SD-22: Live, from the appointment hearing. Update: It's Chip Shields!

Kari Chisholm

Update, 12:18 p.m After an initial 2 votes for Shields, 2 votes for Collymore, and 1 vote for Bowman, Chair Wheeler switched his vote from Bowman to Shields, and the Commission approved the appointment unanimously.

Well, today's the day that the Multnomah County Commission meets to hear from the three nominees for Senate District 22 - Jo Ann Bowman, Karol Collymore, and Chip Shields. All three nominees are long-time and active contributors here at BlueOregon, so this appointment is of special interest to many of us.

I'll be posting highlights from the hearing (not quite liveblogging a transcript), in an effort to keep y'all plugged in. In addition, you can watch it live here.

10:10 a.m. At the moment, they're finishing up the earlier agenda - including presentations by county staff about how they're shifting to recycled paper use, and reducing overall paper consumption. (Thrilling stuff, I'll tell ya.)

10:25 a.m. Still talking recycling and waste reduction. The room is full of observers waiting for the SD-22 process to get underway.

10:38 a.m. They've drawn lots to determine the speaking order. They'll go Bowman, Collymore, and Shields. Chair Ted Wheeler describes the process - and reminds everyone that there won't be public testimony, though they've heard from the public in many venues. There will be about an hour or so of questions, and then they'll have a public vote.

10:42 a.m. Bowman opens with her five-minute statement. She talks about her work at Oregon Action, ensuring that Oregonians are able to be part of the democratic process. She also spent three years as the board chair of the Coalition for a Livable Future. She emphasizes that it's critical that low-income people are included in the economic recovery work underway, including health care reform.

Bowman notes her three terms as a State Representative - but emphasizes her nine years as a senior policy advisor to County Chair Bev Stein.

Wow. She's making news. She says that if voters reject the tax increases in January, she'll call for an immediate suspension of all tax exemptions pending a vote to determine whether they make sense.

10:47 a.m. Collymore opens. She talks about her work serving others. She says that 90% of the time, her votes would be the same as Shields and Bowman. She says she'd be different, because she'd represent young people - especially young people of color. She acknowledges that she's never held public office or proposed legislation, but talks about the public service she's done.

10:50 a.m. Shields opens. He talks about his work delivering results for the community - both in the Lege and at the nonprofit he founded, Better People. He's pointing out people in the audience who he's worked with to achieve positive legislation. He's running down a list of accomplishments at the Lege. He argues that he should go to the Senate in order to "double the impact".

Follow me on the jump for the Commissioner's questions...

10:55 a.m. Ted Wheeler: What's the most important issue, and what's the first piece of legislation? Bowman: Economic insecurity. Job training, especially where it's a win-win on jobs and sustainability. Collymore: Gentrification, especially as it hurts Roosevelt and Jefferson high schools. First task: ending the kicker. Since sales tax isn't an option, we need other options. Shields: Property tax structure. Also, census. More inmates coming to 97211 and 97217 than any other. Has bill to ensure that Oregon's 13,000 inmates be counted in their home areas, not where the prison is.

10:59 a.m. Deborah Kafoury: We need to remove state preemptions on local govt. Name one you'd work on. Collymore: Want to end the cigarette tax exemption. If MultCo voters want to tax cigarettes, that should be OK. Shields: Yes, cigarette tax in short-term. The Senate is key. Long-term, need to work on real estate transfer fees in order to fund affordable housing. Bowman: Measure 50 limits county ability to fund programs. County has no voice on urban renewal decisions. Jeff Cogen follow-up: What woudl you do about urban renewal? Bowman: Intergovernmental agreements. Ted Wheeler: You've hit a nerve! What do you mean a "seat at the table"? Consultancy or decision-making? Bowman: Decision-making. Veto, even.

