Under Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, I received my ballot in the mail a few days ago, and I have until November 4th to turn it in. I’m filling it out now, since I’m told that early voting means fewer robocalls (and one less likely Dem voter for Jeff Merkley’s volunteers to have to contact). I’ll update this post as I fill out my ballot.<\/p>\n
First item: United States President<\/strong><\/p>\n There are six candidates listed, but the only ones I’m considering voting for are Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party, and Barack Obama. The reasons to vote for McKinney: I like her policy positions better than Obama’s, I like voting for the Greens when I can, and Oregon’s a safe state for Obama.<\/p>\n The reason to vote for Obama: It’s not just about the delegates. The more overwhelming Obama’s victory is, the more convincingly the 2008 election can be painted as a repudiation of the childish, irresponsible, ignorant and war-loving policies of George Bush and the Republican party.<\/p>\n Hmmn. When I started typing, I intended to vote for McKinney, but I think I just talked myself into voting Obama<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Second item: US Senator<\/strong><\/p>\n There’s no Green Party option here, and even if there were, I wouldn’t vote for ’em — this race is too close, and the possibility of getting Gordon Smith knocked out of the senate too sweet. Plus, Merkley<\/strong> seems pretty good as Democrats go.<\/p>\n Third Item: Representative in Congress: 3rd District.<\/strong><\/p>\n Democrat Earl Blumenauer is a good, liberal representative, but the Republicans have no more chance of winning his seat than I do. Plus — as Michael Meo<\/a> of the Pacific Green Party argues — the Democratic Party has been more accomplice to Bush than opposition, especially when it comes to the Iraq war. So, even though it’s a little unfair to Blumenauer, I’m voting for Meo <\/strong>and against the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n Much more below the fold….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. Oregon Secretary of State<\/strong><\/p>\n I’m strongly tempted to vote for Seth Woolley<\/a>, the Green Party candidate, because the Democrats have abused the SOS office to unfairly keep Greens off the ballot, and because Woolley’s poorly-designed web page is a list of everything I believe should be done to fix election procedures in Oregon.<\/p>\n And I think I will. Democrat Kate Brown (who will probably win) is a party loyalist, and this position needs someone who isn’t beholden to either major party. The best argument for her is that she’ll jury-rig elections to help the Democrats, and I’m against all jury-rigging. So is Seth Woolley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 5. State Treasurer<\/strong><\/p>\n This race is “between<\/a> Ben Westlund – a Democrat who used to be a Republican; and Allen Alley – a Republican who worked for a Democratic Governor.” The only third party candidate is Michael Marsh from the Constitution Party, and that’s even worse.<\/p>\n Alley has been running based on his past business experience and acumen, but his record as a CEO is dismal<\/a>. I’d rather vote for Westlund<\/strong>, who might yet prove to be a failure, than vote for Alley, who already is one.<\/p>\n 6. Attorney General<\/strong><\/p>\n Democrat John Kroger has this one in the bag — there isn’t even a Republican on the ballot. (Kroger won the Republican nomination as a write-in candidate, but in Oregon, one candidate can’t be listed on two party lines.)<\/p>\n I’m voting for Walter (Walt) Brown<\/strong>, the Green Party nominee, a law professor with a strong background in consumer law, and a former state legislator who is best known as the 2004 presidential candidate of the Socialist Party. Brown isn’t running much of a race — he doesn’t even have a web site up — but his policy positions are substantial and well-thought out. (Judging from his answers on this website<\/a>).<\/p>\n J Ashlee Albies, of the Working Families Party, also has good politics, but she doesn’t seem to have thought through the job nearly as well, nor is her resume as impressive.<\/p>\n State Representative, 48th District<\/strong><\/p>\n Mike Schaufler, D, is running unopposed. I’m writing in “Pogo Possum.”