Blue Oregon

About a month ago, Rasmussen released a poll that suggested the Oregon Senate race might be a close one, with incumbent Dem Ron Wyden leading challenger Jim Huffman by just 14 points, 49% to 35%.  Today, Grove Insight released numbers of a Wyden-commission poll that doubles the gap, 53%-23%.  This is three points ahead of the approval rating Survey USA measured for Wyden a month ago. To see what role name recognition might play, they also polled respondents (500 likely voters) about who they would support in hypothetical contests between Wyden and Jason Atkinson and Greg Walden.  Finally, Grove included the Libertarian, Marc Delphine.  Have a look:

Wyden: 53%
Huffman: 23%
Delphine: 5%
Undecided: 20%

Wyden: 53%
Atkinson: 22%
Delphine: 5%
Undecided: 20%

Wyden: 52%
Walden: 24%
Delphine: 5%
Undecided: 18%

A few comments and then I'll leave it to you: 1) polls are all about the sample, and the numbers I received didn't come with crosstabs; 2) it looks like respondents in this sample are reading Huffman/Atkinson/Walden as a generic Republican and for the moment, Wyden is safely in front; 3) based on this sample, it looks like the libertarian numbers are coming straight out of the GOP pool; 4) this is extremely early in the process and suggestive not of what will happen in November but where things are now. 

Your thoughts?

Just got off the phone with Steve Novick, who had been talking up today a possible run for the Multnomah County Chair seat vacated today by Ted Wheeler. Novick says he'll be throwing his support behind Jeff Cogen.

Novick said he had a good conversation with Bev Stein today, who advised him to support Cogen. Novick said he thought that was the right advice, so he took it.

OK, rather than overwhelm the site with a gazillion posts, we'll be updating filing day news here.

Let's kick it off with a big one:

9:50 a.m.: Former State Treasurer Jim Hill has filed to run for his old job. He was first elected State Treasurer in 1992 and served two terms. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2002 and 2006. Hat tip to Willamette Week.

10:10 a.m.: Former state legislator Margaret Carter has filed for Multnomah County Chair.

10:18 a.m.: UCC Minister Chuck Currie has filed to replace Jeff Cogen in the Multnomah County Commission Seat, District #2.

10:22 a.m.: Former Multnomah County Commissioner Gary Hansen says he’ll run to replace Commissioner Jeff Cogen. (via Willamette Week)

10:35 a.m.: Congressman Peter DeFazio has drawn a new Republican opponent (now that Sid Leiken is out.) Art Robinson is the director of the Petition Project - a project that seeks to line up scientists who are "opposed to the hypothesis of human-caused global warming." He's also a home-schooling activist. Here's a 2001 profile from right-wing magazine American Spectator. (Filing here.)

10:47 a.m.: Richard Harisay, a Democrat, has filed to run in Oregon House District 17. That seat is currently held by Republican Sherrie Springer.

10:56 a.m.: Jeff Cogen has now officially withdrawn his filing for his District #2 Commission seat and has filed for MultCo Chair.

11:22 a.m.: This one is from yesterday, but I hadn't seen it reported elsewhere. Another GOPer has filed for Governor. West Linn resident and business owner Darren Karr has waded into the race. Karr already has a website in which he calls himself the Zero Dollar Candidate.

12:13 p.m.: Gary Hansen's filing is now official for MultCo Commish District #2.

1:57 p.m.: Hey, check this out! You can follow Multnomah County Elections on Facebook - and get live updates on all the filings.

2:06 p.m.: According to WW, Paul Van Orden will file to run for the District 2 Multnomah County Commission race. Paul is the noise control officer for the city of Portland, and picked up 10% of the county-wide vote for Sheriff in 2006 as a write-in candidate.

2:30 p.m.A few more filings for the State Legislature: Republican Kayla Fioravanti has filed to run against Democrat Mike Schauffler in House District 48. Democrat Mike Powers has filed in House District 20 against Vicki Berger--Powers is a member of SEIU and is set to give Berger a real run. On the Senate side, GOPer Karen Bodner is filing in the 7th district against Chris Edwards.

3:04 p.m. Democrat Rick Levine, a former president of Rogue Community College, has filed to run against Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) in the 4th.

3:40 p.m. Timi Parker a retired teacher from Newberg has filed against Larry George. I'm hearing that race may turn out to be a hot one. Susan Sokol-Blosser has pulled the trigger against Jim Weidner (sweet!) in House District 24.

3:50 p.m. Paul Van Orden makes it official for MultCo Commissioner #2.

4:00 p.m.: Another race to keep an eye on: Pete Wells, the City Attorney of Pendleton, has filed to run in the seat currently held by Republican Bob Jenson. Jenson is facing a potentially bruising primary against Michael Mathisen of Hermiston.

4:09 p.m.: Ted Wheeler and Chris Telfer have officially filed for state treasurer.

The dominoes have started falling, and they'll fall fast - because 5 p.m. is the deadline to file.

With Ted Wheeler's appointment as State Treasurer, he's no longer running for re-election as Multnomah County Chair.

According to Willamette Week, Steve Novick intends to file today to run for Multnomah County Chair. Novick previously worked in the chair's office, as a senior policy advisor to then-Chair Diane Linn.

Moments ago, Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen told me that he will file today as well. Cogen has been on the commission since 2006.

And Karol Collymore, currently a member of Cogen's staff, just filed at Multnomah County Elections to run for Cogen's seat. Collymore sought a pair of legislative appointments earlier this year, and is a BlueOregon editor. (Per our policy, she'll no longer participate here as long as she's an active candidate.)

Update, 9:45 a.m.: Willamette Week reports that Chuck Currie will also file to run for Cogen's commission seat. Currie is a long-time affordable housing advocate, an ordained minister, and blogs at ChuckCurrie.com.

