LO PAC's - Has the Race For Your Contributions to Influence This Election Already Been Won?

To All COLA LO Members,

LO has had a significant increase in the number of Political Action Committees (PAC)  over the past  four years.   Its surprising how many of these groups there are for a city of only 37, 000 residents.  Yet   the momentum has shifted over the past two years as more groups formed and competed for taxpayer contributions..
  

The clear winner in terms of PAC fundraising is LOCAL.   LOCAL Summary, having raised over $20K in donations but also in having $7k in cash to spend during the remaining weeks before the election.  Contributions to LOCAL are a whopping 57% of all contributions to PAC's in LO so far.   They also hold 33% of all the remaining cash of the core PAC's

The next winner seems to be YES LOPL   Yes LO Public Library ID 15888.   They have raised $13K with $5K to spend in cash.  Contributions have come mostly from the Friends of the LO Library Fund and two other PACs.  So an argument can be made that the fundraising isn't as broad as LOCAL.   Mayor Jack Hoffman's PAC ID 13151 and the Oregon First PAC ID 151 have both donated to YES LOPL.

 

The remaining PAC's have generally raised $1k this year and have $4-5k to spend on the election.     Its our understanding that these PACS are planning fundraisers in October to gain additional contributions.   

KLOG - Keep Lake Oswego Great   ID 13290
LO Stewards -Lake Oswego Stewards ID 14366.

We will continue to update members on the fundraising activities of the PAC's including a detailed analysis of key PAC supporters later in the election cycle.  

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Has the Fundraising Race for Your City Council Already Been Won?

To All COLA LO Members,

Big changes continue in the race for your campaign contributions to win election to our city council.  However a pattern is unfolding in terms of which candidates may end up winning the contributions race.

 It's time to update ourselves on the supporters for  the various candidates for City Council and Mayor.  There are now only 40+ days before the election.

Is a limited group of candidates running away with the election at an early stage in the race?  Its a question residents should be asking themselves as we evaluate the efforts of all candidates. So far the council and Mayoral fundraising races are clearly being won by three candidates.

City Council:

Skip O'Neill ID 15855 has raised $14k, with about half of it in the form of loans.  He also now has a whopping $10K cash balance to spend on the final weeks of the race.     Cash contributions from individuals are now kicking in and he has clearly out raised all the council candidates. He continues to employ a strategy of early self financing his campaign with long term  support from individual residents and the fireman's local PAC. 

His effort is followed closely by Dan Williams ID 14655  who has now raised nearly $8k from the fireman's local PAC, a business executive, and individuals.  He has a cash balance of $5k  for the final weeks of the race.  


Bill Tierney Summary   ID 13233  Who has raised nearly $6K from contributions mainly from utilities, developers, a political party, and local business owners has $4k remaining in cash.   Jon Gustafson ID 15868  follows closely behind with $5K in contributions and $2k remaining in cash.     


Mayor:

Mayor:  Greg Macpherson Committee ID 15485  has raised an incredible $42K with contributions mainly from attorneys, consultants, state elected officials, political consultants, and individuals. He currently has $35K in cash available for the final weeks of the campaign.    A recent Oregonian Article summarized his contributors Mayoral Campaign fundraising.
 
In the article the Oregonian states:   "Most of Macpherson’s biggest donations come from outside Lake Oswego, such as $2,012 and $1,000 from Portland lawyers Phil Walsh and Tom Kramer, respectively. Wilsonville resident Danton Wagner also donated $1,000. Lake Oswego resident Caroline Borduin, who is the president of organization Democracy Talking, also topped the giving list with $1,000. Several Democratic politicians donated, including Clackamas County commissioner Ann Lininger, the campaigns of state Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Lake Oswego, state Rep. Tobias Read, D-Beaverton, and state Rep. Chris Garrett, D-Lake Oswego. Denise Frisbee, former Lake Oswego planning director who retired at the end of 2011, donated $600 to Macpherson’s campaign and $150 to Councilor Bill Tierney’s re-election campaign."
 
Kent Studebaker Committee id 15861 for mayor has raised $10k from Physicians, attorneys, and one city councilor.  He has approximately $3K in cash to spend in the final weeks of the election.  