<\/p>\n Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries<\/strong><\/p>\n Brad Avakian, the incumbent, isn’t inspiring, but Pavel Goverman (who uses <\/a>CAPITAL LETTERS for EMPHASIS!) seems like a bit of a crank, and I can’t find out anything about Mark Welyczko. Plus, Avakian is the only one who seems, you know, qualified for the job. Avakian <\/strong>it is.<\/p>\n Bunch of unopposed judges.<\/strong><\/p>\n Next comes five unopposed judicial elections in a row; I will write in alliterative superhero secret identities for each of the five. ((Peter Parker, Clark Kent, Guy Gardner, Billy Batson, Kate Kate. I’m sure there are more female superheroes with alliterative secret identity names, but I’m drawing a blank at the moment.))<\/p>\n County Sherrif<\/strong><\/p>\n I don’t really love either candidate. Still, the department needs major reform, not just competent administration, and Sergeant Muhammad Ra’oof <\/strong>seems the more likely reformer.<\/p>\n Commissioner, district 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Another toss-up. I’m voting for Judy Shiprack<\/strong>, who — despite one major past goof, a real estate deal gone sour — at least seems able to work with people. In contrast, stories of how he’s impossible to work with seem to follow Mike Delman around like hungry puppies, which doesn’t seem like an advantage for a commissioner.<\/p>\n East Multnomah Soil and Water District, Director at large #1<\/strong><\/p>\n John Sweeney is a flat-tax advocate<\/a>, which means, imo, that he’s a fool. Rick Till is a sincere environmentalist, but I dislike his emphasis on local food production<\/a>, which is a foodie obsession that won’t actually do much to help the environment<\/a>. Clair Klock<\/a> seems to have nothing but generalities to say.<\/p>\n Given those choices, I’m voting for Rick Till<\/strong>.<\/p>\n East Multnomah Soil and Water District, Director at large #2<\/strong><\/p>\n I’m having a hard time finding any good information out about either Ron McCarty or Peter Finley Fry. From what little I’ve seen so far — a newspaper endorsement<\/a>, and this 2007 newspaper article<\/a> — I’m leaning towards Fry, but I’m going to hold off until I can ask my housemates Charles, who like me tries to research the obscure races, if he found anything useful.<\/p>\n Update<\/em>: Based on what Jake wrote in comments, I’m voting for Finley Fry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Two more soil and water positions<\/strong>, both unopposed. Umn. Oh, Susan Storm. And, uh… Zatanna Zatara.<\/p>\n City Commissioner, Position #1<\/strong><\/p>\n Two good candidates; Diana Fritz, a boring liberal technocrat who has been grinding away in public service for years, known for her command of city government minutia and her devotion to facts, versus Charles Lewis, a young upstart who runs a cool nonprofit bringing music to poor kids, and won my heart with a stunt when he used campaign funds to fill potholes. I think boring, detail-oriented liberals belong in government, but then again, I liked Lewis’ answers a bit better in this interview<\/a> about homelessness (particularly his answer about a homeless protest). But then again, the City Commission has been waaaay too male-dominated in the past; between two good candidates, the toss-up goes to diversity. I’m voting for Fritz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On to the ballot measures<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Measure 54: Yes<\/strong>. Equalizes voting access to school board elections. No one is opposed to this measure.<\/p>\n Measure 55: Yes<\/strong>. Technocratic clean-up of redistricting.<\/p>\n Measure 56: Yes<\/strong>. Reduces “double majority” requirement for tax measures. Yes! Voters who don’t bother to vote shouldn’t be counted the same as those of us who do bother.<\/p>\n Measure 57: Yes<\/strong>. This tough-on-crime law is something I’d normally oppose; but if this doesn’t pass with more votes than Measure 61, then the even more draconian and irresponsible Measure 61 becomes law. At least 57 is slightly less of a budget-buster and includes treatment options for drug addicts.<\/p>\n Measure 58: No<\/strong>. This Bill Sizemore measure mandates “that school districts limit foreign-language instruction for non-English-speaking students to one or two years, depending on their age.” Because if a kid takes more than one or two years to learn English, then screw ’em!