April 29, 2004
(Updated) Open Thread On KGW Mayoral Debate
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
What you see above is a screen shot from kgw.com, in which they claim that this was the first debate. We suppose this could be considered the case if the world outside of television did not exist, but we're sure our readers know full well that this was the furthest thing in the world from the first debate of the race.
Meanwhile, after a full day of watching the jury of inquest, we're not quite up to writing about this debate. But readers may be interested in weighing in on it, and we likely can manage to engage in conversation about it. We may have a more substantial update with our own specific views on the debate, but for now, we'll leave it to readers to get into it if they see fit.
Disclosure: PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE accepts political advertisements, and currently runs ads from the Busse and Francesconi campaigns.
Update
Two brief things. First, one of the questions submitted either by a KGW viewer or an Oregonian reader -- in this case, submitted by the pair was continue to refer to as The Ever-Present Mandels -- asked the candidates to express their vision for Portland beyond the usual declarations of support for children, schools, and jobs. Certainly, this must have been aimed squarely at both Francesconi and Potter.
Potter spoke of a City that loves and nurtures its children, relishes its neighborhood system, celebrates its diversity, and is created by its citizens. Busse spoke of moving into the 21st century, an intellectually-based economy, accountable government, and neighborhoods having more say. Francesconi spoke of keeping families in the City, embracing diversity, being one City for all, and working together. Posey spoke of the City being positioned for something great, being almost a utopia, the embodiment of where people want to live and how people want to exist.
The other point we want to get to is that Francesconi once again changed his rationale for now opposing the burial of the City's reservoirs.
Readers might recall Francesconi's sudden announcement at a previous forum about his change in position:
I do not believe any longer that unless that citizens task force comes back with something I don't expect that we can cover the reservoirs. The issue is $85 million that it would cost.
In this evening's debate, while he did address the issue from that cost perspective, he now says that "the bottom line" is that it's "not the security risk that we originally thought."
Now, we can't take credit for this shift, of course. But we feel compelled to mention that in the just-linked post about his original announcement that he had changed his mind, we wondered if that original cost-based explanation meant that if it were cheaper he would support burial out of concerns for security (the security issue being one he did not cite as the reason for his shift in that previous forum). Lo and behold, he now says that the "bottom line" isn't the cost after all, but the fact that the security concerns aren't what was originally claimed.
Ah, if only we truly had that power over candidates. Just think of what we could do.
Update
Another interesitng bit was when Henry Stern of The Oregonian asked Busse what he'd do about adult businesses (of the type that advertise in The Portland Mercury in terms of protecting neighborhood livability. Busse first explained that those ads were an entirely different aspect of the paper than his editorial side, but then explained that it's a free speech issue, especially in Oregon which has very broad protections of free expression. He did however support zoning restrictions to keep such businesses away from schools.
Francesconi said that he "believe[s] in free speech too" but that patrons come from Washington and overrun places like Sandy Boulevard and parts of some neighborhoods, and that he's been "fighting for several years to create a narrow [and] constitutional limit" on such businesses around places such as schools.
Posey said it was "important to talk about values in our community," support churches, and talk to citizensabout participating in issues such as these.
But Potter was the one that caught our attention. His problem with adult businesses, he said, was that he "[doesn't] understand why naked people dancing on the stage [is about] First Amendment rights." Well, Tom, that would be because the Oregon Constitution has very broad protections for expression, and (so far anyway) the highest court in the state says such activity is expression.
It's one thing to worry about strip clubs near schools and wonder what to do aobut it. It's another thing altogether to start challenging the free expression rights of adult entertainment, no matter what your personal opinion of it might be.
Update
KGW has posted its story on their debate. It remains refreshing to see Busse and Posey included in these things. The also provide video links to opening statements, part one, part two, part three, and part four of the debate.
Comments (16)
no one in particular on 29 Apr 2004
Was Tracy Barry a horrible choice for that, or what? She seemed to want to giggle her way through the debate. I found myself covering my eyes in embarrassment any time she said anything.
Arya on 29 Apr 2004
I think Tracy Barry might have been smoking a little crack before hand.
The One True b!X on 29 Apr 2004
Heh, not quite the informed discussion I was hoping for, but okay.
Arya on 30 Apr 2004
Ok, here's an informed comment: How the hell does Posey's NASCAR idea jive with his supposed Green principles? I don't see a correlation.
Busse's bike race idea fits Portland more.
John on 30 Apr 2004
Posey's support for bringing NASCAR to Portland stems --as he indicated --from his interest in putting people to work in this City, something not likely to happen on any serious scale from a bike race.