11:03 a.m. Cogen: What would you do if revenue plans fail? Shields: Because of Ways & Means experience, I'm uniquely suited to address this. Bowman: We give away lots of money in tax expenditures, some on the books since 1937. If revenue package fails, immediately suspend all tax breaks - and ask people to come back and make the case. We're giving tax breaks to people just to follow the law. That's insane. Collymore: #1, we could revisit the revenue package and see if there's some things we can do to make the business community OK with it. #2, deal with the kicker.

11:07 a.m. Judy Shiprack: When we closed the state mental hospital, there was supposed to be community-based services. What will you do to help fund those services? Bowman: Best mental health services are in our jails. That's sad. People are being incarcerated because we're failing on mental health. I'll advocate for better funding at the local level. Collymore: Agree with Jo Ann. Should work on ending contracting that leads to $7-10/hr caregivers. Instead, we should have people with mental health training. Shields: As a social worker, disagree that best mental health work is happening in jails. We have good facilities. I've delivered results for the county.

11:11 a.m. Diane McKeel: What will you do to help businesses remain competitive? Collymore: I don't have a good answer. Haven't studied it. Green jobs are critical. Energy efficiency isn't just for wealthy people anymore. Viewing things with a sustainability lens is a good place to start. Shields: I've worked on insurance rate review process, especially in rulemaking process. Concerned about health insurance industry just grabbing all the funds we provide. Bowman: Oregon Action has been organizing small businesses on health care reform. They're telling us it's about sustainable tax relief as well.

11:15 a.m. Wheeler: Does race matter in this appointment? Shields: Yes, diversity is a legitimate issue. When all things are equal, that should play a role. In this case, I've got the experience and record to do this job. At the PCP nominating convention, you would have seen wide diversity of people supporting me. Bowman: All things are not equal. Our society suffers from racism, sexism, etc. You have three talented people to choose from. None of us are Margaret Carter. Race matters when zero legislators of 90 reflect you. Collymore: Tells us a story about watching HBO's Weeds. Our media and our society demonstrates bias. We need people to look up to.

11:19 a.m. Kafoury: Talk about approach to constituent relations. Bowman: Gotta be accessible and responsive. I always returned every letter and phone call, even from outside my district. Collymore: I am who I am now. I'll be open to people, in the store, in the office, etc. Shields: The reason I got 59 of 82 votes in the first round is because of my record of accessibility. I've held 11 town halls. We've had office hours in the district.

11:24 a.m. Cogen: County has cut nine budgets in a row, even when times were good. Our property tax system is broken structurally. What to do about that? Collymore: I'll rely on good folks to help me work through the problem. Shields: Need to review distribution of 15% in Measure 5. Need to review details in Measure 50. Bowman: Fix the preemption. Provide flexibility under Measure 50.

11:27 a.m. Shiprack: Moving beyond parochial view - how would you reach across the aisle and to rural interests, especially on revenue restructuring? Shields: Proud of work on minority contracting. Got GOP legislators to sign on to that project. Bowman: At Oregon Action, we work statewide. Have an office in Medford, seen devastation of downtown there. As legislator, traveled to Pendleton to listen to locals there. Collymore: Grew up with a Republican in my family. We can get along! Common thread across Oregon is lack of investment and falling-down schools. Rural communities need their kids to go to college in Oregon and then come back.

11:34 a.m. McKeel: What would you cut and what would you hold harmless? Bowman: Hold harmless the programs that serve the neediest. I was appalled by Governor's initial budget. We have many folks who are new to these programs. Collymore: No reason to touch human services. People should be secure at food banks and county health services. Also, protect education. Everything else is up for grabs. Shields: 92% of money is incarceration, medication, and education. Not a lot of room.

11:37 a.m. Wheeler: The only way to open Wapato Jail is to partner with the state. Agree? How hard will you work to make that happen? Collymore: I agree. I'll work as hard as you need to me to. Shields: It's all about negotiations. We've made prison-building our rural economic development strategy; which is embarassing. We have 490 beds at Wapato. Should use that to reduce construction needs. Bowman: I served with Max Williams. We are allies. We should transfer prisoners who are within one year of release to Wapato, so they can get transition services here - since they'll be moving here.

