Hales Faces Elections Complaint: Updated
An elections-law complaint against former City Commissioner Charlie Hales threatens his campaign for mayor. Portlander Seth Woolley, a Green Party activist, filed complaints late Tuesday with the city auditor, Multnomah County and the state Elections Division based on facts reported by WW over the past year. The complaint alleges Hales wasn’t a legal voter in Oregon when he filed to run for mayor—a requirement in the city charter.
Hales last registered to vote in Oregon in 2008 after purchasing a Portland home. But from 2004 all the way through 2009, Hales was a resident of Washington, not Oregon, according to his tax returns.
Records show Hales continued voting in Oregon during those years even though state law appears to prohibit it. Woolley says Hales' voter registration was invalid and he was therefore ineligible to enter the mayor’s race.
Hales says Woolley's argument has no merit. "It’s a ridiculous complaint," Hales told WW Tuesday afternoon. "I received my ballot at my Portland address in the most recent election because the state of Oregon lists me as a registered voter at that address. You can’t take away anybody’s right to vote in Oregon because they used to live in California or Washington or anywhere else."
Read the full article here. Discuss below.
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Posted on April 17, 2012
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connect with blueoregon
10:40 a.m.
Apr 19, '12
Unfortunately Mr. Hales seems to be technically eligible to run for Mayor, but what a weasel! He continued to file as a nonresident for tax purposes even after declaring his run for mayor.
It's like what Chris Dudley did before running for governor, and it should cast a pall over Mr. Hales' candidacy also. The problem is the ease with which people can maintain the fiction of Oregon residency for political purposes. That needs to have a legislative fix.
How wrong is it to be granted the cover of supposed residency without the responsibility of paying local taxes simply by swearing you'll be right back and not being stupid enough to register to vote where you live?
12:07 p.m.
Apr 19, '12
I was incorrect about Mr. Hales' filing as nonresident after declaring for mayor, as that did not happen until May 2011.