As for the debate generally, I'm an undecided, so I hoped to get some help in making my decision. I think Potter came off the best, his comment on the first amendment notwithstanding. He's got a real grasp of how Portland ticks and what the problems are.
Francesconi came off the way I would expect, in that as prohibitive frontrunner, he focused on not making any major blunders, and he succeeded.
Posey has a great perspective to bring, and probably represents the only candidate who would really change the tone of City Hall, mainly because his style is thoughtful and common-sense, as opposed to the usual: jargon-laden downtown-ese garnished with occasional pandering about saving our children.
Busse apparently assumed, as usual, that his boyish charm would carry him through, and guessing from the reaction he gets from B!x and others, he succeeded.
The One True b!X on 30 Apr 2004
Heh. Sorry, but boyish charm doesn't work on me. I endorsed Busse because of his platform.
Mikey on 01 May 2004
Busse's example of a world class bike race is a good example from the Busse platform of how Portland can utilize its existing resources to promote smaller sporting events and become a hub for non-major league sports in a way that is much more cost effective than Baseball or NASCAR.
Another example: We have Nike entering into the world of skateboarding and we could combine that with our famous Burnside Skate Park to hold national ESPN2 skating events.
The charm and attraction of Portland is how we support smaller scale niche events, and I think that is a powerful plan for City Hall.
Arya on 01 May 2004
Did anybody else happen to read Dwight Jaynes' column in the Tribune yesterday?
Three words for Dwight: stick to sports.
Arya on 01 May 2004
Here's a link to the article:
http://portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=24133
The One True b!X on 01 May 2004
I like how on the one hand he says: "Build a separate war memorial on the property, but the coliseum is not a proper tribute in its current condition."
And then on the other hand he says: "An Ikea store would work just fine over there where the coliseum now stands."
Nothing like private big box retail as a place to partner with a war memorial.
The One True b!X on 01 May 2004
Busse's example of a world class bike race is a good example from the Busse platform of how Portland can utilize its existing resources to promote smaller sporting events and become a hub for non-major league sports in a way that is much more cost effective than Baseball or NASCAR.
That's pretty much how I see it. Both MLB and NASCAR seek to impose a mass-scale spectator sport mentality on a City that doesn't seem much interested in that. Busse's general approach seems much more in tune with the idea of trying to find "special event" opportunities that actually have some relevance to Portland's existing recreational tendencies.
That's not just more sustainable from an economic standpoint, but from a cultural one as well.
no one in particular on 02 May 2004
FWIW, I don't find it mentioned in his platform, but I've heard (from someone who went to one of his coffees) that Busse supports bringing NASCAR to Portland, too.
John on 04 May 2004
The "bike race vs. nascar" issue seems like as good a place as any to illustrate that the reality for most Portlanders might be a little different than that of the typical Portland Communique reader.
For the person who sits on their ass in some $70G job with the City, responding to the Nascar suggestion with the alternative of a bicycle race makes perfect sense.
Yet for the thousands of people in this city who can't find work, can't make rent, and don't have any real opportunities beyond Plaid Pantry, there is a very SERIOUS difference between the two.
Those "smaller," "niche" events that you guys seem to think "fit Portland" better are nice ideas for people who already have every expensive toy they want; the NASCAR race brings an influx of real dollars into a local economy that --I'm going to shock you all here --SUCKS.
brad taylor on 04 May 2004
Just a note: In spite of serious lobbying efforts, and in spite of us each meeting the station's stated criteria, three candidates and myself were not allowed to share our platforms with our community in this most public forum.
Personally, I am pleased with the impact that my campaign has had on those who have been exposed to it. As a citizen, I am disappointed with the lack of coverage and the lack of inclusion that all of our media venues have provided.
I encourage all voters to seriously explore the platforms and character of each candidate. And after the election, we must hold our officials accountable for their promises and their actions.
brad taylor
The One True b!X on 04 May 2004
What were their criteria?
brad taylor on 05 May 2004
The KGW debate producer, Mr. Kerrs, stated that only candidates who: were running an active campaign, were actively seeking endorsements, and were accepting campaign contributions were invited to participate. He assured me that his staff researched each candidate to find the ones that met these requirements. I was never contacted by phone or e-mail by anyone from KGW regarding my campaign. Actually, the last time that KGW covered an event that I was at, the Youth Commission Candidate Forum, not only was I not shown in a sound bite but they also did not even mention that I was there. Such slights are especially frustrating for my volunteers.