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So!
As today’s October 17 Just Out issue is just hitting the streets and stands, we’re gonna go ahead and let you in on our 2008 general election endorsements! Because a) you care and because b) ballots are starting to go out today!!
In five races, we chose to reassert our support of candidates that we endorsed in the primary election. Those candidates, which have earned the endorsement of the Just Out editorial board, are:
U.S. Senator: Jeff Merkley (“Rural Oregon native with broad progressive agenda; unwavering on queer equality issues, same-sex marriage included. Critically important that he’s elected to the U.S. Senate to replace flip-flopper Gordon Smith.”)
Secretary of State: Kate Brown (“Knows the value of each vote and keen to clean up the initiative/ballot measure process. If elected, would be one of the highest-ranking openly queer elected officials in the country.”)
State Treasurer: Ben Westlund (“Likable country boy with flair for crunching numbers.”)
Multnomah County Commissioner, Seat 3: Judy Shiprack (“Public health defender and seasoned legislator/attorney. We forgive her the Link Community Development project debacle.”)
Portland City Council, Seat 1: Amanda Fritz (“Community activist, psychiatric nurse, city budget watchdog.”)
In five other races, we issued new endorsements. They’re after the jump…
We also weighed in on five statewide ballot measures and one City of Portland levy (the “Portland Children’s Fund”), and examined more closely the records and positions of Gordon Smith and Jeff Merkley on DOMA, ENDA, HIV/AIDS and other issues.
Just Out’s new general election 2008 endorsement nods go to…
Attorney General: John Kroger
Failing some write-in coup, John Kroger will almost certainly be elected this November as Oregon’s next attorney general. That’s just fine with the editorial board at Just Out—he is a decorated federal prosecutor with a progressive bent, and he’s absolutely on the right side of equality issues for the sexual minorities community.
Beyond that, Kroger promises to crack down on Oregon’s meth crisis by being not only tough, but smart on prosecution and sentencing; he also shows wise judgment on expanding the AG office’s support of local district attorneys. After edging out Just Out’s primary endorsee—state Rep. Greg Macpherson, D-Lake Oswego—Kroger’s minor party candidates should be easily overcome, and we
welcome his election and his work ahead on behalf of all Oregonians.
Labor Commissioner: Brad Avakian
Brad Avakian is running to keep his labor commissioner seat, which he’s held since gay rights ally Dan Gardner resigned in April.
As a Democratic legislator, Avakian supported both of Oregon’s gay civil rights laws. As labor commissioner, he is responsible for implementing and enforcing Oregon’s nondiscrimination law.
According to Avakian, his background as a civil rights attorney has prepared him to lead Oregon’s Civil Rights Division. “Given the success of the nondiscrimination and domestic partnerships bills, and my commitment to enforcing those efforts, LGBT issues will continue to be an important part of my public service,” he said.
U.S. Congressman, District 1: Joel Haugen
Joel Haugen is an independent-minded concerned citizen with a truckload of good ideas, next to no campaign money and scant experience in public office. In spite of that—and partly because of it—Just Out offers Haugen our enthusiastic endorsement.
Haugen is likely a distant second-place contender to Democratic U.S. Rep. David Wu, a four-term incumbent with a massive campaign war chest, sophisticated talking points and a solid record on supporting fair legislation for the sexual minorities community. Wu has been steady on equality issues since he joined the House in 1998, but the problem is this: It’s been years since he’s stuck his neck out on a major issue or authored substantive legislation. In the meantime, he’s developed a rap for wacko pronouncements from the House floor (“There are Klingons in the White House!”) and vanity legislation (the designation of a Beaverton post office as the “Major Arthur Chin Post Office Building”) designed to puff up his constituents’ pride.
Wu seems to be running on autopilot, and it’s time for him to either get the lead out or get out of Congress. We want that early-career Wu back—the one with flash and sass, unafraid to stand up to corporate titans like Nike.
Haugen, of course, has little chance of unseating the incumbent, but we’re cheering for him anyway: for his support on a wide range of civil rights issues, for his homespun common sense and for being an all-too-rare registered Republican who unabashedly affirms the importance of same-sex marriage equality. Go get ’em, Joel!
U.S. Congressman, District 3: Earl Blumenauer
Did you forget Earl Blumenauer was up for re-election? We almost did.
The ubiquitous bow-tie-wearing, bicycling congressman is arguably Oregon’s hardest-working rep among our team of five. With a passion for sustainability, transportation and green issues, and some key committee appointments on the Hill, the veteran Blumenauer is that rare career politician you can actually believe when he says he’s working for you in D.C. We’d be remiss if we didn’t note Blumenauer’s long history of supporting full queer equality, dating back to his 1973 chairing of the Oregon Legislature’s first gay rights hearing, all the way to his vocal support of the state’s new domestic partnership and nondiscrimination laws, and his demonstrated support on federal bills like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And although he initially voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, he has since apologized. Now, in a lightly contested re-election campaign, Blumenauer deserves to continue his fine work on the Hill.
U.S. Congressman, District 5: Kurt Schrader
State Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, is an avid supporter of gay rights and deserves support from fair-minded Oregonians across the 5th District, from the central coast to Salem, north and south of Portland and east to Mount Hood. Just Out is pleased to place our imprimatur on his bid for U.S. Congress.
Schrader has consistently been on the right side of queer equality votes in the Oregon Senate and is running on a progressive platform highlighting domestic energy production, health care reform and early childhood education. He has the experience and strong working spirit to be a productive member of Congress working for all of his constituents back home in Oregon.
