Independent Pollster Adam Davis Gives to Portland Mayoral Candidate Sarah Iannarone

The $1,000 contribution from Davis' wife "surprises" his former colleague at DHM Research, which bills itself as nonpartisan.

The campaign finance disclosures from Portland mayoral candidate Sarah Iannarone piqued politicos' interest when they were released Monday, and not only because one of Iannarone's biggest donors was Nancy Hales, wife of Mayor Charlie Hales.

Another contribution—$1,000 from Gina Davis—raises questions about the impartiality of Portland's best-known polling firm.

Gina Davis is the wife of Adam Davis, co-founder of Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall Research, which bills itself as an independent firm that does not support candidates. (Gina Davis also works at DHM Research, as a research analyst.)

Tim Hibbitts, another co-founder who's now retired from the firm, says he is "surprised" by Gina Davis' donation, but he declined to say more. If you comb Oregon's records for campaign contributions, you'll be hard-pressed to find another example of a DHM Research employee giving to an individual's campaign.

Until this week.

Adam Davis says he has worked with Ianarrone and considers her a mentee. He also sits on the advisory board of First Stop Portland, the program at Portland State University that Nancy Hales runs with Ianarrone. He says his wife donated to Ianarrone on his behalf.

Davis says he's now also contributed to mayoral candidates Ted Wheeler and Jules Bailey to dispel any hint of favor.

"Our credibility is important to us," Adam Davis tells WW. "To be fair to all of them . . . I felt I had to go across the board."

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