November 2022 General Election Voters Guide

Table of Contents Federal offices US Senator Ron Wyden  Wyden has been a U.S. Senator since 1996. While an entrenched official isn’t the best for their constituency, Wyden has actively worked to tax billionaires, legalize cannabis, end surveillance, and curb climate change on levels we just don’t see from other long-time politicians. He’s done it with comparatively… Continue reading November 2022 General Election Voters Guide

Impending deadline for ballot petitions

Voters in Oregon can send initiatives to the ballot without going through the state legislature, a county commission or a city council. Instead, someone wanting to propose a change to existing laws can collect signatures to send a measure directly to voters. The deadlines to collect those signatures for the upcoming general election are fast approaching: July… Continue reading Impending deadline for ballot petitions

Primary Ballot Review: How Metro fits into Portland politics

If you live in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, you have something on your ballot that no one else in the U.S. has — a directly elected regional government in the form of Metro. Metro is also the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the U.S. While knowing our local government is unique can make… Continue reading Primary Ballot Review: How Metro fits into Portland politics

Primary Ballot Review: Why do auditors matter?

There are a ton of candidates for various auditor positions on the primary ballot: Metro Brian Evans — Brian Evans has served as Metro Auditor since his election in 2014. He joined the Metro Auditor’s office as an employee in 2008. Evans is running unopposed and does not appear to have a campaign website. Multnomah County Jennifer McGuirk — Jennifer… Continue reading Primary Ballot Review: Why do auditors matter?

Voters’ Guide — May 2022 Election

If you’re a voter in or around Portland, you may have already received your ballot for the May election. If you’re ready to sit down and vote, here are some recommendations on candidates and ballot measures. This guide is intentionally surface-level: over the election period, I’ll be publishing articles on specific races and issues that… Continue reading Voters’ Guide — May 2022 Election

March State of the Ballot, Part Two

We passed two major deadlines for the May primary last week: March 8 was the last day candidates could file to run in the primary. March 11 was the last day candidates could withdraw from the primary. With those two dates behind us, we now know who is actually on the ballot and which races… Continue reading March State of the Ballot, Part Two

Calendar: March 15 to March 22

Tuesday, March 15 6:00 p.m. — Portland Police Bureau Equity Advisory Council meeting The Police Equity Advisory Council is responsible for holding PPB accountable for implementing the bureau’s racial equity plan. As of Tuesday morning, no agenda for the meeting is available. The meeting will take place on Zoom. Wednesday, March 16 9:30 a.m. — City of Portland council… Continue reading Calendar: March 15 to March 22

Calendar: February 15 to February 22

Tuesday, February 15 4:30 p.m. — Oregon Nurses Association Virtual Summit on Providence Health System ONA will host a summit covering the Providence Health System, which ranks near the bottom of Portland-area hospitals for staffing, as well as for pay and benefits for nurses. Multiple contracts between ONA, Oregon’s largest nursing union, and Providence facilities… Continue reading Calendar: February 15 to February 22

Calendar: February 8 to February 15

Tuesday, February 8 6:00 p.m. — Portland Public Schools Board Meeting Portland Public Schools’ school board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting. An agenda for the meeting is online and contains public comment opportunities for PPS’s new climate crisis response policy. The meeting will be in person but it will also be streamed on YouTube.… Continue reading Calendar: February 8 to February 15

February State of the Ballot

There’s just over a month left until the March 8th deadline for candidates to declare for or withdraw from the May primary. This feels like a good time to take a preliminary look at what’s likely to be on the May ballot. Remember, though, that there will be plenty of changes in the next four… Continue reading February State of the Ballot