Schrader has one major hurdle to sewing up the seat, and that’s far-right candidate Mike Erickson, a millionaire Lake Oswego business owner. Erickson, who has never before held public office, is running on a predictable ultra-conservative platform: anti-choice, anti-gay, all of that old stuff. His campaign material boasts: “Mike is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of life and preserving traditional marriage. Mike is active in his church and community.” Erickson did not respond to Just Out’s interview requests. He may think he can bankroll his way to Congress, but he’s going to have to slip by Oregon voters first.
Don’t let it happen. Kurt Schrader is incalculably more deserving of the seat, and of your vote to get him there.
11 responses so far ↓
1 John Nelsen, Candidate HD 49 in East Mult County. // Oct 18, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I just want to say THANKS! I enjoyed my convrsations with JUST OUT staff during the endorsement interview process. I am a straight married guy who has many GLBT friends, family, and loved ones. These people are an important part of my life and the richness of my family.
I am one Republican who will defend equal rights for ALL Oregonians. Please do not think that because I have been endorsed by the OFC (which I appreciate) that I am a hater. I am not at all. I appreciate being treated with respect and dignity and try to extent the same to all my neighbors. Thanks Again!
John Nelsen, Candidate HD 49 (Eat County)
2 Stephen Marc Beaudoin // Oct 18, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Hey John.
Thanks for chatting with us during the endorsement interview process (which your opponent, Nick Kahl, has yet to do, after his campaign manager cancelled our original endorsement interview, she’s not returned further e-mail and phone messages. What’s up with that, Nick?).
Although – after much consideration – the Just Out editorial board decided against offering an official endorsement in your particular race for House District 49, we will be reporting further on that race; it’s certainly one to watch. So keep your eyes peeled, and I’ll be in touch.
Meanwhile, Nick, if you’re out there and interested in speaking with Just Out on the record, why don’t you give me a ring?
Cheers,
Stephen Marc Beaudoin
staff writer
Just Out newsmagazine
3 Mikej // Oct 19, 2008 at 10:31 am
Aren’t you folks forgeting Obama?????????
4 Stephen Marc Beaudoin // Oct 19, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hey Mikej,
Thanks for your comment.
With space at a premium in our publication, the Just Out editorial board decided against issuing a presidential endorsement for this election, choosing instead to focus on local and state races.
I think you might agree, though, that for LGBT and allied folks, the choice in Obama v McCain is pretty clear. ; )
Be sure to skip on over and check out the website LGBTforObama.com when you have a sec.
Cheers,
Stephen
5 Todd // Oct 19, 2008 at 7:34 pm
The lack of an endorsement in the presidential campaign looks suspicious given the editor’s support of Hillary Clinton. One must ask if Hillary Clinton were the Democratic nominee whether JO would have found the space for an endorsement.
I checked the archives to try to determine whether this was an unprecedented move on the part of JO. My findings are inconclusive as the archives only go back to 2005!
The editor needs a reality check.
6 Stephen Marc Beaudoin // Oct 19, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hey Todd, thanks for writing.
Letters to the editor are always welcome if you’d like to send them our way (jaymee@justout.com and/or marty@justout.com).
Most of our conversations about allocating space for the 2008 general election endorsements had to do with which local and statewide races had the most at stake, and where could Just Out’s endorsements make the greatest impact.
Did we do that well or poorly? That’s for you to decide.
7 Krassen // Oct 21, 2008 at 2:42 am
With respect to State Treasurer:
Mr. Alley’s track record as an entrepreneur is very solid. However, one has to be a bit suspicious of the incestuous nature of the venture capital community in Oregon and how this impacts on PERS.
Consider this: In early 2006 OVP Venture Partners went to the Oregon Investment Council (overseeing the Oregon PERS) to ask for $40 million for their new fund. Just months before that, OVP had invested in the company of one of OIC members, Mark Gardiner. Not surprisingly then, OIC proceeded to not only give them the money, but to top it off with additional $10 million.
These firms get ~2% in annual fees, NOT tied to performance.
Here’s OVP’s record for the past decade:
OVP V has lost 20% per year for 11 years
OVP VI has lost 7% per year for seven years
OVP VII has lost 25% per year for two years
So Oregon will be paying these perennial losers $1mil a year for 10 years, at a time when PERS needs to generate +8% returns to meet its obligations. In other words, ~$10mil of Oregon public pension funds are going directly to OVP, while the innocent public employees suffer the losses of their consistent mismanagement.
This is a very important election. The voters would be wise to ask questions and demand accountability from the candidates for Treasurer. They need to explain how they plan to clean-up the system. Management of PERS funds needs to be put in the hands of knowledgeable, thinking and responsible people.
8 Mikej // Oct 21, 2008 at 6:43 am
That is a bunch of crap, shame on JustOut! Space for Obama wasn’t premium? Give me a break!
I hope your advertisers take note.
9 J // Oct 21, 2008 at 7:41 am
You didn’t endorse Obama???
10 naughty nurse // Oct 21, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for publishing the Vote For Equity insert! I had many questions regarding canidates & proposistions. Do you know if anyone publishes one for Washington State?
11 dramalessbo // Oct 23, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Spelling and grammar aside, shame on you John Nelsen.
To say you have all these wonderful GLBT people in your life and then be grateful for the endorsement of the Oregon Family Council that brought us Measure 36 and was a part of the repeal effort of SB 2 and HB 2007 is not only more hypocrisy but also insulting.
I am pleased to hear you say you’re not a hater. You just don’t believe my relationship should be recognized like your happy straight guy marriage.
With friends like you, Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney, what else do we need to figure out how to vote?
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