The 2012 Primary is ON
Time to look through the Multnomah County Voters’ pamphlet and sees whats we gots:
Secretary of State. Paul Damian Wells, the challenger who will not come close to knocking off Kate Brown. His voters pamphlet statement has him a single-issue candidate: he likes the Top 2 Primary Election system in place in neighboring Washington and California — top 2 primary vote getters move on to general election regardless of party affiliation. I’m neutral on this. But you do have to wonder about his argument — he cites the Libertarian Party losing a lawsuit once — this should get the Democratic Party vote, how?
State Representatives. Go to the 50th District and Greg Matthews lists his community service background. Cited in a list: emcee for The Teddy Bear Parade and emcee for a sock hop. I don’t know that I want that in a state legislator, quite frankly.
The County Commisioner race: surely Wes Sederback could have found a better photograph?
District #3:Â Interesting that Patty Burback cites prior governmental experience going clear back to her middle school class veep victory.
The big race, of course, is the mayoral race. Normally we have it set that the race is decided to a final 2 “real” candidates of viability. The task in the primary becomes deciding amongst the also runs in wait for a real decision in the general election. This year, we have 3 “viable real” candidates decided for us. I suppose one’s vote could go to deciding who to thrust forward and who to sideline in the three, but unfortunately I have to grit my teeth at all of them, and can’t stomach this game. So it is we go to the list of others and what do we find? Steve Sung announces himself the “People’s Mayor”; Loren Charles Brown calls himself the “People’s Mayor”. Michael B Largley draws a laugh with his pledge to “revitalize downtown with more diversified businesses — not just food carts, non profits, and coffeeshops.” (Hm. In the new economy, it’s this or non profits and Wal-Marts). Scott Rose and Howie Rubin make no pretense of their governing approach ala pandering: the former will “Continue to root my belief in what you say to me”, the latter wants “to enable you to do the things you do.” Max Brumm makes the funny on the question of his viability ala inexperience (he’s a teenager): “it’s a knee jerk response, but what do you expect from jerks who’ve brought Portland to its knees?”
Finally, there’s Tre Arrow and Cameron Whitten. I lump them together for this reason and this reason only: Tre Arrow cites his 2000 nomination for Congress by the Pacific Green Party. I remember hearing from radio host Rick Emerson about the Green Party Convention in 2000: you get Ralph Nader making a speech, than another veteran of public power causes for a statewide office, and then… you just kind of wince and look away when Tre Arrow comes to the podium. Anyway, 12 years and I guess the party has come to the same conflusion. Written in Cameron Whitten’s profile is an endorsement by the Pacific Green Party, as well as the Portland Chapter of the Oregon Progressive Party. (A Party which formed in 2008 for the transparent purpose of getting Nader on the ballot. Now that that’s over, I don’t really understand why it doesn’t just merge with the Green Party — but they can do what they must.)
I endorse Cameron Whitten. Why? Only because he’s the only candidate who I’ve happened to see and spoken with. I asked him how his campaign was going — he said he had some trouble at the Lloyd Center Mall regarding his bullhorn. Sorry everyone else — you just didn’t pound the flesh.