Shut Up And Vote

[March 29th, 2006]

^Labor Pains

Gov. Ted Kulongoski's union problems may grow after the primary.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Gov. Ted Kulongoski's unpopularity with unions may boost Jim Hill's long-shot challenge in the Democratic primary, but the real fallout could hit the governor in November.

In the past couple of weeks, one powerful union after another has endorsed Hill, Kulongoski's most prominent opponent in the May 16 gubernatorial primary, or at least snubbed the incumbent.

Among the unions that helped elect Kulongoski four years ago but are now backing Hill: the Service Employees International Union and the Oregon School Employees Association, which together represent more than 60,000 Oregon members.

Unions that once backed the governor but are now sitting out the primary include such heavyweights as the Oregon Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and the AFL-CIO.

Kulongoski campaign manager Cameron Johnson says he's not surprised labor is sticking its collective thumb in the governor's eye after he asked public employees to make some "tough sacrifices," with pay freezes and benefit cuts.

"I think we're seeing a fairly cynical approach from labor, because they know Kulongoski is going be the Democratic nominee," says blogger Russ Dondero, a poli-sci professor emeritus from Forest Grove's Pacific University.

Dondero gives little chance to Hill, an ex-state senator and two-time state treasurer who's been AWOL from politics since losing in the 2002 primary.

"Hill has no message except 'I'm not Ted,'" Dondero says. "And he won't have the big national money he had last time."

If Kulongoski easily wins in May, unions endorsing Hill will face a tricky position in November.

Having mobilized the troops to unseat an incumbent, groups such as SEIU and OSEA must then convince their disgruntled members that the governor is actually the best man for the job after all.

"They're really going to have to thread a needle with that argument," says Portland political strategist Mark Wiener, who is not working for any of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

Kulongoski's experience as a labor lawyer and the unions' ties to Democratic candidates would normally mean even groups most disappointed in him would have nowhere else to go.

That's particularly true because Republican candidates are all likely to favor even deeper cuts to union benefits than the governor.

But Dondero says the candidacy of Ben Westlund, a Central Oregon state senator who recently changed from Republican to independent, may scramble that calculus because union rank and file may find him attractive.

Kulongoski won in 2002 thanks in large part to unions' Herculean push. This time, he's vulnerable both to lingering anger over compensation issues and Westlund's advocacy for two key union topics: K-12 education funding and healthcare benefits.

Although Westlund has not gathered enough signatures to make the November ballot, Dondero says his ability to attract a big chunk of union voters could decide whether Kulongoski wins again.

"The key is whether Westlund can craft a strategy to appeal to key labor interests," Dondero says.

&mdashNigel Jaquiss

^Can You Believe This?

Call us jaded, but we're, shall we say, less than inspired by the two candidates running for Multnomah County sheriff.

There's the incumbent, Bernie Giusto, who has been dogged by discontent within his ranks and a new auditor's report slamming him for mismanaging his budget. And still, Portland Police Bureau Commander Rosie Sizer and enforcement Lt. Dave Rader of the sheriff's office chose not to challenge him.

The man who did step up is a 69-year-old social worker, Don DuPay, who grows his own medical marijuana and quit the police force in the 1970s (see "The Long Shot," WW, March 15, 2006). He has a cult following for his cable-access TV show, Cannabis Common Sense, but we don't know how he'd hold up in a debate over how to patrol the Willamette River.

So we're putting out the call for write-in candidates . For now, we'll set aside the strict job qualifications (age 21 or older, four years' experience as a full-time law-enforcement officer or at least two years if you've got two years of education after high school) and just ask for creativity.

Send a name, a slogan and, in 50 words or fewer, a platform to avaldez@wweek.com, and we'll publish the picks of the litter next week.

—Angela Valdez

^Blog Watch

Local blogging over the City Council re-election bids of Commissioners Erik Sten and Dan Saltzman is going deep into the "anybody but" vein. Jack Bogdanski, author of www.bojack.com, is heading a campaign for "Anybody But Sten" while noting that "the best Anybody you're going to find is Dave Lister" (http://www.bojack.org/mt-arc/002862.html).

And The One True b!X ended his hiatus from writing about Portland politics to propose two more anti-endorsements (http://www.furiousnads.com/2006/Mar/anyone_but_burdick_anyone_but_saltzman). His first anti-endorsement goes to "anybody but Ginny Burdick" because of her ties to former Commissioner-turned-flameout 2004 mayoral candidate Jim Francesconi. His second goes to "anybody but Saltzman," because the commissioner "irritates the living crap" out of him.

Meanwhile, candidates need a different playbook when answering "What's your favorite blog?" The overwhelming answer so far among Portland-area politicos profiled in The Oregonian was BlueOregon. The progressive blog got the nod from Sten, County Chair Diane Linn, Linn challenger Ted Wheeler and Rep. Diane Rosenbaum, as well as statehouse hopefuls Mark Kirchmeier, Tina Kotek and Jim Robison.

^The Main Event

Tuesday, April 4

The Concordia Neighborhood Association offers a crash course on local candidates at McMenamins Kennedy School. Be in your seats when the bell rings at 7 pm for Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn vs. challenger Ted Wheeler. Plus, Xander Patterson, Jeff Cogen, Gary Hansen and Lew Frederick fight it out for the county board's other open seat. The City Council portion of the evening begins at 8, when Commissioner Erik Sten faces challenger Ginny Burdick, and candidate Amanda Fritz vies with Commissioner Dan Saltzman to see who's the smartier-pants. What makes this more fun than watching your high-school debate team? McMenamins will sell pizza and beverages. 5736 NE 33rd Ave. Free. All ages.

Monday, May 1

Yes, we know Candidates Gone Wild is still a month away. But it's never too soon to secure tickets for what's sure to be the zaniest political showdown this campaign season. Candidates for Multnomah County Chair and Portland City Council will star in B-grade movies, show off their talents, catfight, and maybe even strip. Tickets are on sale now at Willamette Week, the Oregon Bus Project and City Club of Portland. Doors open at 7 pm at the Roseland.

8 NW 6th Ave. $3. All ages.

Email sgreen@wweek.com with your political event.

^Political Chatter

The Portland Business Alliance didn't waste all of the $32,000 it dumped into its failed effort to repeal publicly financed elections. The alliance representing business's best and brightest recouped $200 of that sum by selling its 1,000-name-plus email list from the campaign. The buyer: OHSU, so University President Dr. Peter Kohler could mail out some spin about the ailing aerial-tram project. "The process used by the city has failed to identify and control costs," Kohler wrote. But as City Commissioner Randy Leonard reminds Kohler on a highly entertaining March 26 posting at www.blueoregon.com, a top Kohler lieutenant, OHSU lawyer Steve Stadum, was involved every step of the way.

CORRECTION: WW wrongly identified Mark Wiener in last week's "Political Chatter" as City Commissioner Erik Sten's campaign manager. Jennifer Yocom is Sten's campaign manager; Wiener is his strategist. WW regrets the error.

^Ginny Burdick

What she's doing: Running for Commissioner Erik Sten's City Council seat.

What she's done: The 10-year state Senate veteran is known for gun-control and anti-meth legislation.

What she wants you to know: Sten has made a lot of mistakes.

What she doesn't want you to know: Environmental and union groups have shunned Burdick, who works for the PR firm behind PGE, OHSU and the effort to kill publicly financed elections.