Other candidates: 

The remaining candidates have very limited or no finance activity and can be found at:  Terry Jordan  ID 15933  has raised $1k in contributions while Karen Bowerman  ID 15921 shows no finance activity.  

We will continue to update members on the fundraising activities of both candidates and PAC's.   

 Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Once Again Oregonian Article Forces PAC to Explain Their Endorsement?

To All COLA LO Members,

The recent Oregonian articles "outing" the partisanship for various candidates for council and mayor is forcing further explanations.

 This week in response to the article recently that KLOG endorsed mostly candidates that were democrats, the Keep Lake Oswego Great (KLOG) PAC provided further explanation similar to LOCAL.  

The explanation and article can be found at KLOG Explains Endorsement.

Over the past few weeks the Oregonian has consistently disclosed the partisanship of all candidates in a non-partisan election.   This has forced various non-partisan groups to explain their endorsements in an attempt to "prove" they are non-partisan.  

Its a first for Lake Oswego and the community is questioning the intent of the disclosure.    Is it media bias or an attempt to influence the outcome of the local election?

Interestingly though the Oregonian makes one large disclosure:

 All KLOG's candidates but O’Neill have received donations from either local and state Democratic Parties, or from other Democratic politicians.

This may be a big surprise to residents.  Only time will tell but residents are concerned about the impact in a non-partisan key election.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.    

  

Oregonian Article Imples Another LO PAC Endorsement is Mostly Partisan?

To All COLA LO Members,

This week the Oregonian published another article "outing" candidates partisanship in the LO City election.  

Its continuing a theme on what has been assumed to be a non partisan election in the past.   Residents continue to wonder what the agenda is on this discourse of partisanship?   

Many are expressing they are disturbed by a "hidden agenda" in the media.  

The Oregonian announced this week that the local PAC KLOG - Keep Lake Oswego Great endorsed all candidates with the same partisanship except one.    Details can be found at:  KLOG Endorses..  The viewer online comments were very candid in response to the article.  

COLA board members attended the recent KLOG  and LOCAL candidate forums which were well presented.   Links to both groups can be found in our link section on the blogs main page.

The fact that the Oregonian keeps mentioning partisanship is distracting at best and worrisome at worst given that the issues of concern to residents are very local.   Lets see where it all goes as the election approaches, 

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends. 

COLA Board Member Discusses the Importance of This Election.

To All COLA  LO Members,

This week Board Member Dave Berg submitted an article in the LO review.   In the article An election to preserve the community? he discussed the importance of this election to the community and the need for all residents to take a look at the details and positions of all candidates. 

In the article he states

"It’s election season and there will be endorsements by different groups. Lake Oswego now has more PACs, with every PAC a special interest group, and some endorsing the same special interest-driven candidates every election. It’s time we all take a different view and look at all the candidates to determine who is really qualified to represent all of us. That’s vital to ensuring four years of good governance. Personally, I would like to avoid a repeat of the past and focus on preserving this wonderful community." 

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.    

Oregonian Implies Endorsements by LOCAL PAC are Partisan!

To All COLA LO Members,

This past week the Oregonian announced that all the endorsements by a PAC were Republican.   The PAC is non-partisan but the Oregonian identifies all their endorsements as Republican in a non partisan race?

Many in the community believe that the story is a direct attempt to "out"  candidates and try to make the election a partisan event because the candidates are not a traditional slate that may have been approved by the Oregonian.  


Its an interesting dynamic and being widely discussed in the community right now.    Is the Oregonian playing favorites or is it just another attempt to drum up news?    Only time will tell and the story can be found at LO PAC Announces all R endorsements.     Its only the second mention of partisanship when a letter to the editor of the LO Review endorsed a specific candidate stating  he was a member of a specific party like most of LO.

Has the Oregonian's direct intervention into a local race made this election partisan?    Did they draw "first blood" to tarnish the endorsement?   These are all questions being asked in the community right now.   Are they being influenced by outside political forces?   Residents are wondering and will be throughout the election cycle is it all just more "media bias" we continue to hear about from many commentators?  .  

The article has drawn explanations of the endorsements and more details form the PAC.   A follow up article can be found at PAC Explains Endorsement - Partisan?.   

