Politics in Small Bites

[March 12th, 2008]

Trail Mix

»Ace Portland political consultant Mark Wiener , adviser to four of five current City Council members, tried to muscle candidate Nick Fish to switch out of the race to replace retiring Commissioner Erik Sten. Wiener says it would have made sense for Fish instead to run to replace Commissioner Sam Adams (who’s running for mayor) because that race has a “large field of relatively unknown candidates.” Wiener, who’s only advising Adams in this year’s City Hall races, says the Sten seat “presents a challenge” to Fish because it is a “clear one-on-one choice” with candidate Jim Middaugh, Sten’s chief of staff. Fish’s response: “There were lots of people who had that on their minds. It’s not something I ever considered.”

»City Council candidate Fred Stewart failed to qualify for public campaign financing. So he was surprised when a Portland Business Alliance staffer told his campaign manager, Shane Jackson, that Stewart wouldn’t be scheduled for an endorsement interview because of that failure. “I’m not worth talking to because I signed up for public financing? Jesus ,” says Stewart. PBA spokeswoman Megan Doern doesn’t deny that the scheduler may have said that to Jackson. But she says the bottom line is that the “most serious credible campaigns” were invited to interview and that didn’t include Stewart. “It’s kind of delicate to tell a candidate we didn’t think their campaign had enough support,” Doern says. “I think [our scheduler] felt a bit awkward about it.”

when Candidates Blog

City Council candidate Amanda Fritz’s blog (amandafritz.com) is one of the meatiest local political blogs around—most weeks, Fritz, who’s making a second council run, analyzes the council’s agenda. Plus, the blog is also a window into a prickly, process-loving soul. Here’s her post from Monday that illustrates both qualities:

“Portland Plan Update: The kick-off event is being held Friday, June 6, from 8 [am]-6 pm. Gee, how many Portlanders can attend an all-day meeting during the work week while school is in session? I am angry that a weekday was chosen for this opening gala. Is anyone advocating for working citizens on the Planning Commission, in the Planning Bureau or on the City Council?”

Calendar

Friday, March 14

Hankering to hear what Portland’s mayoral candidates think about real issues—rather than the back-and-forth of what constitutes an in-kind contribution (think Pollgate)? Issues facing the city’s black community will be the focus of this mayoral forum with candidates Sam Adams, Sho Dozono, Craig Gier, James Lee, Beryl McNair and Chris Rich. Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building auditorium, Portland Community College Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth St., 6 pm. Free.