The Liftoff: A Preview of Nick Kristof's campaign for Governor
Plus: Peter DeFazio fights the Senate, a timber proxy war in Shemia Fagan's office, Blumenauer and Wyden make unusual headlines, the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in rural Oregon, and more.
Welcome to the third installment of our weekly newsletter with the most important news and analysis in Oregon politics, government, campaigns, and elections. We officially have a name for the newsletter: The Liftoff. As in: “Start your week with The Liftoff!” Cut us some slack, we’re new to this.
One other thing: As we approach 1,000 subscribers (!), we are getting closer to officially launching our new venture (from the folks at The Oregon Way and The Oregon Bridge).
Today, we are shifting our paid membership tiers: $10/month, $110/year, or $1000/Lifetime Founding Membership. For now, everything will stay free. Eventually, this newsletter (and some other premium products, events, and opportunities) will be reserved for paying subscribers (thanks to the 150+ of you already paying!). We have earmarked the money raised to this point for our planned nonprofit work to support The Oregon Way. Blog posts and the weekly op-ed digest from TOW will always be free!
Now — let’s dive into the news and analysis.
1. A preview of Nick Kristof’s (potential) campaign for Governor
Nick Kristof, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times (NYT) Columnist, has moved back to his hometown of Yamhill, Oregon—and he might run for governor. Kristof has taken a leave of absence from the NYT and the social media response to a potential campaign has been overwhelmingly positive from liberals. We also heard that, back in June, Kristof’s team began talks with the College Democrats of Oregon about speaking at an event later this summer. All indications are that he is serious about running for Governor.
If he runs, he’ll be a leading voice on economic justice and fighting poverty (if his writing is any indication). He would bring the most star power to the race (though we are anxious to see polling on name recognition) and he likely has some national-level boosters to help him. One potential challenge for Kristof is the vast library of content he’s written, some of which may be out of step with primary voters (columnists running for office = an opposition researcher’s dream). We did some digging to offer a preview of what a Nick Kristof campaign for governor might look like.
Click here for a deep dive: “What Nick Kristof's writing tells us about his potential campaign for Oregon Governor” — including analysis on his “wing” of the Democratic Party, his likely campaign platform, areas of friction with the base, his fundraising capacity, and potential controversies.
2. Peter DeFazio fights back; will not “rubber stamp” bipartisan Senate infrastructure plan
When it comes to infrastructure, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Lane County) will not go down without a fight. The congressman, who chairs the powerful House Transportation Committee, is raging against the bipartisan Senate infrastructure framework, in part because the House has been excluded from the negotiations (and also because it’s less progressive than he and others had hoped).
He authored a letter (co-signed by 30 other Dem committee members) demanding that more of his bill (the “INVEST in America Act”) be incorporated into the final deal—and basically telling Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to bring up the Senate proposal for a “rubber stamp” vote in the House without a conference committee. According to the Washington Times, DeFazio said: “At the moment they just want to send over the bipartisan bill and say we have to take it. Which I’m not willing to do…I’m not taking it.”
Politico reports that in a private phone call, DeFazio said of the Senate negotiations: “the whole thing falling apart is probably the best thing.”
Why you should care: This is a high-stakes battle over trillions of dollars worth of projects— and an Oregonian is at the center of it.
3. Shemia Fagan flexes SOS auditing muscle; slaps timber institute (then industry punches back)
Here’s the headline from an article in The Oregonian: “Tax-funded Oregon Forest Resources Institute misled public, may have broken state law, audit finds”. This is the latest chapter in a saga that began with excellent investigative journalism from Rob Davis and Tony Schick about the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI). Read the original piece here.
In summary: a state agency was engaging in deceptive marketing, politicking, and lobbying, all with taxpayer dollars (which, turns out, is not allowed). Following Davis and Schick’s reporting, Governor Kate Brown asked the Secretary of State’s Office to conduct an audit.
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s office recently-released audit tears apart the agency. The audit essentially says the structure of the entity is bad governance, its mission is disconnected from its statutory charge, its performance metrics are not tied to any strategy, it lacks trust among some stakeholders, it has misled the public, and it promoted biased materials. It includes significant recommendations for the legislature and the agency. Big yikes.
Industry allies punch back: Sara Duncan, a spokesperson for the Oregon Forest & Industries Council (a private trade association), told The Oregonian: “Much of the report appears entirely outside the scope of the stated goals for the audit and includes unrelated, biased and politically motivated opinions about the contributions of our sector.”
House Republican Leader Christine Drazan went further, saying: “This audit is another attempt in a coordinated effort by political interests who want to end the timber products industry in Oregon.”
Read between the lines: Fagan is a progressive Democrat, endorsed and funded by virtually every environmental organization. Industry allies are trying to raise suspicions about her office’s objectivity.
Elections have consequences: Fagan defeated conservative Senator Kim Thatcher, who received tens of thousands of dollars from timber interests, including Timber Unity, the grassroots conservative group.
Why it matters: It’s a big deal if a state agency breaks the law, even if OFRI is a tiny agency. More importantly, this is a proxy war in the larger, decades-long political battle between timber interests and the environmental movement.
Required listening: For more context, listen to OPB’s Timber Wars podcast
What’s next?: Senator Michael Dembrow says he expects a hearing in the Fall. It will be a miracle if OFRI remains in its current form for more than a year or two, as progressive legislators take aim once again, this time armed with a scathing audit. Some Dems want to get rid of OFRI entirely.