11:41 a.m. Kafoury passes. Cogen: Gay people are still legally discriminated against. Will you support legalizing gay marriage? Shields: Absolutely, yes. Bowman: Yes, absolutely. Collymore: Yes, I support gay marriage. We need to support advances while we await amendment to Oregon Constitution.

11:44 a.m. Shiprack passes. McKeel: Who is your political idol? Bowman: I have many heroes. Bev Stein taught me you could have integrity and stand alone and be OK. Margaret Carter and Avel Gordly have been strong mentors. Nationally, Michelle Obama. Collymore: In New Mexico, my hometown hero is Governor Bill Richardson - who taught me to treat people like people. In Portland, Commissioner Jeff Cogen (who is now blushing) and Tina Kotek, who have shown how to be as progressive as you want to be, and yet people still respect you. (Jeff wants to hide under the desk.) Shields: Not just politicians. Names several constituents. Make friends. But if you're going to make enemies, do it on purpose and as part of a strategy. Political hero: Barack Obama. Got criticized because I endorsed him so early.

11:48 a.m. Wheeler: What do you see the role of the Senator in health care reform? Collymore: We need to talk about health care as a necessity, rather than something you get through your job or because you're poor. Agree with Obama that we should have mandatory health insurance. Shields: I work as the business manager of a primary health care practice, Hands On Medicine. Good that we added 80,000 more kids to health plan - but clinics are full. What do we do about that? Need a prevention orientation. Bowman: Health care is an example where the Lege doesn't get it right. Insurance companies got 80,000 more customers, and the deal was that they wouldn't pass on the costs - but that's exactly what they did. I would have made sure that we didn't trust the health insurance industry. We weren't brave enough to say that everyone deserves health care. How is removing dental and vision coverage a positive reform?

11:53 a.m. Statements and votes are coming up now after five minute break. If there's a majority, we're done. Otherwise, we'll deliberate.

12:00 p.m. Kafoury: It strikes me that this is the only district where race is being discussed. It's a good thing to discuss. It should be discussed in every district. Kafoury votes for Collymore.

12:01 p.m. Cogen: I've always said I wanted to make difficult decisions. Be careful what you ask for! We have fabulous choices. I represent SD-22 in the County Commission. All three candidates are friends. I worked with Jo Ann in Bev Stein's office and learned that she's a tremendous advocate. I met Chip when he was running Better People; have profound respect. Done a great job in the Lege, especially ending exclusion zones. Karol is the youngest, but has a great track record. I know much of Karol's work throughout the community. And, of course, in my office where her work has been exemplary and shown leadership. I have struggled, and changed my mind numerous times, and decided to vote for each one. Karol's ability to engage people makes the difference. Cogen votes for Collymore.

12:07 p.m. Shiprack: Thank you to all. Very difficult choice. It's presumptuous for me to think that this is anything more than a statutory requirement. The decision should be held by the voters. Shiprack votes for Shields.

12:09 p.m. McKeel: Tough choice. Karol, you'll be a great public servant. Jo Ann, you're an incredible advocate. Chip, thank you for all that you've done. McKeel votes for Shields.

12:11 p.m. Wheeler: (It's a 2-2 tie. Will Wheeler break the tie?) Thank you to my colleagues. Thank you to all three candidates. All three could be great state senators. Wishes this decision was made by voters. My hope is that the voters will get a choice in May. Wheeler votes for Bowman. Wants to open up for deliberation.

12:13 p.m. Wheeler expresses his admiration for Collymore - notes her Oregonian endorsement. Wheeler says that with one vote for Bowman, "it's not your day." So, he changes vote to Shields. He's saying lots of good things about all three.

12:16 p.m. Shiprack moves to appoint Chip Shields. Cogen seconds. Five votes aye. It's Senator Chip Shields.

12:17 p.m. Chip thanks the board. Adjourned.

By Kari Chisholm Sept. 24, 2009