Update, 10:10 a.m.: Willamette Week reports that Margaret Carter will also file to run for Cogen's commission seat County chair. Carter was a long-time state legislator - and resigned last fall to take a post with the Department of Human Services.

Stay tuned for more on this eventful filing day.

Today is the filing deadline for the 2010 election season, and one of the most important offices has many, many openings: Party Precinct Committee Person. There are thousands of these positions across the state, and few have greater value for the future, not just of your party, but progressive democracy in Oregon.

We talk about "parties" as if they have some solid, identifiable structure, but in truth, political parties are pretty indistinct critters. Yes, there are officers (more on that soon) and candidates, and there are committees and activists, but a political party is greater than just those few individuals or policy platforms you can identify. A party is an easy target to attack, until you try to specify who, exactly it is, you are targeting.

Take the Democratic Party of Oregon. There is a state party with officers and employees. There are also members who serve, through the county parties, on state committees. These local members come from all over the state, and their political views range from the uber-blues of Portland to the very purplish southern and eastern Dems (often a lonely, but defiant, group). So when someone says "Those Democrats!" are they refering to the ones who are very pro-business, the ones who are anti-corporate, the treehuggers, the fishermen, the former loggers, the soccer moms in Irvington — who exactly are "those Dems"?

Well, they are you. If you are a registered Democrat, vote Dem, support Democratic candidates, give to Democratic causes — that's you. When you hear someone bitch about "the Dems" they are casting that net over you. But you're not the one in office, you're not the one making "those" decisions.

Take a stand, not to defend the party (whichever party you choose to affiliate with) but to direct and guide the party. Become a PCP. Be responsible for the policies and actions of your local county party. You can make a difference at the local level; just ask any elected official who comes to the party for money and volunteers to win an election.

Becoming a PCP is simple. Get your butt to your local County Elections Office by 5pm and file. Then get 3 people to vote for you in the May 18th primary. That's it. You'll then be "those Democrats" too. And one very important fact: Only those PCPs elected in the Primary election are eligible to vote for County Party officers. So if your County Party simply isn't getting the message that we need to move forward, and isn't working for progressive causes, the best way to change it is to get new leadership. And only those who are on the ballot May 18th will be eligible to vote for those progressive local leaders.

So get to your and file that paperwork (it's free). If you've already done so, get your friends to do the same. It really is important. State offices may be getting all the ink, but remember what Howard Dean told us in 2003: "You've got the power".

Use that power as a PCP and make a difference people can point to with pride and certainty.

This morning at the PDX Airport Conference Center, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that he is appointing Multnomah County Commission Chair Ted Wheeler to fill the State Treasurer's job vacated by the death of Ben Westlund.

Kari has already posted the official statements from Kulongoski and Wheeler. However, the early morning press conference was a somber affair with both men seeming to feel the weight of grief for the passing of Westlund. Kulongoski noted that nobody really wants to think about politics right now, but that there was little choice given the time constraints.

Governor Kulongoski said that he had first spoken with Wheeler about the position on Sunday afternoon. He also said that his short list really only included Wheeler and one other person: former State Representative Greg Macpherson. The decision was made to go with Wheeler late last night. Kulongoski noted that he chose Wheeler in part because he knew that labor support would be tough to secure for Macpherson in the upcoming election.

Kulongoski introduced Wheeler as an individual with a good deal of public and private expertise in the integrity of fiscal responsibility. Before taking the helm as Multnomah County Chair, Wheeler, age 47, worked in the financial industry with Bank of America and with Copper Mountain Trust. He's a graduate of Lincoln High School in Portland and earned a BA in Economics from Stanford University. He also has an MBA from Columbia and a Masters in Public Policy from the JFK School of Government at Harvard.

Wheeler said that he takes the job with conflicting emotions but says he is well prepared for the challenges ahead. He's looking for a seamless transition and is withdrawing from the County Chair election and will run for the State Treasurer seat as an incumbent.

So what happens for Multnomah County? Wheeler says he will step down as Multnomah County Chair on Thursday. Chief Operating Officer Jana McLellen will become Acting Chair and the Board will elect a new Chair to serve until December 31, 2010. In the meantime, those wishing to run for the position must file by 5:00PM today. "I am confident that some highly qualified candidates may step forward," Wheeler said. Wheeler also said that he gave advanced notice of his resignation and appointment to his fellow Board members and high level staff. "I'm very confident that the county is in good hands," he said.

Wheeler's duties as Treasurer will include serving as the state's chief financial officer, managing billions in taxpayer funds. He will also be the state's chief investment officer--which includes the investment of the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the State Accident Insurance Fund and the Common School Fund, among others.

As Treasurer, Wheeler will also serve on the State Land Board where he will work to manage state trust lands for the Common School Fund.

Governor Ted Kulongoski has just announced that he is appointing Ted Wheeler as the new State Treasurer. Currently, Wheeler is the chair of Multnomah County.

In a statement, Governor Kulongoski said:

“Ted Wheeler brings the perfect balance of expertise from both the public and private sectors to this job with an impressive record managing the county’s budget to a working knowledge of the financial industry,” said Governor Ted Kulongoski. “A fifth generation Oregonian with ties across the state, I am confident that Ted will serve Oregonians well as the State Treasurer.”

In a statement posted on his official county website, Wheeler said:

This weekend, Oregon lost a champion, leader and good friend in Ben Westlund. In many ways Ben represented exactly the kind of leader we need today. He brought both civility and passion to government and he rose above partisan divisions. He came from a successful career in the private sector but he understood and cared deeply about public service. My sympathies go to his family Libby, B.J. and Taylor.

