Business effort fights campaign finance law

Several business owners launch a petition to repeal taxpayer funding of Portland political races

Thursday, August 18, 2005

ANNA GRIFFIN

A coalition of business owners has filed the paperwork to begin collecting signatures in hopes of repealing Portland's new public campaign-financing program.

Portland City Council members decided this spring to give qualifying candidates taxpayer help in running for municipal office. The idea is to lessen the influence that money -- and deep-pocketed donors -- play in city politics.

The business owners' group says voters deserve a say on the matter

"It just seems odd thing for elected officials to decide they're going to spend $1 million on something like this when the city is facing such economic problems," said Reuel Fish, co-owner of Urban Wineworks, one of the lead petitioners. "It seems like the public should get to vote on that, if you're going to make it the priority."

Fish, hardware magnate Fred Chown and lawyer Mark Long lent their names to the petition drive.

Some of Portland's better-known business leaders -- including Clayton Hering, president of Norris Beggs & Simpson, a real estate brokerage; Wayne Kingsley, chairman of American Waterways Inc.; and Judy Peppler, president of Qwest Oregon and chairwoman-elect of the Portland Business Alliance -- are involved behind the scenes, said Ellie Booth, who is doing public relations work for the petition drive. The business alliance's board of directors came out against public financing before the City Council vote.

To put the repeal on the May 2006 ballot, organizers must collect 26,691 signatures by Jan. 17.

Such an effort could cost between $50,000 and $150,000, and the petitioners have indicated that they may hire people to collect signatures.

Laura Imeson, a former AT&T lobbyist who is helping organize the effort, said supporters are working with several groups that have large mailing lists, including the Taxpayers Association of Oregon, and may not need to pay anyone to circulate petitions.

Under the campaign finance plan written by Commissioner Erik Sten and Auditor Gary Blackmer, a City Council candidate who collected $5 donations from 1,000 people could receive $150,000 in a primary and $200,000 in a general election. Candidates for mayor would need to collect $5 donations from 1,500 people to receive $200,000 for a primary campaign and $250,000 for the general election.

By offering taxpayer-funded campaign help, city leaders hope to cut the time candidates must spending raising money and eliminate even the perception that money equals power in Portland.

Although public financing would begin next year, voters wouldn't weigh in until 2010. Sten and Blackmer, both of whom are up for re-election in May, say the public needs to see how public financing works before they're asked to vote on it.

City Council members voted 4-1 in May to make Portland the first big city in the nation to adopt comprehensive campaign financing.

Anna Griffin: 503-294-5988; annagriffin@news.oregonian.com