Candidate for City Council, Feeling Ignored, Sues OPB

One of the long-shot candidates for Portland City Council has sued Oregon Public Broadcasting in small claims court for holding an on-air discussion between the leading candidates in the race—but failing to invite him.

David Gwyther alleges in his suit that OPB owes him $2,012 for leaving him out of an April 16 "Think Out Loud" segment featuring Amanda Fritz and Mary Nolan, the frontrunners in the race for City Commission Position 1.

Gwyther, 64, is a cab driver and registered lobbyist who filed to run on Feb. 10. His campaign has raised only $100 and he has spent a little less than $1,500 out of pocket to pay for campaign expenses. He is polling at 1 percent in the council race (according to a poll sponsored by OPB).

The April 26 suit says OPB "excluded three of the five candidates for Portland City Commissioner #1 using unfair and non public reasoning."

Gwyther also says:

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