It is with conflicted emotions that I accept Governor Kulongoski’s appointment to the office of Oregon State Treasurer. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of this great state and believe I am well prepared for the challenges ahead but I am saddened by the circumstances that bring me here today.

I imagine in some corners of the state, people will ask: “Who is Ted Wheeler?” The short answer is that I currently serve as the chief executive officer of the largest county in Oregon, that I was a senior manager of an investment firm in my private sector career and that I have graduate degrees in government and business. In short, I’ve got a good resume for this job. Frankly, I’ve thought for some time that I might run for Treasurer at some point in the future. I never expected it to be this soon.

Accepting this appointment will require me to resign from my position as Multnomah County Chair effective Thursday, March 11. Per the Multnomah County Charter, my designee, Chief Operating Officer Jana McLellen will become Acting Chair upon my resignation. The Board of County Commissioners will choose an interim Chair to serve until the end of 2010. The permanent position will be on the May ballot. I will remain as involved as necessary to ensure a smooth transition.

Today I will withdraw my candidacy for a second term as County Chair and I will file for election as Oregon State Treasurer.

My plan is to provide a seamless transition for Treasurer’s Office staff and I look forward to meeting with them this week. I’m going to refrain from jumping in on any of the current issues facing the Treasurer’s Office until I have had time to review the facts.

Several years ago, I chose to leave a successful career in the private sector because I believed that I had something to offer the people of my community. Now the Governor has given me the opportunity to serve the whole state, and I can hardly say no. I wish the circumstances were different. I certainly would have preferred different timing, but I accept this challenge without regret and with the confidence that I can provide good stewardship of Oregon’s resources and good value to the taxpayers.

Learn more about Ted Wheeler on his official county website, his campaign website, his Facebook page, and from Twitter.

We'll update more as we learn more.

It’s thoroughly depressing to see that the one Republican who claims she’s running for Treasurer is State Senator Chris Telfer. Telfer’s the one who claimed that a Secretary of State audit said that the State had billions of extra dollars lying around for the taking. When the Secretary of State’s office and Legislative Fiscal explained that that was simply untrue, Telfer continued to insist that it must be true. It was one of the more bizarre episodes in the Measure 66 / 67 campaign.

Here are selections from the Oregonian story in January:

Reports that Oregon has billions of dollars stashed away in surplus accounts -- fanned by Republican legislators and opponents of proposed tax increases -- are bunk, say the accountants who compile an annual report on the state's financial status.

"I'm always amazed that people could think there's a pot of gold here that no one knew about except the state controller's division," said Kathryn Ross, the statewide accounting and reporting manager in the Department of Administrative Services ....

In a news release earlier this week, Telfer said, "This report confirms that there are billions of dollars for use at the Legislature's discretion."

No, it doesn't, Ross said ...

Ken Rocco, the legislative fiscal officer, said he wrestled with this issue a year ago and wrote a long memo to lawmakers explaining why the ending fund balances weren't flush with money that could be used to fill budget holes.

"It's the same thing we said before," Rocco said. "The vast majority of these funds are tied up in various special kinds of trust funds, revolving loan accounts" and other restrictions.

Those of us who closely follow Oregon politics and policy are deeply saddened by the death of Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund. He was a kind, giving man whose independent spirit and dedication to our state will be greatly missed.

Unfortunately, the difficult task of finding someone to fill the office can't wait very long.

As Kari mentioned, there's a very quick turnaround time in terms of the deadline for major party candidates filing for the position.

The Governor will be appointing someone to fill the seat and that person must be a Democrat. According to ORS 236.100:

Political affiliation of person appointed to fill vacancy in partisan elective office. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, whenever a vacancy occurs in any partisan elective office in this state and is to be filled by appointment, no person shall be eligible for such appointment unless the person is affiliated, as determined by the appropriate entry on the person’s official election registration card with the same political party:

(emphasis Carla)

Today's rumor mill is a-buzz with a number of Democrats who would like the job or are perhaps considering filing. In no particular order:

1. Rick Metsger: State Senator from Welches, Oregon. Metsger has already filed for the job. The timber and transportation interests are big fans of Senator Metsger. They'd be likely to go to bat for him in a campaign. Metsger had already announced his retirement from the State Senate and Rep. Brent Barton is running for that seat. If Metsger were appointed by Kulongoski, Barton would certainly have an inside track for the appointment--and could then run for State Senate as an incumbent.

2. Greg Macpherson: Former State Representative from Lake Oswego and attorney with Stoel Rives. Ran for Oregon Attorney General in 2008, losing in the primary to current AG John Kroger. Macpherson is generally beloved in the environmental community in part for his strong work to pass Measure 49. However, labor isn't likely to warm to Macpherson because of their displeasure with his work to restructure the Public Employees Retirement System. Macpherson has a ton of experience working with pensions and benefit plans, as this is his legal specialty in his law practice. It also happens that managing the public employees retirement money is one of the jobs of State Treasurer.

3. Steve Novick: Novick provides a number of interesting facets to the job and to the upcoming campaign. First, he has good statewide name ID following his run for U.S. Senate in 2008. Novick has a huge base of ardent supporters and can probably pull a campaign together relatively quickly. He's just come off a huge victory with Measures 66 and 67 as well. When I spoke with Novick today, he expressed interest in the job: "I hate that people have to think about this the day after Ben Westlund is gone, but we do. It's a great job and it would allow me to address Wall Street type issues. Ben was trying to figure out with our fiduciary obligations how to make creative investments for Oregon. That should continue. Also, financial education for kids and adults should continue as well." Novick said that it would be an "honor to follow Ben" in the job. And it wouldn't be Novick without a witty response: "I was okay in math until I hit linear algebra." Novick says that the Governor's office has not contacted him about the position. He also said that he believes a wide array of folks should be considered for the job.

