May 2007 newsletter
Polk County Democrats
P.O. Box 224
Independence, OR 97351
www.polkdems.org
Wendy Brokaw, editor
In This Issue.
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the last day of the month. Call Wendy Brokaw at (503) 585-3394 or email her at:
wendybrokaw@msn.com
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The Polk County Democrat
News. Views and Events: the monthly newsletter of the Polk County, Oregon Democrats
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Riggs Endorsement
Rich Riggs wins Statesman-Journal Endorsement for College Board
PCD Rich Riggs has secured a coveted endorsement by the Statesman-Journal
over challenger Dan Clem, in the race for Chemeketa Community College Board,
Zone 7. Rich, a member of our platform committee, requested and won a PCD
endorsement at the CC April 12 meeting. Respected Polk Democrats friend,
retired Professor Dan Cannon, met with Rich in April and wrote letters to
both the Itemizer-Observer and Statesman-Journal endorsing him.
"Riggs Would Bring New Perspective"
Clem, a Republican currently serving as Salem City councilor, was passed over in
favor of Riggs, whose newcomer status, editors wrote, would create a better mix
on the board (see S-J editorial here).
The newspaper editorial board put both men vying for Zone 7 representing Polk
County through a rigorous pre-endorsement questionnaire, requesting they both
respond to additional questions, all of which it printed.
Riggs has campaigned on his strengths: a 20-year Navy career, varied
educational and managerial experience and understanding of community colleges.
Clem, a Chemeketa graduate with long connections to the college, posed a problem for
editors. "We believe there is value in keeping local government and educational roles
separate." The board decided Rich, currently a Willamette University law student,
would have the time to do the job effectively.
Polk Democrats Boost Success
Riggs told the Polk Democrat the PCD played a major role in his success.
"While I'm thrilled to get the SJ endorsement," he said, " the PCD organization has
been the biggest help to my campaign. I'd like to thank the PCD
organization for its endorsement of my candidacy and many thanks to
Karen Green, Chair of the Candidate Committee, for organizing the
canvassing, to Wendy Brokaw for creating campaign literature and all of the many
PCPs and volunteers that have canvassed on my behalf."
Ballots went out April 28 and there is still time to canvass for Rich before the
May 15 election. If you would like to help Rich win by canvassing for him, contact
his campaign at:
http://www.richardriggs.com.
Text of the Statesman-Journal endorsement,
published in the "Opinion" section May 2, 2007
Riggs would bring new perspective
A mix of veterans and newcomers would benefit the Chemeketa board
May 2, 2007
Oregon's community colleges are the envy of many states. Colleges elsewhere too often
make the news for lavish spending or financial mismanagement; in contrast, Oregon's are
known for staying true to the basics.
Given Oregonians' strong support for community colleges, it's surprising that their board
elections have drawn few candidates. Salem-based Chemeketa Community College is a prime
example -- of both educational excellence and of lightly contested races.
Chemeketa serves students of all ages, whether they are completing high school, preparing
for a four-year degree, becoming nurses, launching a business -- or retraining for a new
career. That multi-dimensional yet basic education makes Chemeketa a local and statewide
resource of tremendous value.
But only one of four board seats is contested this year. West Salem residents Dan Clem
and Richard Riggs are vying for the Zone 7 position, representing Polk County. Incumbents
Ed Dodson, Joanne Beilke and Jerry Watson are unopposed in their zones, which cover parts
of Marion County.
The composition of the current board makes Riggs the better choice at this election. He
is a newcomer, an outsider. Any board, including Chemeketa, benefits from having a mix
of veteran members and people with fresh perspectives.
Riggs grew up in Oakridge, where he witnessed the role of community colleges in educating
students and retraining laid-off forest workers. After serving around the world with the
Navy, he recently retired from the military and is attending the Willamette University
law school. His varied managerial and educational experience could be an asset for the
Chemeketa board.
With a less-experienced board, Clem might be the obvious choice because of his longtime
connections to the college. He was a Chemeketa student before earning bachelor's and master's
degrees; all five of his children attended Chemeketa, and he works with the college's
foundation.
Clem certainly has an accomplished record of public involvement, culminating with his
re-election to the Salem City Council last fall.
Clem says he could effectively fill both elected roles, and there is precedent for that.
Gwen VanDenBosch, who is leaving the Zone 7 position, served for years as a board member
while mayor of Dallas
However, we believe there is value in keeping local-government and educational roles separate.
With all that is happening in West Salem and the overall city, it takes a lot of time to be
an effective councilor. Meanwhile, we expect that college board service will become more
time-consuming. In the current financial atmosphere, board members will find themselves
busy being college advocates at the state Capitol and among civic groups -- as well as
financial and managerial watchdogs on the public's behalf.
In this contest between two solid candidates, the edge goes to Riggs. He has the Statesman
Journal Editorial Board's endorsement in the May 15 election.
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Measure 37 Update
Measure 37 Likely Back Before Voters
Democrats want clear intent
After months of heated testimony in packed hearings before the Joint
Committee on Land Use Fairness, House Democrats have passed two bills
which will give voters another say on the controversial land-use
measure. A related bill, House Bill 3546, will not go before voters. It
would extend the deadline for governments to process claims for
compensation or waivers from land-use regulations by one year. HB 3540
cleared the Legislature's joint budget committee on May 1. With no
further committee hearings in the Senate, a vote there is expected soon.
If passed, the issue would go before voters in a special election to be
held in either September or November
What Did Voters Intend?