Bringing in the big guns: But—the timber industry will be back next session with a new leader at the Oregon Forest & Industries Council (the trade group). They recently announced a new president: former State Senator Chris Edwards (D-Eugene).
4. This week in “stories that you’re glad aren’t about you”
First, from The Oregonian’s Steve Duin, a sharp criticism of Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum: “Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is sleepwalking through Oregon’s criminal justice awakening”
In his column about non-unanimous juries (and the recent Supreme Court decision striking them down), he quotes Aliza Scott, director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, as saying: “[Rosenblum] has mismanaged this issue from the beginning. When she has had an opportunity to chime in, she has argued against changing the law because of her fears about retroactivity…I would love it if our leaders in the state would take up this issue. People have been passing the buck for a long time. I think that’s what the attorney general is doing.”
Like a dog with a bone: The Oregonian’s Hillary Borrud writes another article critical of Governor Kate Brown, this one headlined, “Oregon taxpayers foot $100,000 bill for Gov. Kate Brown’s political consultant” about the Gov.’s former Communications Director, Chris Pair, who was awarded a no-bid contract after leaving the state job.
No comment: From the article: “Brown declined to comment on why it was necessary and beneficial to taxpayers for her to hire her former staffer through a no-bid contract. Pair also did not respond to calls for comment.”
Well, this is awkward: Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt privately had a private lunch at the private Arlington Club with private citizens…until it all become public. Here’s the article from Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Noelle Crombie of The O: “Portland power brokers pressured DA Mike Schmidt during private club lunch”
No there, there: The article details a series of gripes and suggestions from some influential Portlanders, like Jordan Schnitzer and former Rep. Tom Mason, about how Schmidt has been handling prosecutions in his new role. Schmidt was not interested: “I appreciate their advice, but at the end of the day I am confident in my policies and the way that we have handled this.”
5. The ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ equality in rural Oregon
A Roseburg city councilor named Bob Cotterell, who has been in office since 2011, made transphobic comments in a public meeting, according to The News-Review. Of course, that’s just the beginning.
From The NR: “But instead of apologizing for his comments, as some had hoped, Cotterell is doubling down, dismissing the criticism as an example of political correctness gone too far.”
From Cotterell: “This is America. I fought in Vietnam and I know what free speech means. I’m kind of getting tired with this woke culture we now supposedly have. I’ve never been asleep. It just annoys me.”
Silver Lining: Even in deep-red Douglas County, there was swift pushback from community leaders, including the local PFLAG chapter and two of Cotterell’s colleagues on the City Council.
It happened in Oregon: Meanwhile, a Hollywood blockbuster starring Mark Wahlberg called Joe Bell tells a dramatized version of the tragic story of Jadin Bell, a La Grande High School student who took his own life in 2013 after constant bullying for being gay. The movie centers on his conservative father’s attempt to process, cope, and redeem himself. Actor Reid Miller’s depiction of Jadin Bell is phenomenal. Read this excellent write-up from the Oregon School Boards Association’s Jake Arnold about the story, including a statement from Jadin’s mother.
My take: There is a persistent cultural narrative that in our post-marriage equality country, being LGBTQ+ in high school is now somehow “easy” or “normal”. That is a myth. Suicide statistics for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth remain horrifying—and suicide is even more pervasive among trans youth. We have a lot of work to do.
See The Trevor Project for more information and resources.
6. Blumenauer wants to tax space travel; Wyden won’t advance Biden nominee
Two stories earning national headlines from Oregon’s congressional delegation: First, Portland’s Congressman Earl Blumenauer, known primarily for bikes, ice cream, and weed, is expanding his portfolio: taxing space tourism. His proposal, in response to Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson’s respective joyrides into space, has earned headlines in TMZ, the Washington Post, The Hill, and Forbes.
In response, Bezos was heard laughing maniacally (just kidding).
Don’t mess with the chair: Senator Ron Wyden, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, made his own headlines for putting a hold on President Joe Biden’s nominee to run U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Chris Magnus. Wyden has been asking the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security for details about former President Donald Trump’s decision to send federal law enforcement to Portland in the midst of last year’s protests. They haven’t sufficiently answered his questions.
The Hill reports that Wyden is the first Democrat to stall one of Biden’s nominees.
7. Two laughs before you go
Look who’s laughing now: Former moderate Republican Rep. Cheri Helt of Bend posted this meme on her Twitter page—clearly subtweeting the COVID-19 anti-vaxxers (who she battled within the legislature on other vaccine policy issues).
Fly rods, Keens, and weird hiking pants: The legendary Jack Ohman, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for The Sacramento Bee (and former cartoonist for The Oregonian), wants you to know that he is not running for Oregon governor. He posted this statement on his Facebook, following the Nick Kristof buzz. Enjoy.
Good day, fellow Oregonians (kind of). I live in California, where I golf a lot and put on 100 SPF sunblock (as you now have to as well). After many conversations, mostly with therapists and people I've met in Tigard, I have decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2022. While I still own fly rods, Keens, these weird nylon hiking pants, countless backpacks and tents, know how to pronounce ‘Couch Street,’ have been to Kansas City, Roy, and St. Paul, know the Sunset Highway is named after the WW2 infantry division and not the blinding light commuting out, have seen Cedar Mill Boulevard turn into Vegas, have 15 inch long white hair with a ponytail, have been to the Madras BiMart recently, and had a beer at the Goose Hollow Inn (AND THE REUBEN), I feel this is not the right time in my life to pursue any public office. Others with more Pulitzers are available, and I look forward to staying in the public arena, like the DQ on Saltzman. Thank you.”
What did we miss?
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