May 15, 2003
Five Days Until 26-48
By now it should be apparent that even though I keep referencing Measure 26-48 in the headline, these posts address other elements of the May 20 special election as well.
Today's Oregonian has two pieces opposing the so-called "9-10-11" slate of candidates for the Portland School Board, and with good reason.
First up, Steve Duin's column directly challenges the slate through its leader, John Lekas:
His beeper is always going off. Another appointment invariably beckons. "We have a plan for Portland schools," Lekas and the Three Stooges insist, but whenever he is pressed for details, Lekas is sprinting for the exits.
They have a plan, all right. It is a testimony to the proposal's superficial inanity that it is promoted by Lars Larson, who theatrically spoon-feeds the superficial to the inane on his KXL hootenanny.
...
"It's not about the numbers: It's antitax, antigovernment, antibureaucracy," said Doug Morgan, a candidate in Zone 1. "They're playing on those three things. And the way the campaign is being run, there wasn't a single forum in which we could take those guys on."
"Those guys" are the elusive Lekas, perennial candidate John Sweeney, Rick Nichols and Ron Stull. Sweeney reads his script from a laminated 3-by-5 card while Nichols and Stull invariably sit there like bumps on a log, deferring to Lekas, who recruited this slate in hopes of gaining a voting majority on the school board.
Do be sure to read the entire column. For what it's worth, this is the slate of candidates for whom Nike founder Phil Knight ponied up $50,000. So I guess we know where he stands on what's important.
Along with Duin's observations, an Oregonian editorial also challenges Lekas and crew, saying his ideas are "simple enough to explain on talk radio" -- and then explaining that they also happen to be "impractical and uninformed."
Meanwhile, turnout in the Portland Public Schools area is lagging behind that of East Multnomah County (discussed previously here):
Voter turnout for Multnomah County's school and tax election is higher so far in east county school districts than in Portland Public Schools' area, a trend that could spell trouble for the county's personal income tax measure if it holds through election day next Tuesday.
Portland Public Schools voters historically have been more friendly to tax measures than voters in east Multnomah County school districts.
...
Liz Kaufman, director of the pro-tax campaign, said Portland voters traditionally vote late, and she is "fairly confident" that the Portland Public School area numbers will catch up by election day. The campaign plans to tap thousands of volunteers for a get-out-the-vote effort beginning Friday.
"I'm saying it's doable," Kaufman said, "especially if we can contact enough voters in the next five days to get their ballots in on time."
Saddle up, people. Technically, the county says that if you mail in your ballots by Friday, they will get in on time. Don't take the chance. Starting today, drop off your ballots instead.
For the Portland School Board race, you can read my endorsements, The Oregonian's endorsements, those of the Willamette Week, and those of the Portland Mercury.
And, of course, there's the voters' pamphlet to make use of as well.