Sam Adams writes
"January 19, 2009
I want to publicly acknowledge a mistake I have made and I want to
apologize for it.
In the past, I have characterized my relationship with Beau Breedlove
as purely non-sexual. That is not true. Beau Breedlove and I had a
sexual relationship for a few months in the summer of 2005 after he
turned 18 years of age.
I should have been honest at the time about the true nature of my
relationship with Beau Breedlove when questions about my relationship
with him first surfaced publicly in October 2007. In fact, Beau
encouraged me to be honest about the facts of our relationship. I am
deeply sorry that I asked him to lie for me.
I lied at the time because I was afraid that people would believe
untrue rumors, being circulated by an undeclared mayoral opponent,
that I had broken a law involving sexual relations with a minor. But
this is not a good excuse.
Until today, with the exception of Beau, I have not discussed with
anyone the true nature of my relationship with him: not with my
colleagues, staff, friends or family.
I apologize to Beau for asking him to lie for me. I apologize to my
colleagues for my poor handling of this matter. I apologize to the
people of Portland for my dishonesty. I should have been truthful from
the beginning.
Mayor Sam Adams"
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JWilson writes
"League of Women Voters and National Council of Jewish Women Presents Ballot Measure Forum
Public Invited October 25 at 7 p.m.
Supporters and opponents of Ballot Measures 49 and 50 will appear in a forum moderated by the League of Women Voters of Portland on Thursday, October 25, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the Multnomah Building, 501 S.E. Hawthorne, Portland. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.
Following a short presentation by each speaker, the moderator will ask questions submitted by audience members. Former Governor Barbara Roberts will speak in favor of Measure 49 (legislative revision of Measure 37) and Bill Moshofsky of Oregonians in Action will speak in opposition to the measure. A representative from Healthy Kids Oregon will speak in favor of Measure 50 (amends the Oregon Constitution to provide dedicated funding for children’s health care through an increase in the tobacco tax) and J. L. Wilson of Oregonians Against the Blank Check will speak against it.
Linda Jefferson, Administrator of the City of Portland Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Fund, will make a short presentation of Portland Ballot Measure 26-39 (charter amendment to change fire and police disability members’ medical benefits).
Portland Community Media will broadcast the forum live on Channel 30. Repeat broadcasts will be aired on Channel 30 on Saturday, October 27 at 10 p.m.; Sunday, October 28 at 6 p.m.; Wednesday, October 31 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 4 at 6 p.m.
The forum is presented by the League of Women Voters of Portland and the National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section. For more information, call the Portland League office at 503-228-1675.
Election day is November 6. Ballots will be mailed to voters on or about October 19. Completed ballots must be received at an official drop-off site by 8 p.m. on November 6.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government."
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Jillian Schoene writes
"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Congressman David Wu accepted three committee assignments: Education & Labor, Science & Technology, and Foreign Affairs. Moreover, Congressman Wu will serve as chairman of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee of Science & Technology.
"Through these committees I will continue to work on two issues important to Oregonians: improving education and growing the economy. These assignments will allow me to shape education policy in a way that helps students pursue a college degree so they are able to meet the needs of and compete in a 21st century economy. I will also work to see that American businesses grow here at home and can effectively compete in the global economy," stated Congressman Wu. "Additionally, I am pleased the Foreign Affairs Committee will present additional opportunities to weigh in on the current crisis in Iraq and see that the bar for future conflicts is high."
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Kurt Schrader, Senator writes
"Friends,
This is our first newsletter since the blackout period surrounding the primary election. I’ve actually been pretty busy, both at the veterinary clinic and with interim legislative work. In March my Joint Legislative Audit Committee met. We heard about the recent efforts for streamlining the permitting process for activities related to one or more water related agencies. With this one-stop shopping format, Oregonians will be able to get all affected agencies input upfront in any removal–fill project they are considering so they won’t be blindsided halfway thru a costly and time consuming process. We also began a discussion of how to reward agencies and employees that come up with money-saving ideas. We are getting input from other states and experts in the field. Your thoughts are welcome too.
In early April the Emergency Board met. We heard 51 reports, grants and requests for funding. We only approved emergency allocations of $1.2 million, $900,000 of which was for the State Police for additional state troopers. Our biggest concern was the Department of Human Services shortfall of $136 million. Some of the shortfall was the result of poor accounting practices, some because of unanticipated consequences of recessionary cutbacks in the Oregon Health Plan and social services and Oregonians abandoning private health care plans due to increasing costs. Since our general-purpose emergency fund for the two-year period was only $30 million it was a good thing that we set aside the largest ending balance reserve fund in a decade for unforeseen events. We needed to have a special legislative session to tap that ending balance (the e-board cannot access the ending balance by itself) if we were to assist those vulnerable Oregonians.
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County Commissioners Naito, Cruz and Rojo de Steffey writes
"BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MARIA ROJO de STEFFEY l DISTRICT 1,
SERENA CRUZ l DISTRICT 2, LISA NAITO l DISTRICT 3. COMMISSIONERS’ STATEMENT ON FY 2006/2007 BUDGET. Released June 2, 2006
We are grateful for the opportunity entrusted to us by the citizens of Multnomah County to serve as their Commissioners. There are few local entities whose programs, services and activities touch the lives of so many Multnomah Countyresidents so directly and personally.
As a County, our priorities are clear:
· We must maintain access to essential health and human services for our county’s most vulnerable populations and at-risk residents.
· We must provide basic county services to children and their families, including primary health care, mental health care, food and shelter.
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Tyrone writes
"It's a CAMPAIGN PARTY on May 24, 2006!!!
