For immediate release:	Contact:
April 12, 2007	Sarah Wetherson, 503/756-8537

Campaign Contributions Reflect Differences between Labor, Business Groups on Opposite Sides of Measure to Change the City of Portland’s Form of Government

Prominent Portland businesses and business people are bankrolling the campaign in support of measure 26-91, which would change Portland’s form of government.  Unions are funding the effort to defeat it.

That’s the major finding from recent analysis of campaign contributions by the Money in Politics Research Action Project (MiPRAP) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit group whose goals are to increase accountability and opportunities for participation in politics.  MiPRAP is neutral on the charter amendment measures, but is tracking contributions to the three measure PACs online on its blog, www.oregonfollowthemoney.org/webblog.

Four measures on the May ballot for the City of Portland would make changes to the City’s charter, as recommended by a citizen Charter Review Commission. Measure 26-91, which would change the form of City government by centralizing City management in a chief administrative officer, is the most controversial, drawing detractors as well as supporters.

Measure 26-89 would require the city, through an appointed commission, to review the charter at least every 10 years.  Measure 26-90 would update and clarify civil service provisions.  Measure 26-92 would define the mission and increase city oversight of the Portland Development Commission.  All four measures will appear on the May 15, 2007 ballot.

Citizens to Reform City Hall, which supports all four measures, has raised $48,506, more than half of which has come from seven businesses (or individuals associated with those businesses) that have representatives on Portland’s chamber of commerce, the Portland Business Alliance.  The campaign’s top 10 donors have contributed $39,000, or 80 percent of the PAC’s total through April 11, 2007.

Except for $500 from the David Bragdon for Metro campaign, all of the donors on the supporters’ side are individuals or businesses.  No other public officials have contributed in support of the campaign, but the mayor’s wife, Karin Hansen, has contributed $500.

The two PACs opposing measure 26-91, Portlanders for Accountability and the Committee for Accountable City Government, have raised $144,459 to date.  About 93 percent of that total comes from eight unions, either through their treasuries or affiliated PACs.

The unions represent approximately 44,790 workers, according to websites and other published reports. For example, Oregon AFSCME Council 75, which gave $25,000 to the “no” campaign, represents 22,000 members.

Several former elected city officials have contributed to the “no” campaign, including former Mayor “Bud” Clark, former city commissioners Charlie Hales and Gretchen Kafoury and former city auditor Jewell Lansing.

The top 10 donors to the Committee for Accountable City Government comprise $5534, or 80 percent of that PAC’s total of $6959 to date.  Portlanders for Accountability raised $135,000, or 94 percent, of its $137,500 total, from its top 10 donors.

“It should surprise no one that these are the groups giving the big dollars in a ballot measure campaign, especially one that has emerged on such a short timeline.  These are the groups in Portland that have the ability to organize and move resources quickly in support of or opposition to an issue,” said Sarah Wetherson, research and outreach associate for MiPRAP. “I am struck by how clear the split is between these two sectors.”

Contributions to Supporters and Opponents of City of Portland Measures through April 11, 2007

Yes		No
PAC Name	Measure(s)	PAC Name	Measure(s)
Citizens to Reform City Hall	26-91, 26-89, 26-90, 26-92	Committee for Accountable City Government	26-91
Top 10 Donors	Total	Top 10 Donors	Total
Robert Ball, Bay City LLC, Wayne Kingsley, Mark Group Partnership #5, Melvin Mark Jr. and Wells Fargo Bank N.A., $5000 (10%) each. Columbia Investments, Ltd., ScanlanKemperBard, $2500 (5%) each. Matthew Chapman and Michael Powell, $2000 (4%) each. $39,000 or 80 percent of PAC total.	$48,506	Ted Gilbert and John “Bud” Clark, $1400 (20%) each. Christopher Smith, $734 (11%). Jillian Detweiler $600 (9%). Charlie Hales, $400 (6%). five individual donors at $200 (3%) each. $5534 or 80 percent of PAC total	$6959
		Portlanders for Accountability	26-91
		Top 10 Donors	Total
		Oregon AFSCME Council 75 $25,000 (18%). Portland Firefighters PAC $24,000 (17%). Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters $20,000 (15%). Local 48 Electricians PAC $15,000 (11%). Fire Fighters Political Action Measure PAC $11,000 (8%). AFSCME Local 189, Portland Police Commanding Officers Association and Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry PAC 290 $10,000 (7%) each. PAC 483 (Laborers) and Laborers’ Local 483 $5000 (4%) each. $135,000 or 94 percent of PAC total.	$137,500

All figures include contributions reported through April 11, 2007.  Numbers may change due to amendments to current transactions. 

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