4. Richard Devlin: Senate Majority Leader. Devlin understands politics and how to run an effective campaign. He has a degree in management and has served awhile on Ways and Means, which means he understands money and budgets. The downside: his seat would be very tough to defend.

5. Ted Wheeler: Currently the Chair of the Multnomah County Commission. Wheeler has executive experience running a very large organization. He has a reputation for balancing the needs of the business community with the desires of progressives in Multnomah County. When I contacted Wheeler this afternoon he said, "I have nothing to say about this". When I told him that his name was being mentioned as a possibility for the job he said that he had no idea why. Wheeler seemed to want to put an end to the speculation.

I haven't been able to reach all of those whose names I'm hearing, but I'll provide updates as I get to them.

The office of the state treasurer has announced plans for memorial services for Ben Westlund:

The public is invited to two memorial services for Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund, who died Sunday of cancer at the age of 60.

A Central Oregon celebration will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 12, at the Riverhouse Conference Center, 2850 NW Rippling River Court in Bend.

Westlund will be honored at the Oregon Capitol in Salem at a public ceremony in the House chamber at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 13.

Furthermore:

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Westlund family asks that financial contributions be directed to the Ben Westlund Memorial Fund, which will accept donations at any US Bank branch starting on Tuesday. The fund will benefit the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon. The Redmond nonprofit provides services to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

“Ben Westlund really cared about people and was a longtime champion for people with mental and physical challenges,” said Darrel Wilson, the nonprofit’s executive director.

Correspondence and condolences that are sent and delivered to Westlund’s former Capitol office will be forwarded to the Westlund family.

Finally, BenWestlund.com has been updated to include the statement from the family and staff - as well as a video from his return to the Capitol in 2003 from cancer treatment.

First, let's acknowledge one thing right off the bat: It is unseemly and awkward to be talking about a successor to Ben Westlund so soon after his untimely death.

However, the election calendar doesn't allow us the time we'd all like to reflect on Ben's life and career before moving on to the political gamesmanship. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing to be done about it. (We will, of course, continue to reflect on the loss of Ben Westlund in the coming days and weeks.)

Here's the deal: Because the office of state treasurer has been vacated in the first half of the term (Ben was elected in 2008), the seat opens up for an election this year. Candidates for treasurer will run in a partisan primary in May, with a general election in November. The timing is especially tough, because the filing deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Governor Ted Kulongoski will make an appointment to fill the treasurer's job for the remainder of the year. He may, or may not, make an appointment prior to tomorrow's filing deadline. Of course, if the appointee hasn't filed by then, they'll be simply a rest-of-the-year placeholder. So far, the Governor hasn't made any announcement about who he's considering, when he'll make his pick, or even when he'll announce when he'll make his pick.

Already today, we've learned that Rick Metsger is running. Jeff Mapes:

Metsger, who unsucessfully ran for secretary of state in 2008 and is retiring from the Senate this year, said he is in the race regardless of whether he is appointed by Kulongoski or not.

"If you want the job, you go for it," said Metsger. He argued that his service on the State Debt Policy Advisory Committee and chairmanship of the Senate Business and Transportation Committee help qualify him for the job. Metsger has been a communications consultant and is a former TV newsman.

According to Mapes, Allen Alley - who lost in 2008 to Westlund - is not interested. Neither is Senate President Peter Courtney.

Yesterday, Willamette Week's Nigel Jaquiss speculated aloud about the possibilities:

In some ways the most logical person is ex-Rep. Greg Macpherson (D-Lake Oswego). Macpherson, a benefits lawyer, is an expert on the Public Employee Retirement System, whose complexities figure into the Treasurer’s job. And unlike some current lawmakers who may want the job but recently spurned Kulongoski’s plea to reform the kicker, Macpherson aided the governor by taking on the thankless task of implementing PERS reform in 2003. Macpherson’s role in PERS reform cost him dearly in the 2008 Attorney General’s race. In that contest, public employee unions punished him by throwing extensive financial support to the eventual winner, John Kroger.

The target on Macpherson’s back presents a risk: if Kulongoski appoints him, there’s a possibility the public employee unions could recruit and support another Democrat to oppose him in the May primary. Given the short time window, union financial support could be a decisive advantage, but it would be difficult to recruit a strong candidate by filing time and given the bad press around allegations of Democratic retribution during the February special legislative session, the unions may just let Macpherson alone.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible successors include Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin) and Sen. Rick Metsger (D-Welches). Metsger is retiring and thus available. Courtney and Devlin have planned to continue in the Senate but might be tempted by the post.

Discuss.

I feel absolutely horrible today about Ben Westlund. And his death has also brought the memory of the untimely loss of Bryan Johnston roaring back. Two men who proved, among other things, that “moderate” doesn’t have to mean wishy-washy milquetoast.

In their honor, and because of a conversation I had with a friend this morning, I’ll take a stab at being moderate myself. Here we go:

I think progressives need to reach out to Oregon’s investor community. I’m concerned that the Measure 66 / 67 fight might have soured some investors on Oregon. And I think we need to think about a capital gains tax break.

Yes, this is really me. I haven’t been abducted and brainwashed by aliens. I’m still proud of helping to pass Measures 66 and 67. But I am serious. Let me explain.

This morning I had breakfast with a guy I know who actually voted for 66 and 67, but who hangs out with investor types, the kind of people who invest in start-ups that might became job-creating traded-sector businesses. He said that the adoption of and the discussion around Measure 66, in particular, made them feel that they weren’t valued. They were willing to absorb a temporary tax increase, but when the Legislature made it partly permanent, they got the impression that nobody cared about people who invest in Oregon businesses. And some of them, my friend said, will leave, or have left, the state. Not because 0.9% of the amount they make over $250,000 is going to ruin them financially, But because they wound up not feeling valued.

