City Commissioner Amanda Fritz Rejects Police Union Donation to Pot Tax

Police union PAC tried to give $10,000 to the Yes on 26-180 campaign.

The Portland police union's political action committee tried and failed to donate to City Commissioner Amanda Fritz's campaign to pass a local marijuana tax.

The Keep Portland Safe PAC sent the Yes on 26-180 campaign a check for $10,000 on Oct. 4. Yes on 26-180 declined the donation, which would have been the largest contribution to the campaign.

"As usual, I don't accept PAC contributions," Fritz says. "I was concerned as well it might give the appearance of influencing my contract vote."

(Fritz voted Oct. 12 in favor of the police union contract.)

Portland Police Association president Daryl Turner says the union's support for the measure was a "no brainer."

He also denied the donation had any relation to the contract vote, noting the first attempt at a donation, which was sent Sept. 9 and lost or returned, came well in advance of signing the tentative agreement on the contract.

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