The Celsi Dinner a Huge Success

Jonathan Singer

PORTLAND – Last night, the Multnomah County Democrats came out in full force at to celebrate the career of Barbara Roberts at the annual Dick Celsi dinner and fundraiser.

The Oregon Convention center teemed with 380 raging Democrats ranging from grassroots activists to state legislators to unionists to fundraisers. Also in attendance were Congressman Blumenauer, Governor Kulongoski, Secretary of State Bradbury, Attorney General Myers, Labor Commissioner Gardner, and Mayor Potter, to mention a few.

The festivities – which clocked in at more than four hours, including the cocktail hour – were spirited throughout as the Democrats honored one of their truly liberal heroes, Roberts. Many delivered adulatory recollections of Roberts’ time as a grassroots activist, school board member, state legislator, Secretary of State and Governor. She was even praised as a writer for her book “Death without Denial, Grief without Apology.”

The event also provided the opportunity to raise funds to hire a new full-time staffer for the Democratic Party of Multnomah County. While previous Celsi dinners have been successful in their own right, DNC member Jenny Greenleaf – who planned the event – was “just amazed” at the generosity of those in attendance.

A more personal account of the event after the jump...

The event was semi-formal, so people’s dress ranged from tuxedos to blue jeans. I felt somewhat underdressed in slacks and a nice button-up shirt, but that’s my own self-consciousness, most likely.

Early in the cocktail hour, I was able to sneak in an interview with Congressman Earl Blumenauer before he was whisked away to KATU to do a live satellite interview on CNN. Why he would agree to be the Democrat in a cable news debate on the Terri Schiavo case is beyond me. I was also lucky enough to speak with Governor Kulongoski (to my question about a possible 2008 run, his response: "No and No"), Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, Attorney General Hardy Myers, Mayor Tom Potter, and, of course, former Governor Barbara Roberts.

A number of Blue Oregon-ers were in attendance. I had a nice time talking with Jesse Cornett (who doesn’t have a good time with Jesse?) and had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Ann Martens. I in fact sat at Anne’s table at the invitation of Blumenauer aide Willie Smith (what a nice guy!). I also got to meet blogger-cum-DNC member Jenny Greenleaf, with whom I had only previously spoken via telephone and interview (and whom I must thank for the press credentials for the event).

It was a truly Democratic event in many ways. No highfaluting Republican bigwigs in our midst, indeed! For instance, an undisclosed staffer – you know who you are – snuck in a flask to avoid paying $6.25 for weak mixed drinks. It just goes to show that it's the Democrats, not the Republicans, who know how to balance a budget.

I was invited out to the staffers’ post-party at a bar, which I would have happily attended. Alas, my twenty-first birthday does not arrive for another 26 days and for whatever reason, I do not have a fake ID. I suppose you’ll have to ask some of the other Blue Oregon-ers to tell you how it went…

By Jonathan Singer March 20, 2005