Now, I did not think before, and do not think now, that there will be a mass exodus of rich people from Oregon. But I always acknowledged throughout the campaign that there would probably be a few who would get grumpy and leave. My friend has convinced me that that’s true. I think a lot of it is probably because of the way Salem lobbyists managed to sell a distorted version of what actually happened in the ’09 session, and I told my friend that, but he said it doesn’t matter: the perceptions are there.

That doesn’t mean that we repeal 66 and 67. At all. But if there are ways to make some of these folks feel more valued, we should try them out. If we can convince even a few of the few to stay, that’s a good thing.

I am reminded of the fight over PERS reform in 2003. Because of really unfortunate decisions the PERS board made in the 1990s, PERS costs were skyrocketing and something had to be done. But when the reforms were implemented, a lot of public employees felt that they had been personally attacked and disrespected. They didn’t all necessarily know everything about how dire the short- and long-term budget situation was, or how PERS fit into it. They thought the people in charge didn’t value them. (The fact that the reforms went beyond what the Oregon Supreme Court thought was even Constitutional didn’t help, of course, but I think people would have been pretty mad regardless.)

Now, some people were going to feel that way no matter what Governor Kulongoski or legislators said to them. But I bet that if the Governor had it to do over again, he would go on an extensive speaking / listening tour of public employee work sites to talk them through why reforms were necessary. That might have helped fend off the primary challenge he wound up with in 2006. I understand the pressures on the Governor in the fall and winter of 2002-2003; he had to put an administration and a budget together, flesh out his legislative agenda, etc.  But ideally, he would have worked in that speaking / listening tour.

I think progressives – elected an unelected – should try to do something like that with investor types now. I’ve heard, actually, that our legislators are doing direct outreach to business owners around the state – going directly to the business folks, not through their lobbyists. I think that’s great.

Because I am quite confident that even many rich, sophisticated investors and business folks really don’t know a hell of a lot about the state’s short-term, medium-term and long-term budget problems, or about how politically limited the legislature’s revenue options were and are. Without someone taking the time to walk them through that, some of them really are going to think that we were just out to get them. And some of them are going to turn away from Oregon, not invest in the Oregon start-ups they might otherwise have invested in. No, not enough to cause the economic catastrophe that the Measures 66 and 67 opponents warned of; not enough to make a big difference in the amount of revenue that Measure 66 will collect. But there will be a few. If through outreach we can make that few even fewer, we should give it a shot.

One thing that we could do is restore, in somewhat expanded form, a capital gains tax break that Oregon adopted in the ‘90’s and that then was allowed to lapse: A tax break for investments in Oregon-specific businesses.  As you may know, I have always been thoroughly opposed to an across-the-board cut in capital gains taxes. Mostly that would just mean that people who make money gambling in the stock market, creating no Oregon jobs at all, would get to pay a lower tax rate than people who have regular jobs have to pay. But I see nothing wrong with telling investors that if they invest in an Oregon-based business, they should pay a lower tax rate than if they don’t.

My good friend Chuck Sheketoff says that the Oregon capital gains provision didn’t work, didn’t generate much if any additional investment in Oregon businesses. The friend I had breakfast with today says that the law was interpreted in an incredibly narrow way and was therefore much less meaningful than it could have been. Maybe he’s wrong; maybe no such thing will ever make a darned but of difference. But I don’t see the harm in trying. If nobody uses it, it won’t cost us anything. It won’t cost a lot of money under any scenario, because the vast majority of capital gains will still come from people investing in the broad-based stock market. But it might help spur a bit of extra investment in Oregon-based businesses. And it might reassure those investors my friend know that we do value them.

It’s kind of like the single sales factor, another issue (among very few) where Chuck and I are on opposite sides. Conceptually, I agreed with Nike and Intel that the corporate profits tax should be based on a company’s Oregon sales, and they shouldn’t pay more because they have property and employees in Oregon. Why punish a company for having employees and property in Oregon? If they have employees and property, they’re paying income and property taxes. The actual single sales factor legislation was problematic because it was a net revenue loss that we could not afford: They should have raise the rate to offset that. But the concept was sound. To the extent reasonably feasible, we should have a tax code that collects taxes from businesses based outside of Oregon that make money here, and encourages the creation of businesses based in Oregon. Same with capital gains: If we collect a lot of money from people who live here but make their money gambling in the stock market, while giving a break to people who invest in Oregon-based businesses, why not? 

Again: I know that taxes are generally not a big factor in business location decisions. I don’t think they’re generally a big factor in personal location decisions either. If they were, there wouldn’t be so many rich people in New York and California.

But again: If even a few investors are going to leave, and we can do some things to convince a few of the few to stay, why not? 

By the way, my friend this morning was a huge fan of Ben Westlund. Who supported Measures 66 and 67, but still – according to my friend – was working with and had the respect of my friend and his friends. 

By Jack Lorts of Fossil, Oregon. Jack is the mayor of Fossil, the chair of the Democratic Party in Wheeler County, and is the former chair of the DPO's Rural Caucus.

As the deadline for filing approaches for candidates running for Oregon legislative seats, we are learning of more and more exciting candidates. Here in the always winnable Oregon HD-59, encompassing The Dalles, Madras, John Day and the Fossil/Condon areas, we have an exciting challenger to the entrenched establishment.

Fossil resident Will Boettner has announced that he has filed to run against Republican incumbent Rep. John Huffman of The Dalles, a former radio station executive. Boettner is a long time community activist, chair of the Wheeler County Planning Commission chair of the DPO Rural Caucus, vice-chair of Wheeler County Democrats, and more.

