Sine Die: a good day for big announcements

Sine Die is approaching.

Sometime in the next couple of hours, the legislature will adjourn.

A couple of items:

We'll keep you posted on other breaking developments.

Discuss. Tell us what you're hearing.

Update:

  • (Show?)

    The Minnis announcement doesn't surprise me at all. No one's going to give her a million to win that seat again.

  • (Show?)

    The Minnis news is satisfying. It must have been a rough session for her. Imagine having to witness your own political death play out for weeks. Witnessing the rise and success of the Dems must have been painful medicine indeed.

  • (Show?)

    Minnis' announcement begs the question, will Rob Brading throw his hat in the ring for that seat once again?

  • Ms Mel Harmon (unverified)
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    Yippeee!!! Karen's leaving! YES!

    As for Rob, several East County leaders have been talking to him and he hasn't stated either way last I heard...of course, that may well change now that Minnis has made her announcement. I can tell you, as a volunteer with the campaign last time, we kept and stored all the lawn signs for reuse.

    At any rate, with that race wide open, we've got a good shot at that seat next time. YEA!

  • LiberalIncarnate (unverified)
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    I am thankful, like the rest that Minnis is stepping down. It is not too suprising. She was a powermonger. Now, that the star has fallen she has nothing left to keep her there. Sort of like the little kid on the play ground that will only play if she can play by HER rules or not at all.

    Today also marks the beginning of the 90 day time frame for those against domestic unions and civil rights for GLBT citizens to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. I have little doubt that they will succeed since Oregon requires a paultry number of signatures to qualify.

    For those that would rather this be a NON-ISSUE, tough luck. This will continue to be an issue well into the future.

  • (Show?)

    What a great victory for the Democrats and Oregon. This has been a great session overall for those of us in education. And, despite Senator Walker killing a bill I worked on for career and technical education in Oregon because she was upset with Senator Schrader...the provisions of the bill were put directly into ODE.

    Congratulations to Jeff, Dave, Kurt, Peter and Kate. I'm glad to be a Democrat!

  • spicey (unverified)
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    good riddance, minnis!

  • Marshall Collins (unverified)
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    What a great session! So much got done. As to the political groups collecting signatures on HB2007 and Sb2 I am still holding out hope that they will fail. It seems from the emails I have seen and the people that I have talked to is that they are sticking mainly to petion drives within conservative churches. Also, from the emails I have seen they are very much having problems with incorrectly filled out petitions. True they may collect the signatures needed but its not going to be as easy as with M36 in 2004. This new group sounds very unorganized and they do not have the financial backing that they had before.

  • LiberalIncarnate (unverified)
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    Does anyone know if they must collect signatures for two ballot measures to overturn both laws or can they do this with only one?

    Two would make things more complicated, not only in collecting signatures, but also if they get on the ballot.

  • wharf rat (unverified)
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    The chair of the JackCo Republican Party just sent out a pleading e-mail begging for signatures and petitioners. So far only the troglodytes seem worked up about this. Let's keep our fingers crossed but be ready to hit back hard and fast.

    Regards

  • (Show?)

    Exciting as the Minnis news may be, I'm much more enthused about Vicki Walker's announcement - we've had some excellent Secretaries of State these recent years. It's a vital role for preserving government integrity and the common good, and one for which Vicki Walker is perfectly suited. Go Vicki!

  • Portland Dem (unverified)
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    Vicki Walker is hardly a progressive and barely a democrat. Saying anything different is like saying John Edwards has a small house.

  • LT (unverified)
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    What defines "progressive" and "Democrat"----pleasing Portlanders?

    I'm grateful for something Vicki Walker did earlier involving oversight of a school district dragging its heels in displining an abusive teacher parents complained about. Sen. Walker started to investigate and by golly, the school district decided they'd better do something. That teacher is now in jail.

    What we need is a serious discussion of the issues involved in Sec. of State. Let's say Kate Brown also runs for Sec. of State. What they need to do is state their positions on all sorts of issues, from Sec. of State audits, to what the Public Comm. on the Legislature had to say about the role of Sec. of State, to campaign finance reform, election laws, and so much more. It may well be that I would agree with Kate on some issues and Vicki on others, but it takes a debate to find that out.

  • James Mattiace (unverified)
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    WHAT????? Hardly progressive and barely a D? Vicki has been a consistent vote for the rights of the oppressed, environment, labor, and education. She has high marks on all relevant scorecards and is known throughout the political world as a fighter for those without a voice. If the perception is that she isn't a good D because she challenged an incumbent governor, then does Pete Sorenson get the same treatment? Or is it because she outed Neil Goldschmidt as a child molester regardless of his party?

    Vicki's had a few votes (nutrition bill, the UGB divorce, and the whole SAIF debacle) that might rankle some progressives, but she is one of the most prolific legislators in the state and nobody ever doubts that she is there on the issues that matter. Just look at the bills she has sponsored. Sponsored, mind you, not just voted for.

    I knocked on over 6000 doors for her last summer/fall, not just to block Jim Torrey, but because I believe in her and in what she does. It was an easy conversation at the door.

    Look, some may not like how Vicki does business, but she gets business done and to say she is not progressive or a big D democrat is an unfortunate misrepresentation.

    James Mattiace

  • verasoie (unverified)
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    Does Vicki Walker not running for re-election hand that seat over to the Republican Jim Torrey? That would be tragic.

  • LT (unverified)
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    The Democratic Party is in a sad state of affairs if there is no Democrat in Eugene who could replace St. Sen. Vicki Walker.

  • (Show?)