We will be taking a look at which candidates are actually accepting funds form parties or elected officials of parties in a future post.    We will look at all the candidates to determine if their funding is partisan or if this is just another effort to stir up controversy. 

Please forward to all members, contacts, and friends.  

LO PAC's - Who Is Leading the Race For Your Contributions to Influence This Election?

To All COLA LO Members,

LO has had a significant increase in the number of Political Action Committees (PAC)  over the past  four years.   To many residents its surprising how many of these groups there are for a city of only 37, 000 residents.  

What is the catalyst for the formation of so many PAC's is the subject of much debate in Lake Oswego.

The COLA Board has done a detailed study of the PAC groups and their financing to determine who is winning the race for taxpayer contributions within our community. 

The momentum has shifted over the past two years as more groups formed and copmpeted for taxpayer contributions..
  

The clear winner in terms of PAC fundraising is LOCAL.   LOCAL Summary, having raised over $18K in donations and now have $6k in cash to spend on the election.

The next winner seems to be YES LOPL   Yes LO Public Library ID 15888.   They have raised $8K with $3K to spend in cash.  

Both of these groups seem to be very effective in attracting contributions from local residents.

The remaining PAC's have been active and can be found at the links below.  Generally they have raised $1k this year and have $4-5k to spend on the election.    

Key Political Action Committees in Lake Oswego:

KLOG - Keep Lake Oswego Great   ID 13290
LO Stewards -Lake Oswego Stewards ID 14366.

We will continue to update members on the fundraising activities of the PAC's including a detailed analysis of PAC supporters later in the election cycle.   

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

BIG Changes in Campaign Contributions to Council Candidates!

To All COLA LO Members,

Big changes in the race for your campaign contributions to win election to our city council. It's time to update ourselves on the supporters for  the various candidates for City Council and Mayor.

There are now only 56+ days away.

Who is winning the fundraising race and who is supporting the candidates?  

So far the council and Mayoral fundraising races are clearly being won by two candidates:

  
And the winners are:

City Council:

Skip O'Neill ID 15855 has raised almost $13k, most of this has been in the form of loans but now cash contributions from individuals are kicking in and he has clearly out raised all the council candidates.  

He is employing a strategy of early self financing his campaign with long term  support from individual residents and the fireman's local PAC. Those individual contributions have kicked in and hes clearly distanced himself in the race. He also has a $8K cash balance to spend on the final months of the race.    


Bill Tierney Summary   ID 13233  Who has raised nearly $4K from contributions mainly from utilities, developers, a political party, and local business owners.  His effort is followed closely by Dan Williams ID 14655  who has raised nearly $4k from the fireman's local PAC, a business executive, and individuals.  
 Jon Gustafson ID 15868  follows closely behind with $3K.  


Mayor:

Mayor:  Greg Macpherson Committee ID 15485  Who has raised an incredible $36K with contributions mainly from attorneys, consultants, state elected officials, political consultants, and individuals. 


The remaining candidates have very limited or no finance activity and can be found at:

Kent Studebaker Committee id 15861 for mayor has raised $5k from Physicians, attorneys, and one city councilor.  Karen Bowerman  ID 15921 and  Terry Jordan  ID 15933  have no finance activity.  


Is a limited group of candidates running away with the election at an early stage in the race?  Its a question all resident should be asking themselves as we evaluate the efforts of all candidates. 

We will continue to update members on the fundraising activities of both candidates and PAC's including a detailed analysis of PAC supporters later in the election cycle.   

 Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Cola Board Member Article Says the Choice is Yours

To All COLA LO Members,

Last week board member Dave Luck published an article on the upcoming election.   In the article he suggests that the choice is entirely up to the voters and that choice often seems very stark.   He also argues that the real election is at the local level not the national level.  

Its an interesting article that tries to make a few points on the choices we all have. The article can be found at The Choice is Yours

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.   

Terry Jordan Announces Run for Council

To All COLA LO Members,

This week Terry Jordan announced her candidacy for city Council. 

Terry commented that she does not have a platform and is working to lean about current civic issues.   Details can be found at:  Jordan Joins Council Race.

The community is very interested in all teh cnaddiates for council so we are sure Terry will draw much attention form residents as she conducts her campaign.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Oregon Supreme Court Tells County NO!