Boettner is an articulate and outspoken advocate for rural issues. As a professional geologist, he brings a wealth of experience in water resource and land management to the task at hand.

Another cardinal issues for Boettner is rural health care which he knows first hand. His wife Debbie is a physicians assistant in Fossil and the driving force behind Fossil's well-known fitness program.

House District 59 has always been one of the most winnable districts east of the Cascades and it looks to be in play again this year, just as it has for the past ten years -- only more so. Boettner is a likeable, intelligent, charmastic guy who is doing his homework and is going to offer the voters of District 59 a real choice.

The Republicans are going to know they have a tiger on their hands this time. This is a race to really follow!

By Kristi Jo Lewis of Portland, Oregon. KJ is the co-founder of Global Sistergoods, and a 2010 class member of Emerge Oregon.

Today, March 8, is International Women's Day, a day to recognize women's political and social achievements. It is also a day to recognize how far we have yet to go in the global fight for women's rights.

According to Amnesty International, one of every three women worldwide has been physically or sexually abused during her lifetime, with rates of domestic violence reaching 70 percent in some countries. We know the ways violence against women can be perpetrated: rape, domestic violence, acid burnings, so-called “honor killings.”

The United States has yet to ratify the UN Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW), but I'm glad to know that a bill (S. 2279) has been re-introduced (as S. 2982) to address violence against women globally. Known as the International Violence Against Women Act, the bill was originally introduced during the 110th Congress by Senators Joe Biden and Richard Lugar, but didn’t come to a vote before Congress adjourned.

The I-VAWA was reintroduced on February 4 by bipartisan teams in both the House and Senate. Amnesty International, Women Thrive Worldwide, and the Family Violence Prevention Fund deserve kudos for helping to revive this bill.

Here’s the deal: I-VAWA directs the U.S. government to create a comprehensive, 5-year strategy to reduce violence in 10-20 diverse countries that have severe levels of violence against women and girls. To achieve this goal, the Act allocates more than $1 billion in U.S. assistance over 5 years and makes ending violence against women and girls a U.S. diplomatic priority.

Importantly, the bill also expands U.S. support and capacity for overseas nongovernmental organizations - particularly women’s nongovernmental organizations - working to end violence against women and girls in their own countries.This is the first time violence against women will be a diplomatic priority, and will be addressed in a coordinated and integrated way. It also requires that in areas of armed conflict where the U.S. is aware of mass violence against women and girls (such as Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo), the U.S. government will have to act.

Learn more specifics on this Amnesty International page, or read the legislation yourself..

So far, Rep. David Wu is the only member of our Oregon delegation to co-sponsor this legislation. I'm not sure where the rest of them stand. Let them know where you do, on this issue vital to the safety of women and girls.

It is with sadness that I must report to you that Ben Westlund, Oregon's State Treasurer, passed away last night at 2:30 a.m.

In October, he announced that he was receiving treatment for lung cancer. It was a recurrence of the cancer that he beat back in 2003. Over the holidays, Ben contracted pneumonia and had been battling illness since.

He is survived by his wife, Libby, and their two children, B.J. and Taylor.

Westlund was first elected to the Oregon House in 1996 as a Republican. He immediately made an impression, serving as a freshman on the Ways & Means committee. In 2002, he was appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy and won an election for a full term in 2004. He represented the area in and around Bend, Oregon.

In 2006, he made a run for Governor - as an independent candidate. Ultimately, he dropped out, citing a desire to win, rather than serve as a spoiler. In 2007, he became a Democrat and announced a run for state treasurer. In 2008, he won the race for treasurer, defeating Allen Alley.

Perhaps the best biography of Ben Westlund is found in a 2006 cover story at Willamette Week.

Rest in peace, Ben.

On the jump, a statement from his family and the office of the State Treasurer in its entirety.

Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund dies of cancer
Entrepreneur and political veteran leaves a legacy of public service to Oregon families

In life, there are those who take the road less followed. Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund’s was miles past where the pavement ends.

His path took him from Apple Valley, Calif; to the shores of Lake Oswego; to the painted hills of Eastern Oregon; to rural Deschutes County; and then to the statehouse, where he served as a legislator and as Treasurer.

In Central Oregon and then the Capitol, where Westlund spent much of the past 13 years since being first elected in 1996, he was known for his easygoing wit and his signature sign off: “Down the trail.”

Westlund’s journey ended too soon. He died early Sunday in Bend, when he lost his battle to cancer. He was 60.

The son of Long Beach oilman Bernard "Bud", and Dorothy Reynolds Westlund, was born Sept. 3, 1949, Spent first 16 years in Apple Valley, California where his father had a successful real estate development. Then his family returned to the Northwest with his two brothers. He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., where he earned a degree in education and history.

He helped start a successful mining venture in Christmas Valley, and then a marketing company in Portland. In the 1980s he started ranching in Eastern Oregon and named his operation High Country Herefords, and a cattle genetics operation in Oklahoma called Taurus. His best-known and most economically successful prize-winning Hereford bull was named Reggie.

Westlund married his wife, Libby Bishop, a high school classmate and friend, in1987. After selling his registered Hereford herd in 1990 they settled on the Deschutes River in Tumalo, outside of Bend. They have two children; BJ, 21, and Taylor, 17. Ben dutifully called home every night at 8 p.m. during his years at the Capitol to say good night to his family.

A lifetime fan of baseball, specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers, Westlund also was part-owner in the 1990s of a minor league baseball team, the Bend Bandits. While it was fun to own a team, Ben recounted that the best part of the experience was traveling the state with his kids, watching their team play.

