Wheeler Quietly Kicks Off MultCo Re-Election Campaign (with Correction)

Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler hasn't yet officially declared he's running for re-election.

But the one-term county boss is quietly laying the groundwork for his 2010 campaign, shelling out $2,500 this month to local political communications firm Mandate Media.

Wheeler confirms to WW he's running again for county chair — despite some observers expressing hope he'll run for City Council or even governor.

Wheeler, who has not yet hired a campaign manager, says he'll begin planning his campaign over the holidays and "ramp up" his re-election bid in January.

Wheeler has drawn only one competitor, retired physicist James Lee.

County Commissioner Jeff Cogen's first term also expires at the end of 2010. Cogen, who has not yet filed, tells WW he will run again.

Cogen put to rest any rumors he may run for City Commissioner Dan Saltzman's seat, saying he's definitely running for county commission.

A former chief of staff to Saltzman in City Hall, Cogen took the unusual step of hiring the same campaign director as Saltzman — Emerald Bogue, a former staffer for Mayor Sam Adams.

CORRECTION: This post originally stated that Bogue is a current staffer for Adams. Bogue informs us she resigned from the mayor's office in mid-November. WW regrets the error.