of police reforms. Commissioner Nick Fish was not present for the vote. The Oregonian reports that more than 20 community members spoke out against the appeal, including members from the League of Women Voters, Jobs With Justice, Disability Rights Oregon, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. Police accountability and reform has long been an issue in Portland, so one wonders why the city council is so opposed to the judge’s presence.

Oracle: State officials have announced plans to abandon Oracle technology for use in enrolling Oregon Health Plan applicants, citing a lack of cooperation and issues with the company’s products. Oracle America was initially paid $240 million for work on the Cover Oregon project, and was subsequently sued for the project’s failures. The Oregonian reports that the state will instead look towards utilizing technology built by another state.

Dean Marriott: Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) director Dean Marriott was put on paid administrative leave Tuesday. As the Willamette Week reports, a city audit found BES did not properly verify the credentials of Skylab Architecture, a group it contracted to construct an $11.5 million services building at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. "The findings on this project trouble me greatly,” Commissioner Saltzman told Willamette Week. “If the bureau is not transparent with the Council, then the Council cannot do its job."

Gus Wendel is a writer, organizer, and musician. Originally from Eastern Oregon, he now resides in Portland.

Banner Photo Credit: iStock