A friend convinced him to run for the legislature in 1996 and Westlund was elected to the Oregon Legislature House of Representatives. In 2003, he was appointed to the Senate and successfully won the seat in 2004. He quickly earned a reputation as a problem solver and as an advocate for Oregon families.

In his 12 years in the state Legislature, he was a co-chairman of the budget-drafting Joint Ways and Means Committee and championed legislation that created the State’s Rainy Day Fund, Public Safety Memorial Fund and the Oregon Cultural Trust. He was the chief legislative advocate for creating the Cascades Campus of Oregon State University in Central Oregon.

He survived an initial bout with lung cancer in 2005. A political moderate who started his career as a Republican, Westlund bucked his party and was the cosponsor of legislation to give marriage-like rights to same-sex couples. He staged a brief campaign for governor as an independent in 2006.

He fought for consumer protection and was the co-author of Oregon’s health system reforms in 2007, and was elected as Oregon’s 27th State Treasurer in 2008. He is the only state treasurer to be elected from east of the Cascades in recent memory.

As Treasurer, he gained national attention for his initiative to expand investment transparency and led a series of reforms to increase accountability and options in the Oregon 529 College Savings Plan. He was instrumental in securing a $20 million settlement in 2009 for families who are saving for their children’s futures.

He worked to the end and was he was a hands-on, creative and collaborative leader who sought to bring out the best in his staff. In the final quarter of 2009, the returns earned by the State Treasury investment division were in the top 1 percent of large public funds.

In his speeches, he frequently joked that while folks can learn lifelong lessons in kindergarten, you can learn a lot about being Treasurer from ranching. For instance, watch out for predators, sunshine is the best disinfectant, and watch where you step.

Westlund’s legacy will live on in Oregon, in the form of the cultural trust and public safety fund, which provides money to families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. His legacy also will live on in the memories of friends and Oregonians whose lives he touched, and those who spoke with him, or were fortunate enough to meet him in his travels down almost every road – paved or not -- across the state he loved.

Down the trail, Ben.

Down the trail.

Over the weekend, Oregon Republicans gathered at the annual Dorchester Conference. In a stunner, Allen Alley crushed Chris Dudley in the conference's straw poll. As the O's Jeff Mapes reports, the vote was 225 to 165 (with 47 for John Lim, and just 1 for Bill Sizemore):

Alley's victory could well have been built on his strong performance in the Friday night debate featuring three of the four candidates (Sizemore was not invited). Several Republicans at the conference said he was clearly the most polished of the candidates.

At the Ridenbaugh Press, Randy Stapilus summarized the debate:

Dudley got the loud response – a snap response for him personally. He had a visual advantage, physically towering over the other two. (In his opening statement he added to it by standing in front of the podiums, poised there tieless and coatless in white shirt, the image of Jimmy Stewart. It was a strong image.

His discussion was less compelling, thin on content, and absent much by way of the applause lines candidates need. He noted that he had just posted a jobs platform on his web site, but he presented little content. His most reliable line was, “I’m coming in from the outside.”

Alley had a clearly organized support base in the audience, and got some cheers. He also had more substance in his answers, and remarked that “I’ve been putting together management teams, identifying markets.” He displayed plenty of energy, but somehow not a commanding presence – there’s a quality in his voice that didn’t connect. He sounded more like a manager than a leader: He described himself at one point, “I’m a managment-by-walking-around kind of guy.”

And his references to meeting with the opposition, seeking some compromises and in effect triangulating, didn’t seem to impress the Republicans. “You have to be willing to go anywhere at any time time to defend your positions . . . We have to win the independents. We have to win some moderate Democrats.” Strategically sound, and he got some applause for it. But it seemed half-hearted.

They did like his shouted closing statement, though: “I am sick and tired of them saying government can’t be run like a business.” (He seemed at times torn between delivering the red meat and reaching across the aisle – an ungainly mix.)

Lim actually had some of the best laugh lines, and argued repeatedly that he had after all gotten elected to the legislature repeatedly from Multnomah County – and “Don’t forget that.” But he isn’t an orator (if you’re not focusing his words can be hard to follow), and he seemed to have the least base of support in the crowd.

There's more from an anonymous blogger at Oregon Catalyst and in a separate story from Jeff Mapes in the O.

Discuss.

On Saturday, Bill Bradbury won the endorsement of the OEA and the newly-merged AFT and OSEA. From the Oregonian's Harry Esteve:

Oregon’s statewide teacher’s union just voted to endorse Democrat Bill Bradbury for governor, passing over its longtime ally, former Gov. John Kitzhaber, who wants to reclaim his old job.

The decision by the Oregon Education Association culminated a big day for Bradbury, the former secretary of state, who also picked up endorsements today from the American Federation of Teachers and from the Oregon School Employees Association.

Willamette Week's Hank Stern explains the political impact:

The support of a large public employee union such as the 47,000-member OEA can be a huge matter in the primary because of the organization and money it can donate to a candidate. Bradbury made a big push for OEA’s support, in hopes it could help him catch up to Kitzhaber in the polls and in fund-raising. The question now becomes how much money OEA will put behind Bradbury, a decided underdog according to the polls.

But for the moment, it was all cheers for Bradbury and his followers.

“It’s a huge, huge step forward,” said a smiling Bradbury while accepting congratulations from teachers and his supporters sporting green Team Bradbury T-shirts. Asked if he believed the teachers union would spend significant money on his candidacy, Bradbury said he hoped so and that he would begin work immediately to achieve that financial backing.

In a statement, AFT and OSEA discuss their endorsement:

"Bill Bradbury earned our endorsement because he is clearly a strong supporter of education, public services and health care. These issues are important to our members and middle class Oregonians in general," stated David Rives, AFT-Oregon President.