<\/p>\n Measure 59: No<\/strong>. Another Sizemore anti-tax atrocity. Quoting Willamette Week<\/a>: “If the measure passes, it would cost the state $1.2 billion annually when fully implemented. Considering the state\u2019s annual budget is about $7.5 billion, that cost amounts to about a 15 percent across-the-board cut from education, public safety and other basic services that pays for a tax cut that analysts say would benefit only the top 25 percent of earners\u2014in other words, Sizemore wants to gut services to cut taxes for the rich.”<\/p>\n Measure 60: No<\/strong>. Another Sizemore measure, this one calling for merit pay for teachers — but it doesn’t say how “merit” will be defined at all, and it forbids basing any portion of pay, however small, on seniority. Experience isn’t completely meaningless, and shouldn’t be completely discounted; and “merit” is meaningless if it’s not defined at all.<\/p>\n Measure 61: No<\/strong>. Mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent first-time criminals. Overly punitive, takes away judicial discretion, and would cost a billion dollars in prison building.<\/p>\n Man, is this taking a long time.<\/p>\n Measure 62: No<\/strong>. Takes lottery money away from the schools and gives it to the police — and to make it worse, it does it with a Constitutional amendment, which is exactly where detailed budget tinkering doesn’t belong.<\/p>\n Measure 63: No<\/strong>. More Sizemore. Get-out-of-permits-free law for homeowners who are making improvements of $35,000 or less to their homes. This one would be hell on renters, especially, as landlords would be free to ignore code requirements for minor electricity and plumbing repairs. I’d favor something to make the process simpler for smallish improvements, but this goes too far.<\/p>\n Measure 64: No<\/strong>. This is an anti-public-employee-union measure, severely limiting the ability of those unions to lobby and work on political campaigns. Meanwhile, private sector unions, and corporations, would not face similar restrictions. It’s a covert way of trying to cripple Democratic party support, not a fair way of reforming across the board.<\/p>\n Measure 65: No<\/strong>. This claims to create “open primaries,” but both Seth Woolley of the Green Party and Richard Winger of Ballot Access News<\/em> — the latter especially a source I’d trust — say that its actual effect would be to lock third parties out of elections even more than they already are.<\/p>\n Okay, that’s all the state-level measures; now the local measures.<\/p>\n Measure 26-90: Yes<\/strong>. Raises property taxes for a bond to “protect animal health and safety” at the Oregon Zoo; a big chunk of this would go to giving the zoo elephants a larger area to range in.<\/p>\n I don’t know. I think the least cruel thing to do is for the Zoo to stop having elephants at all; elephants don’t belong in zoos. If we commit millions of dollars to a better zoo habitat, that increases the commitment to having elephants at the Oregon Zoo (which arguably does not have a great record<\/a>), when what we should be doing is joining the nationwide movement of zoos to cease the cruel practice of elephant keeping (pdf link<\/a>).<\/p>\n On the other hand, what if the zoo doesn’t quit keeping elephants? If we must keep elephants in a zoo, we should make them as comfortable as possible. Those who want the zoo to stop keeping elephants, should probably try to put a measure on the ballot in a future election. If they do, I’ll vote for it. Like I’m voting “yes” for this one.<\/p>\n Measure 26-95: Yes<\/strong>. This is a bond measure, raising property taxes to improve and expand Portland Community College. Which needs to expand, because enrollment has shot up. Community college good.<\/p>\n Measure 26-94: Yes<\/strong>. Renews funding for the Children’s Investment Fund. As the Mercury <\/a>says, “Does funding after-school mentoring and child abuse intervention work sound like it’s worth $5 a month to you?”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Under Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, I received my ballot in the mail a few days ago, and I have until November 4th to turn it in. I’m filling it out now, since I’m told that early voting means fewer robocalls (and … Continue reading I\u2019ll hold off on voting and hope that Brad makes an argument in the comments that persuades me one way or the other.<\/del><\/p>\n