Cogen Launches MultCo Campaign at Curious Comedy Theater

Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen launched his 2010 re-election campaign Wednesday night with a packed party at Northeast Portland's Curious Comedy Theater.

Given the number of elected officials and key advocates in attendance, Cogen should have no problem racking up endorsements.

The crowd of hundreds included fellow MultCo commissioners Deborah Kafoury and Diane McKeel, MultCo Chair Ted Wheeler, state Rep. Lew Frederick (D-North/Northeast Portland), and City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, whom Cogen once served as chief of staff in City Hall.

Also in attendance were Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini and Roey Thorpe, head of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.

Restaurateur-turned-bureaucrat Ron Paul and up-and-coming sustainability maven Sattie Clark also made it out.

In a short speech, Cogen touted his achievements during his first term, including a community farm, a cell phone recycling program, a solar project on county buildings, a one-stop domestic-violence victims' center, a local climate action plan, and a requirement for chain restaurants to provide calorie counts on menus.

Cogen, who represents North and Northeast Portland, filed for re-election on Wednesday. He has not yet drawn a competitor.

But Karol Collymore, a Cogen staffer, told the crowd it's not too late for a credible opponent to file. She asked supporters to reach into their pockets and donate to Cogen's already-substantial campaign fund.

Cogen tells WW today he raised about $3,500 at the event.

"The other thing we got last night was a huge amount of food donated to the (Oregon Food Bank)," Cogen says by email. "The back of my Subaru was packed to the gills when I dropped it off this morning."