Measure 37, passed overwhelmingly by voters in 2004,
requires government to either waive regulations for landowners wishing
to develop their property or compensate them if those land-use
restrictions result in reduced property values. House Bill 3540 asks
voters to clarify what they intended when they passed Measure 37, as it
is clear from hearings held before the Joint Committee on Land-Use
Fairness a significant number of people believe what was passed is
unfair, and not what they intended.
Rally for Oregon
M37 fix supporters held rally and picnic on Saturday, April 14, at the
State Capitol for speeches and stories about how flaws in the measure
are affecting all Oregonians. Some shouting and a brief scuffle between
pro and anti-fix attendees marred an otherwise orderly event, called "
Rally for Oregon." Event organizer, Clakamas County farmer Jim Gilbert
of Fix37.org, said." We cannot stand by while subdivisions and gravel
pits are built on our productive farm and forest land." Gilbert and
environmental groups like 1000 Friends of Oregon argued the threat of
subdivisions spouting amid prime farm land was too great a threat to
the state's agriculture. They point out over 1,000 Measure 37 claims
covering over 37,000 acres of farm and forest land have been filed in
Clackamas County. The overwhelming number of these claims are for
subdivisions, not for single homes. In addition to subdivisions, there
are also claims to allow gravel pits, RV parks, and even billboards,
where they were previously prohibited. Polk County has 270 M37 claims
on 18,803 acres. Total Oregon claims cover over 750,000 acres, and the
deadline for acting on many of these claims is fast approaching.
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Democratic Party of Oregon Training
DPO May 20 Training Sessions in Corvallis
Fundraising, Communications and Vote Targeting
Offered at two-day State Central Committee meeting
Editor's note: We encourage every elected or appointed
Precinct Committeeperson to attend the Volunteer Recruitment and
Retention and the Precinct Organizing Program sections of this Training,
and join together at our lunchtime meeting (see Calendar).
From the Democratic Party of Oregon - Learn how to beat U.S. Senator
Gordon Smith and the rest of the GOP in 2008. We are taking this "off
year" to train and prepare our activists and future leaders with the
skills and knowledge to ensure Democratic victories throughout Oregon. "
The number one way to win elections in 2008 is to start working in 2007,
" DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. "Campaign pros are heading to a
county near you to share their expertise. I hope every Democrat in
Oregon will find a training near them and take advantage of this
opportunity."
The one-day trainings will include lessons on fundraising,
communications, voter targeting technology, volunteer recruitment,
precinct organizing and coalition building. Please attend one of our
five (5) regional trainings for democratic progressive activists this
summer. These trainings are free and will be held in a county near you.
Registration is required so please sign-up today. There are more than a
dozen sessions available at each training. For a description of each
session please go to
Oregon Democrats training programs
Training Venues:
May 20 - Benton County - Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis
June 2 - Clackamas County or Washington County - Site TBD
June 9 - Union County - Eastern Oregon University in La Grande
June 23 - Deschutes County - Site TBD
July 22 - Josephine County - Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center
Hotel Accommodations
For those of you making the trek to Corvallis the weekend of May 19th
and 20th for the SCC meeting and the first DPO regional training, here
are some hotel options. To make a reservation, please call the hotel
directly.
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Hilton Garden Inn
Located on the OSU Campus
Phone: 541/752-5000
$119.00 per night
- Holiday Inn Express
Located just blocks from the OSU Campus
Phone: 541/752-0800
$119.00 per night
- Super 8
Located 5 minutes from the OSU Campus
Phone: 541/758-8088
$64.88 per night
For more information email Jesse Bontecou, at: jesse at dpo.org.
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Stop Gordon Smith
DPO Has New Strategy, Steve Novick Runs
 The Democratic Party of Oregon has made no secret of one of its top priorities:
replacing Republican Gordon Smith with a Democrat. In a press release
April 20, the DPO said Steve Novick, a former Justice Department
environmental lawyer and long-time political activist, has announced he
is challenging Gordon Smith for Oregon's open Senate seat in 2008.
Smith Responsible for War says Novick
Novick is a veteran strategist, having played leading roles to defeat
initiatives backed by Bill Sizemore, Don McIntire and Harold Rich. A
DPO Press release says he took Smith to task for voting to undermine
Oregon's minimum wage while sponsoring a huge tax cut specifically for
multinational corporations; for helping President Bush add $3 trillion
to the national debt; for refusing to recognize the threat of global
warming; and for four years of enthusiastic support for the war in Iraq.
"Gordon Smith is responsible for this war. He can't blame it all on
Donald Rumsfeld. He's responsible, and in this election, he's going to
be held accountable," Novick said. To learn more about Steve Novick go
to his campaign website at:
Steve Novick for Senate .
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Polk Dems Reach Out
By PCD Vice-Chair, Suzanne Price
Any organization as tight and hard-working as the Polk County Dems
needs to remember to reach out and have more fun! That's what came out
during a six minute Strategic Plan workshop at the last CC meeting.
Democrats suggested great ideas for building community and engaging
more people: potlucks, regular movie nights, exciting forums,
continuous voter registration, and child care, child care, child care.
We'll be working on these suggestions during the coming months. In the
meantime, anyone with ideas call these people, whose numbers are on the
Contacts and Precinct pages of this website: for social occasions call
Kris Heath, our Hospitality Chair, for community programs call Kathy
Smits, for general outreach Alan Holland.
Newsletter Continued
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