    Walker was just re-elected for 4 years, so this campaign is "in-between", just like Pete Sorenson's run for governor. she'll either become SoS or return to the senate.

    and may i offer congratulations to Rep Rob Brading and Rep Sal Peralta!! (i hope.)

  • (Show?)

    Vicki Walker is hardly a progressive and barely a democrat.

    Care to explain what you mean? Without explanation, it's a dumb statement. Without explanation, you'll get even dumber retorts like:

    What defines "progressive" and "Democrat"----pleasing Portlanders?

    Can we please raise the level of discourse a bit, please? Make arguments, not assertions.

  • verasoie (unverified)
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    Thanks for the update about Walker, t.a. barnhart, that's a relief, and I too look very much forward to Reps. Brading and Peralta.

    Only 3 more to 36!

  • Bert Lowry (unverified)
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    As long as we're counting unhatched chickens, I look forward to Rep. Jim Gilbertson in HD 59.

  • (Show?)

    I've heard that Peralta says he won't run as a Dem, and my speculation is it's because his campaign went under-recognized until it was too late. I know "the apparatus" had him on their radar and wanted to allocate funds (they did do a very late boost), but felt they couldn't; nonetheless I think that made Sal mad. Maybe he'll tell us if he comes by.

    An open seat can change minds fairly quickly though, especially when you go from afterthought to the top candidate in a likely top-3 seat target in 2008. Yamhill does have a decent GOP bench, so if it's not Sal the GOP might be able to keep it. We need ya, Sal!

  • Chris Matson (unverified)
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    "Portland Dem" writes:

    "Vicki Walker is hardly a progressive and barely a democrat. Saying anything different is like saying John Edwards has a small house."

    Dude, you gotta get out of Portland a little more often.

    Webster defines a "Progressive" as someone who supports "Progress." Voters in north and west Eugene, particularly Democrats and former Democrats now registered as Non-Affiliated, put people who support progress ahead of partisan politics. If they did not think that Walker supported Progress, Jim Torrey would be sitting in that seat today. It's really that simple. Ask former Representative David Dix about that one.

    As for being a Democrat, last time I checked the only requirement for being a Democrat was simply registering as one. Is there some litmus test for being a Democrat in Oregon that I and about 750,000 or so registered Democrats don't know anything about?

    If there is, I and those 750,000+ registered Democrats whould like to see it.

    Now if Democrats like Vicki Walker, Nancy Nathanson, Chris Edwards, Bob Ackerman, Kitty Piercy (when she was a representative), Jim Edmunson, Ted Kulongoski and others like them who have served in all or part of what is currently Senate District 7 are not your idea of "Democrats,' might I suggest that the Democratic Party may not be your political cup of tea. Because like it or not, we are the majority who make up the rank-and-file and every two years or so, we get to decide who gets to serve and who does not.

    I suspect that there will end up being a whole herd of candidates running for this seat. And like in the past, the one who wins will be the one the people decide supports "progress."

    And like Webster, that will be their definitiion of what a true progressive is.

  • (Show?)

    1) Vicki Walker is kinda crazy and not someone I want a heartbeat from the Governership. I really hope soemone else runs.

    2) The bigger news here is Avel Gordly. The good progressive people of North Portland have long been underepresentated by this woman. From endorsing Gordon Smith to her opposition of Gay Marriage she has simply not fit the district for years. She is also pretty do-nothing so I am excited about what kind of new blood will step forward for her seat.

    3) Bye bye Minnis - should have done this two years ago and saved us all alot of $$ and trouble. What a loser.

  • James Mattiace (unverified)
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    Why is it that a strong woman with a political agenda who is not afraid to speak her mind regardless of the political consequences is acceptably labeled as "crazy"?

    Vicki is cut from the same cloth as Alice Paul, the Grimke sisters, Rachel Carson, Lois Gibbs, and other "crazy" women. The difference between Senator Kate Brown, (whom I admire the heck out of) and Senator Vicki Walker is that Vicki doesn't play well with the Portland political establishment. That's not a knock on Senator Brown by any means, its more of a geographic whimsy that makes her victim a of the rumor mill.

    Either woman would make a great Secretary of State and a solid choice should the Governor have to leave office. For me, what I love about Vicki, is that as SoS she gets to wield a big stick when it comes to voter access, something she has been championing for years. And as head of the corporate division I can guarantee that some of our not so nice friends will be held accountable.

    Its tough to replace Bradbury, but since it is a poltical reality, Vicki Walker is a solid, rational, and vivid choice.

    Stop using conservative smear tactics, you're running the Republican opposition's taglines and the primary isn't even over.

    James Mattiace

  • (Show?)

    J in Portland:

    The Avel Gordly thing isn't too big of news, since this has been well known for some time now.

    Minnis' leaving was rumored, but we never knew for sure. It's great to know for sure.

    I'm also glad to see Donna Nelson leaving.

    I can only hope that John Lim would consider doing so as well. Minnis, Nelson, and Lim seemed to team up a lot during the session.

    Lim's seat (HD 50, which is the southern 2/3 or so of Gresham) is one we really need to win. We lost it back in 2004, and we really need to take that seat back.

  • (Show?)

    James has a good read on Senator Walker, you simply can not look at her accomplishments from the past session (and prior) and then dismiss her as barely a Democrat - there is absolutely no truth in a statement like that.

    As Senate Education Chair she accomplished some good things in education. She fought for accountability and funding for k-12 especially and in the area of civil rights she was a clear champion.

    <h2>I am not endorsing anyone at this point in this race it is way to early but it is important to get the facts strait.</h2>
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