"It is clear to us that Bill Bradbury understands our schools and our students need support today - not sometime years in the future. He knows today's students deserve the high quality education they have been promised, and as governor he will fight for them, added Merlene Martin, President of OSEA.

At the O, Jeff Mapes has some additional analysis. The remaining major labor endorsements are AFSCME and SEIU.

Discuss.

As Republicans watch Jim Huffman roll out his U.S. Senate campaign, they can't be very impressed by what they see.

On Thursday, Huffman made his campaign announcement at the Halton Company, a local dealer of Caterpillar heavy equipment. Speaking to his supporters, Huffman decried the 2009 economic recovery and stimulus bill that Senator Wyden voted to support.

The O's Jeff Mapes:

In his announcement speech, Huffman said that Oregonians "know that private investments, not expensive government programs will create the jobs they need."

"Time and again," he said, Wyden's "votes have made things worse for Oregonians and for Oregon's struggling economy."

Here's the delicious bit of irony. The Halton Company credits the stimulus package for help them survive the downturn - and creating private-sector jobs:

Halton Co., a Caterpillar dealer based in Portland, Ore., whose territory covers northwest Oregon and southwestern Washington, has seen a drastic reduction in new housing starts and commercial construction projects similar to other parts of the country, as a result of the economic downturn, says John Hiatt, vice president of business development for Halton Co. ...

However, Halton Co. is starting to see signs of improvement in Oregon. The state has received some funding from the ARRA and it is starting to parcel it out in stimulus projects. ...

Oregon recently received $101 million in stimulus money for transportation, which puts the federal ARRA total at $234 million for that state’s DOT.

“The opportunity comes in taking projects that were in the planning stage or were waiting for funding and allows them to come to fruition perhaps years earlier than they normally would have,” said Hiatt. “It allows our construction customers to have jobs to bid at and we’re starting to see some of our customers get those jobs.”

For example, the Oregon DOT had been planning for some time to repave U.S. Route 26. The project received $2.9 million in stimulus money for the project, and the contract was awarded to Baker Rock Resources, a customer of Halton Co., said Hiatt.

“They ended up buying a paver from us,” he said. “What the stimulus money did was give them enough work in their queue to justify the purchase of the machine."

Two additional opportunities coming down the pike in Oregon include the modernization of Terminal 6 at the Port of Portland – an $8.9 million project, and the modernization of the BNSF Railway aimed at boosting Amtrak speed – a $6.9 million project.

“As the projects start to come out into the marketplace the contractors will be able to stay working, keep employees on the payroll, and with that will come a cascade of opportunities for all equipment dealers in terms of parts and service and potentially new equipment sales.”

That's right, folks. Jim Huffman actually said that the stimulus bill wasn't effective in creating private-sector jobs while on-site at a company that credits the stimulus with creating private-sector jobs.

I don't know whether to call it irony, or hypocrisy, or just plain ol' political incompetence.

How does this happen in a U.S. Senate campaign? Do they not know how to do the Google? Or at least, read the press releases posted at their announcement site's website?

Given the striking differences in their philosophies, I'm hoping for a robust exchange of ideas between Professor Huffman and Senator Wyden, but if this is an indicator of the quality of the product his team is putting on the field, 2010 is going to be more funny than enlightening.

On Friday, John Kitzhaber won the endorsement of the Oregon AFL-CIO:

“John Kitzhaber understands the pressures union members and all middle class Oregonians are under,” said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain. “Of all the candidates he has the strongest plan to create jobs and help lead Oregon out of the recession. We are looking forward to playing an active role in the campaign.”

From Willamette Week:

Former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, who’s running in the Democratic primary against Kitzhaber, had hoped in the battle for union endorsements that the AFL-CIO would remain neutral. Kitzhaber also has been endorsed in the gubernatorial primary by several other unions, most recently including Boilermakers Local 500, the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 Oregon, the Heat & Frost Insulators Local 36 and the Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 156.

Also on Friday, Kitzhaber picked up the endorsement of the Teamsters:

“Our members trust John and they know that he has spent his entire career in public service standing up for the rights of working families,” said Lynn Lehrbach, Political Coordinator for Teamsters Joint Council 37. “John fights on the frontlines for workers and our workers are going to fight on the frontlines for him.”

According to the AP, Kitzhaber "has won every union endorsement so far". The O's Jeff Mapes runs down the list of remaining labor endorsements:

The Oregon Education Association, which is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, will make its endorsement decision Saturday. This will be followed by endorsements in the next few weeks from Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Teachers (which recently merged with the Oregon School Employees Association).

Discuss.

Oregon GOP Chairman Bob Tiernan has asked two members of the House GOP caucus to end their re-election bids.

Why? Because they had the temerity to exercise some independent thought and vote to support the tax increases passed during the last legislative session. The two are Rep. Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) and Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner).

What really got Tiernan angry is that AFSCME is going to support Jenson and Smith. (Y'know, be bipartisan and stuff.) The O's Jeff Mapes got the money quote from Bob:

Tiernan released a statement urging the two to refuse any help from the public employee unions or to "consider removing themselves from the election for the Republican Party nominations for House Districts 57 and 58.”

When I talked to Tiernan, he was more definite. "Based on everything they've done, they ought to get out of the party," he said flatly. "The unions coming to their aid is just more ratification of who they are and who is supporting them."

Let me get this straight: Tiernan screams and yells about how the the Democrats and labor unions are overly-close allies -- but when two members of his party manage to win their support, he wants to kick 'em out?

So much for the big tent, I guess.

Click here to view the full letter to Rep. Smith.

There's more at NW Republican and Willamette Week.