Murmurs: Occupalooza and a Special Election Reminder

1. Mayoral poll: Two-thirds of the 300 Portland voters surveyed in October on the mayor’s race by pollster Tim Hibbitts said they didn’t know the three leading candidates or would prefer someone else, according to the poll obtained by WW. Those respondents who favored one candidate over another did so in small numbers: Eileen Brady got 15 percent, Charlie Hales 13 percent and state Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-East Portland) 9 percent. The poll also showed that City Commissioner Amanda Fritz has an edge over her challenger, state Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Southwest Portland). Respondents favored Fritz over Nolan by 29 percent to 14 percent, with more than half not having a preference. Hibbitts was unavailable for comment to say who sponsored the poll, but sources say none of the candidates paid for it.

1. Occupy Portland leaders have been quietly shopping around for a place to move their protest indoors. Sources at the camps tell WW they are seeking office space for operations and services to protesters. Carrie Medina on her Facebook page has suggested Occupy Portland look at Southeast Portland’s Wikman Building, which Multnomah County has declared surplus. County officials say they haven’t received a proposal from Occupy leaders, who reportedly have been looking at other buildings in downtown.

1. Think that Michael Moore hyping his latest book at Occupy Portland is the only celebrity milking the protest for publicity? Check out wweek.com/occupy_exploit for other big names who have also done so.

1. Clark County voters will decide Tuesday, Nov. 8, whether to increase a local sales tax by 0.2 percent to support C-Tran, the public bus agency. But it’s a referendum of sorts on voters’ feelings about the Columbia River Crossing. C-Tran says this tax hike will maintain current service. Critics fear the money could be diverted for maintenance of the light-rail component of the Interstate 5 bridge project [“Derailing the Bridge, WW, July 27, 2011]. Voters must also approve a future measure to pay for running the light rail; Tuesday’s vote could provide a sense of how they like that idea.

1. Get Your Vote In: Don’t forget to vote in the Nov. 8 special primary runoff to decide which Republican and Democrat will face off to replace former U.S. Rep. David Wu in the 1st Congressional District. WW has endorsed Republican businessman Rob Cornilles of Tualatin and Democratic state Sen. Suzanne Bonamici of Beaverton. See our endorsements and video of our interviews with the Democratic candidates at wweek.com.

WWeek 2015