FairElections Oregon invites you to a party in Portland celebrating the final stretch of the year-long campaign to put real campaign finance reform on the Oregon ballot. We're just about there!
You are part of the campaign--take part in the fun!
Where: Rogue Ales Public House, 1339 NW Flanders St, Portland
When: Wednesday, May 24, starting 6:00 pm
What: Free food, drinks, and campaign presentations by Harry Lonsdale and Dan Meek.
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Amanda Fritz writes
"I'm Amanda Fritz, running for Portland City Council to be the voice of citizens in City Hall. I was the first candidate ever to qualify for public financing of a Portland City Council campaign, and I'm very happy with the way Portlanders all over the city have helped this neighborhood activist challenge the traditional moneyed power structure in city government. I ask for your vote to help me continue to do that from inside City Hall.
Last Thursday, I was notified by the Auditor's office that my campaign is eligible for an additional $9,651.90 in matching funds, due to Dan Saltzman having reported his contributions reaching $159,651.90. Throughout the campaign, Saltzman has repeatedly pledged not to spend more than $150,000 in the primary. His expenditures are currently listed as $157,833. I am disappointed that Commissioner Saltzman has not kept his promise.
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Lew Frederick writes
"Lew Frederick
for Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2
I was raised with the idea that I have to make the world a better place for those who come after me. I marched for civil rights and voting rights starting at age nine. I was the primary plaintiff in the federal court case that desegregated Atlanta Schools (O’Keefe High School v. Board of Ed. (1964)). I’m running for County Commissioner because after 32 years in this city and 28 in Irvington neighborhood, my heart, my life, is tied to this beautiful place and all of the people in it. After 30 years of reporting and explaining other people’s ideas and decisions, it is time for me to be a decision maker.
My Priorities for County Government:
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Xander writes
"I am a long-time progressive activist. I am running for Multnomah County Commissioner because federal and state cuts to schools and other vital services are damaging our community. We need to take more responsibility on the local level to maintain and build the kind of progressive community we want to live in.
Federal and state cuts have a profound impact on Multnomah County government and the people it serves because two thirds of the county’s billion dollar budget is federal and state money. Serving on a Multnomah County Citizen Budget Advisory Committee dealing with basic living needs I have seen the human impacts of these cuts. They force us to make decisions that are unwise, inhumane, or both: Do we cut child abuse prevention programs or throw mentally ill seniors out in the street?
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In honor of the local Portland magazine The Mercury having endorsed the same four candidates as News4Neighbors, we thought we'd run our endorsement story again,
along with a link to the Mercury's endorsement article.
David Pool writes
"Ballots have begun arriving in residents' mailboxes this week for what may prove to be the most important local elections in a generation. With the possible exception of the mayoral race of 2004 between Tom Potter and Jim Francesconi, no recent local elections have provided such clear options for the future of our region.
In addition to hosting our own debates, as an Editor I have made an effort to learn about the candidates at other debates, in interviews and by reading other local press accounts and blogs. [clarification note: despite drifting into the usage of a "royal we" the endorsement committee is only one person our Editor, David Pool]
What did we find? We found that across our region we have strong, well-intentioned citizens who are willing to fight hard for what they believe in. This is an important moment as we elect leaders who will define and defend what we stand for in the 21st century. We should be grateful we have such good options before us....
News4Neighbors Endorsements:
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Building Votes writes
"It's show time! We've done some serious work to register young voters throughout Portland and Eugene. Now it's time to make sure they actually VOTE.
Just 3 days before ballots are due, we will hit the streets, knocking on doors and reminding folks to mail in their ballots. This is where the rubber hits the road. Help make sure young voters in Oregon make their voices heard!
Join us for the first-ever Building Votes Get Out The Vote Action Day. It's nonpartisan, simple, effective, and (most of all) fun. Serve the broader public interest, get some exercise, win fabulous prizes. Feel the love for your neighbors. Get trained. Get active.
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Amanda Fritz writes
"The Portland Tribune published an article yesterday (4/28/06) on the Portland City Council elections that included several significant errors. I won't list them all here, but as a longtime member and participant on the News4Neighbors site, I know it's the single most effective vehicle to get information out to neighbors who care. So I want you to know....
Erik Sten has NOT endorsed Dan Saltzman. Please tell all your friends, since ballots are arriving and many people return them immediately.
And please call my office, 503-235-2295, if you've appreciated what you've read in my responses to the questions on News4Neighbors and are willing to give some time and effort to help elect a neighborhood voice to City Hall. I need your help, TODAY and through May 16!"
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The Bus writes
"Candidates Gone Wild
Date: 05/01/2006 - 7:00pm
to
10:00pm. Irreverent policy debate. The Bus Project + Willamette Week.
Debates! Videos! A talent show! Beer! Candidates Gone Wild, the most exciting political event in the history of Western Civilization, is back, and it promises once again to take your dull preconceptions of what a “debate” can be, smash them to tiny pieces and reassemble them into a night of improbably entertaining civics.
CGW Candidates May 2004
Featuring: * Erik Sten
* Ginny Burdick
* Diane Linn
* Ted Wheeler
* Dan Saltzman
* Amanda Fritz
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Politics Moderator writes
"The fifth and final debate question comes from Heather Drake of Portland. Thanks to all of the candidates who have participated in our online debate series! Here is Heather's question:
What will you do to address global climate change here on the local level?
Thanks!
Heather Drake
Portland, OR 97219"
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elizat8 writes
"We are 80% of the way to getting two crucial campaign finance reform measures on Oregon’s November ballot. Your help now can make it happen!
Now is the time to join over 300 other volunteers who are getting signatures for the Oregon Campaign Finance Reform Initiatives: Petition 8 and Petition 37.
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