Now that you’ve received your ballots for the May 20 primary, here’s a thumbnail cheat sheet summarizing our endorsements in the contested races. An (i) signals an incumbent seeking re-election.
To read all our endorsements from last week and watch video of WW's endorsement interviews, see our online Voters' Guide.
PRESIDENT
(D) Barack Obama: The wisdom to speak to us as adults about the challenges we face.
CITY HALL
Mayor (Nonpartisan) Sam Adams: Most qualified to lead and most in tune with what Portlanders want.
Council, Position 1 (Nonpartisan) Amanda Fritz: Trumps opponents on city budget knowledge and will give bureaucrats sleepless nights.
Council, Position 2 (Nonpartisan): Nick Fish: Honest, hardworking and his own man. Make his third candidacy the charm.
Council, Position 4 (Nonpartisan) Randy Leonard(i): Council’s go-to guy for courage and candor.
CONGRESS
U.S. Senate (D) Steve Novick: Unwavering willingness to tackle tough issues. And funny to boot.
U.S. Senate (R): Gordon Smith (i): No serious opponent.
U.S. House District 1 (D) Will Hobbs: Smart and convinced us he’d be more vocal and effective than incumbent Rep. David Wu.
U.S. House District 1 (R) Joel Haugen: Willing to make waves in the GOP.
U.S. House District 3 (D) Earl Blumenauer (i): A solid rep and on leadership track in Congress.
U.S. House District 5 (D) Kurt Schrader: Brains plus independence make him an obvious choice.
U.S. House District 5 (R) Kevin Mannix: Brains plus independence (also) make him an obvious choice.
STATE
Secretary of State (D) Vicki Walker: Energy, specifics and fearlessness equal unbeatable combo.
Attorney General (D) Greg Macpherson: A close call, but he’s shown success on some of the Legislature’s toughest issues.
Multnomah County
District 1 (Nonpartisan) Deborah Kafoury: A well-qualified candidate makes this an easy call against weak competition.
District 3 (Nonpartisan) Mike Delman: A well-qualified candidate noses out two strong competitors based on his county experience.
District 4 (Nonpartisan) Carla Piluso: Solid police background plus enthusiasm.
METRO
District 2 (Nonpartisan) Carlotta Collette (i): Intelligent and brings a welcome communications background to an agency struggling to communicate its many missions.
District 6 (Nonpartisan) Robert Liberty (i): Land-use expert and the resident skeptic on the council.
STATE
Senate District 23 (D) Jackie Dingfelder: Proven herself in the House as an able ally for enviros and consumers.
House District 38 (D) Chris Garrett: Gutsy and experienced inside the Capitol.
House District 42 (D) Jules Kopel-Bailey: Beats out a strong field with expertise in planning and sustainability.
House District 45 (D) Michael Dembrow: Longtime PCC instructor brings brains and education background.
House District 49 (D) Nick Kahl: High energy plus a lame opponent.
House District 52 (D) Suzanne VanOrman: Education background and a commitment to healthcare access.
House District 52 (R) Phyllis Thiemann: No specifics, but she runs a bed-and-breakfast—maybe she’s a hard worker.
STATEWIDE MEASURES
Measure 51-Yes!: Strengthens the constitutional rights of crime victims.
Measure 52-Yes!: Same as above, just deals with a different part of the state constitution.
Measure 53-Yes!: Fixes a screw-up in an earlier property-seizure measure.
.nar.jpg)
Cruz knows the issues well
Sean Cruz, who has served as (Senator) Gordly's legislative aide and chief of staff for the past five years…is qualified for the job. He knows the issues that are important in the district, and he certainly knows how things get done in the Legislature. Most notably, he persuaded Gordly to push legislation, called Aaron's Law, that gives families tools to punish parents for the crime of child abduction.
Mac's ads were fair. If you don't think it is relevant for the Attorney General to have practiced law in this state, then that's fine. I, for one, am glad that I know Kroger only passed the bar last year. I would have felt misled if I learned that after I voted for him.
And I did watch the endorsement interview. I thought Macpherson did better. Apparently so did WW.