To All COLA LO Members,

It seems that the county didn't pull the bond sale on its own as often reported.  The supreme court granted a restraining order preventing Clackamas County form selling bonds to finance light rail, prior to the 3-401 vote on the 18th.   Its another stunning rebuke of the direction of the Clackamas County Commissioners.

The court details on granting the restraining order can be found at:  Supreme Court Says NO.

Local Blogger Jack Bogdanski claims Another Victory for the Clackastani Rebels  


One has to wonder what all of these antics and run arounds will do with the election only 60 days away?   One resident mentioned it is political suicide.  Only time will tell but its becoming clear that some elected officials are trying very hard to prevent any voting by residents on light rail.  

Could this portend a huge political shift in direction within Clackamas County?  

What is Going On In Clackamas County Again?

To All COLA LO Members,

It seems the county has now cancelled the Bond sale for Light Rail expenditures in a stunning reversal of their previous direction.  

The details can be found at County Cancels Bond.

A local blogger calls the decision as a Rogue County Commission adjustment.   We wouldn't classify it as that but it provides a unique perspective on how may citizens feel about their elected representatives in Clackamas county. 

It appears one citizen is willing to carry their lawsuit to the Oregon Supreme Court to preserve the measure 3-401 outcome.  

All of this really forces us to ask what is going on in Clackamas county?   How far are officials willing to push their agenda?   Its simply staggering the conflict between elected officials and the voters they are supposed to represent.   What has happened?  


Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.

Who is supporting the Measure 3-401 PAC's

To All COLA LO Members,

As Measure 3-410 the initiative requiring a countywide vote for all rail expenditures is now being voted on by the citizens, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the PAC's involved in supporting or opposing the measure.

Clackamas Rail Vote supports the measure ID 15854.
Positively Clackamas  opposes the measure ID 15840.


In terms of supporters for the measure Supporters:   Oregon Family Farm PAC, Oregon Transformation PAC,  Eric Winters and Councilor Mary Olson.   The group has raised almost $25K mostly in 'In kind" donations.

For the opposing side of the measure Opposition:

Jame Labbe,  Friends of Bob Stacey,  Friends of Tom Hughes (metro Councilor), Local 48 Electricians,  Joseph Angel (Real Estate Investor), Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette, County commissioner Jim Bernard, Metro councilor Rex Burkholder, Lake Oswego's own Oak Grove Village LLC, and former councilor Roger Hennagin who lost reelection in 2010.  

The group has raised almost $21K mostly in "cash" donations.

Many believe the primary issue here is the citizens right to vote on major expenditures for light rail.   A local blogger has recently put in their opinion in  the following post on the bond issuance for light rail without any public vote Clacky Bond Theory

We leave it to the readers to decide on their view of the issues,  we just find it interesting when the supporters of various sides of the  measure are reviewed.   

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

What Is Going On in Clackamas County?

To All COLA LO Members,

It seems the ongoing battle over issuing bonds for the light rail project which barely touches clackamas county has gone into the courtroom.   Its a sad day when the issues are pushed so far that they force legal reviews of elected officials actions and challenges by citizens. 

One blogger in a recent post provides a summary of the issues in Showdown.   Residents have to begin to ask has local representative government gotten this far out of hand?   

It seems today one  lawsuit and restraining order was dismissed while another was filed nearly at the same time.   Details can be found in Restraining Order.  

One has to wonder how this is all being perceived by the voters.    There are several commissioner seats open in the fall election and citizens may be making determinations based on all the efforts.   

At teh same time there is a special election this month on measure 3-401.   That may provide some early information on how voters perceive the issues. 


Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.

Metro Steps Over Lake Oswego?

To All COLA LO Members,

For several years LO's Sensitive Lands ordinance has been a major point of divisiveness within the community.    Recently there have been some  overtures that the ordinance may be revised to be less onerous on private property within the city.   Many have believed that the ordinance exceeds all requirements and that revisions were very necessary.

Well this past week in an attempt to make a revision,  the LO council was put on notice by METRO.   In what appears to be a threatening move, metro has objected to the revision of the sensitive lands ordinance by the council. 

Details can be found at Metro Files against LO? 
and LO Council Removes


We leave it to reader to determine if this is big brother stepping in?

Please notify all members, contacts and friends.