As one of public financing's strongest supporters, it's really distressing to read an article like that which appears in today's Oregonian. It's not the discussion of the program's difficulties, known variously as kinks or gaps in the rules that worries me. It's the attitude and dour opinions by the strongest supporters and indeed its very creators. What's even sadder is that it all boils down to one thing that points right back at Blackmer and the public financing citizen's committee:
Late last year, lobbyist Len Bergstein gave the results of a $27,295 poll to Sho Dozono, a businessman and civic leader who was considering a campaign for mayor. Dozono eventually decided he would run and quickly amassed the signatures and $5 donations needed to qualify for public money.
The city's public financing law says candidates seeking taxpayer help cannot receive more than $12,000 in in-kind contributions -- essentially donations of goods or services. But Blackmer ruled that the poll didn't count as a contribution because Dozono hadn't decided whether to run when he received the results.
Now, four mayoral candidates -- including Adams, who filed a challenge at the deadline Wednesday -- have appealed that decision, prompting a hearing Monday before an administrative law judge. One fundamental problem is that the city's law doesn't mirror the state's definition of what it means to be a candidate.
That's not the only controversy of the moment. Earlier this year, Sten announced his retirement as of April 4, necessitating a special election to fill his seat.
The problem: Although Blackmer and the all-volunteer committee that helps him regulate public financing had begun talking about just such a situation, they hadn't written any rules. [emph me]
As the blogosphere--certainly in the Portland area--is by now aware, City Commissioner Erik Sten has announced his resignation effective in April. Willamette Week got the early-year scoop on everybody with an announcement that isn't surprising in its effect but rather the timing, and the fact (at least to me) that it didn't leak out before the issue ran. Or am I wrong and someone had it Tuesday night?
The story, and 3+ hour interview with Nigel Jaquiss that fills around it, are well worth the read if only for the vivid example of Sten as Sten in his comments. Even after you see it a number of times, it's still a bit of an eye-opener when he is so direct, particularly about professional relationships and evaluations of other people. He dishes on everyone, freely admitting tensions and difficulties. But it's part of both his charm and what makes him effective as a politician and policymaker.
I've had the pleasure of sitting down or talking to Sten at length on a couple of occasions; his was the first big interview of a sitting officeholder that I'd done for the blog, in spring of 2006. It was a long interview that I mostly reprinted verbatim, because the way Sten talks he fills in his own details and backstory, which is both entertaining to read and makes narrative mostly unnecessary. You can read Part One, then Part Two and finally Part Three.
I had another chance to talk with Erik when he called ME up, to talk about the sit/lie ordinance and his worries that it was going to take effect before the homeless-aid parts of the deal had been made good on. That one's shorter, but no less Erik.
It's a real balancing act to be both savvy and starry-eyed. Sten made high hopes and aspirations for Portland a signature approach during his Council career. Yet even at the start he had been inside City politics too long to ever be naive about how things worked, who had to be stroked and who could be bullied, and how much money played a part in things. Still, he maintains an infectiously deep passion for certain things that no self-respecting cynic would ever allow himself to express, and gets people to accomplish things most cities wouldn't even try.
Best of luck to you Erik; keep in touch with us as a civilian, will you?
First things first, you'll want to take note if you are an early riser--Novick will be doing KPOJ on the morning show this Thursday the 6th, in Thom Hartmann's local hour at 8:35AM. Stream it live, or catch the podcast later that day. Thom is a supporter, and he'll play to the strengths of a friendly, but he asks solid questions that make for good answers if the person is honest. (Which Steve tends to be).
This also just came through the virtual door--video of Novick, AuCoin, Sten and Cogen on endorsement day. Nice of the weather to take every reporter with a pair of boots.*
This morning, a legion of Oregon progressives stood up for Steve Novick. Led by former Congressman Les AuCoin, these nabobs for Novick laid out why Steve is the strongest, most progressive, most dynamic choice for U.S. Senate.
Some endorsements are better than others. With the possible (and bizarre) exception of Sen. Avel Gordly, the "Democrats for Smith" list of endorsements was in some cases not even of Democrats, or a Democrat actually for Smith. Other endorsements are better; the two governors that Merkley got, and got early, were strong sentinels to party Democrats around the state that this was the guy to back. Some are in between--it's impressive that so many colleagues of Merkley's back him for Senate...except that they're all colleagues (and in 30 cases really subordinates to) Jeff Merkley.
But the Novick campaign has prepared folks for what they term a "significant" endorsement, and if my belief in who it is turns out correctly, it could indeed be significant. I think they've bagged some kind of maverick with a good history in state politics, someone who will signal to all the people looking for a sign to be bold with their vote and choose the change candidate--a guy (or woman!) who says "no, THIS is the guy to back, and it starts with me."
I'm not going to voice my guess because I could be wrong, and if I turned out to be right I'd screw up Steve's day if I spoiled the surprise early. Novick will be at PSU 11AM Monday to announce who it is--but he'll also be joined by a local maverick's gallery (which is why I think the big fish is sort of a topper in the same mold) headed by
Portland City Council members Randy Leonard and Erik Sten, Multnomah County Commissioners Jeff Cogan and Maria Rojo De Steffey and Washington County Commissioner Desari Strader.
The Novick campaign will also release a list of nearly 100 public officials, civic leaders and political activists from across Oregon who are supporting his campaign.
Good list, eclectic list. Any list with Randy Leonard on it carries a plus mark with a lot of people around Portland, IMO. Glad he's aboard, that he took the plunge.
But why should he have to be seen as plunging at all? The whole notion that complaints about DSCC are reflective of the money advantage is really somewhat of a ruse--Novick will make it to May without the logoed RV and the stage bunting, I think. What's bothersome is the influence, particularly the negative influence exerted--intentionally and not--on the non-favored candidates. It's one thing to compete straight-up for donors on a level playing field, but people in politics know where their bread is buttered, and where their future and career lie--and who they lie with--if they are liberals or progressives: the Democratic Party.
When the machine says to pull lever A and you start handing money to lever B (so to speak), the machine notices, and remembers. How many Democratic House members want to go into 08 session having backed Novick in the primary? Awwwk-ward! The national and state elites have signalled their choice, and that means that going against the choice is a consciously subordinate act to the party leadership. When you are hampered in your free choice by an imbalance of personal-social returns from the institution as a result of who you support, democracy suffers. More simply put, people have to go out on a limb a little bit in many cases, just to support Steve. That shouldn't have to happen.
But it does make those who are courageous enough to follow their convictions good character witnesses for the person they end up backing. So it will be interesting to see who that profile in courage turns out to be.
"I believe Hillary Clinton has what it takes to get us out of Iraq and back on track in tackling our real priorities," said Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten. "Our families need healthcare, early education and jobs that make a living wage. By investing in American ingenuity to stop global warming, we can build an economy and place in the world that is sustainable. Hillary will do the hard work in Washington that we need to be successful in Oregon."
"Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver the change we need, and is far and away the best-qualified person running for President," said Josh Kardon, Chair of the Oregon Steering Committee. "That's a big reason she was able to attract so many talented Oregonians from across the state to lead her Oregon campaign. From Umatilla County to Clackamas, from Jackson County to Douglas, from Lane County to Multnomah, Hillary's Oregon steering committee is unrivaled in representing the true diversity of our state."
"I'm honored to have the support of this distinguished group of leaders from across Oregon," Clinton said. "With their help, we can bring our message of change throughout Oregon and the nation."
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