Voter Owned Elections More Choices & New Voices for Portland

As we enter the home stretch, we need to reinforce the message that Voter Owned Elections will bring new choices and different voices to City Hall. Let's end politics as usual by passing out an ordinance with no strings and not amendments attached.

Final Message to City Council and Contact Information
"Thanks for your political courage as you approach a historic vote on Voter Owned Elections. I urge you to vote 'yes' on the ordinance as written by Auditor Gary Blackmer."

Commissioner Dan Saltzman 503-823-4151 dan@ci.portland.or.us	Commissioner Erik Sten 503-823-3589 erik@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Sam Adams 503-823-3008 commissioner adams@ci.portland.or.us	Mayor Tom Potter 503-823-4120 mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Randy Leonard 503-823-4682 randy@ci.portland.or.us

Background on Amendment Discussions
Voter Owned Elections and Sunset Provisions

Sunset provisions exist to phase out ordinances that you know you will no longer need in the future. But the need to open City Hall to candidates who lack wealth isn’t going away after a few years. So a sunset is the wrong way to go.
If the system isn’t working, the City Council – or the citizens of Portland – can always pass an ordinance or refer the matter to the voters. A sunset isn’t necessary.
It also isn't appropriate to set the stage for a future City Council to kill Voter Owned Elections by inaction. If the reform option isn't needed in the future (an unlikely prospect) it should be either fixed or repealed by Council action.
The people of Portland deserve Voter Owned Elections. City commissioners should send a clear message that they want elections reform that will bring more choices and different voices to City Hall. A sunset sends the wrong message.

Voter Owned Elections as “Incumbent Protection”

The system has been carefully designed to encourage candidates to leave our current system of private campaign financing in favor of the even playing field that public financing creates.
Incumbents understand how to make political decisions. The public financing system is voluntary – don’t tie the hands of candidates who want to decide for themselves on the best way to run.
Incumbents already take advantage of the intangible benefits of holding office; why would we want to encourage them to continue to play in the unfair system of unlimited private financing?
You might as well call this the “insider protection act” if you bar incumbents from using the system. City Hall insiders will continue to give money to incumbent candidates, reinforcing their relationships and distorting the effect of a new campaign finance system designed to increase access to City Hall.

Voter Owned Elections
Want to go more in depth about Voter Owned Elections? Follow this link to our fact sheet and more.