8/25/2005
Voter-owned elections needed

The very brief revelation in The Oregonian that conservative businesses are now organizing to stop Portland's bold move into greater democracy is cause for alarm.

Why should the Portland Business Alliance members have such strong opinions about how civic Portland is organized? Could it be they enjoy the control their large campaign contributions bring? (I'm thinking of former City Commissioner Jim Francesconi's run for mayor, among other campaigns.)

Civic-minded Portlanders are urged to boycott the businesses that are working against this city's best interests. Publicly funded elections mean big business can no longer blackmail our politicians.

TIM CALVERT
Southeast Portland