[October 15th, 2008]

John Nelsen

Nick Kahl, a 31-year-old law student, earned our endorsement in the Democratic primary when we noted “the energy he’s brought to the campaign trail would be a welcome addition to the Capitol.”

But Kahl’s enthusiasm falls short in the general election against Nelsen, who has a much deeper résumé and history of community involvement.

As chairman of the Reynolds School Board for the past year, Nelsen has earned a fair amount of scrutiny following recent revelations the school district was not properly accounting for its money. Two things appear clear: For too long the Reynolds School Board was not offering vigorous oversight of the district’s superintendent. But under Nelsen’s recent leadership, the board took decisive action. For taking the difficult steps to fire that superintendent, Nelsen deserves credit.

He also scored points when he came in for his endorsement interview just one day after WW made him “Rogue of the Week” for his campaign ad that combined “innuendo and distortions aimed at scaring viewers in the conservative district.” (The ad warns that Kahl plays in a band called Chopslaughter, while showing a heavy-metal guitarist. Chopslaughter actually plays “soft ethereal jazz,” and Kahl plays the upright acoustic bass.)

We properly called B.S. on that ad.

Then Kahl responded with his own negative ad, one that is as misleading as any in the nasty U.S. Senate race. That commercial? A warning that Nelsen is open to…wait for it…a sales tax. What the ad doesn’t say is that Nelsen would exercise that option only if the state got rid of personal income taxes, which isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Talk about a ridiculous bogeyman.

Video of WW endorsement interview (thanks to Portland Community Media)