Mary Volm says the Lloyd District Community Association has reneged on a pledge to invite her to a campaign forum today, at the Red Lion Hotel in the Lloyd District. Instead, they invited City Commissioner Dan Saltzman to speak to them on an exclusive basis, leaving Volm outside…in the parking lot…
Volm spoke to the association in March, and says she was invited, three times, by then vice-chairperson Lisa Faust from Pacific Continental Bank, to come and speak at a “candidate’s forum” today. She even went so far as to program it into her calendar at the meeting, she says, because the invite was repeated so often. But things have changed. And now, this is happening:
Faust (left) came out of the Red Lion along with former chair, Justin Zeulner, director of property management for the Rose Quarter (right, next to Volm), to sort out the confusion.
“There is no candidate’s forum,” said Faust. “We’re in discussion about a candidate’s forum in October.”
“There’s been a mis-communication,” said Zeulner.”This is not a candidate’s forum. Commissioner Saltzman’s office have been contacting us to just talk about the state of affairs.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” said Volm. “I don’t agree with it, since you told me three times at the meeting in March that you were going to have a candidate’s forum today. To invite Mr.Saltzman here two weeks before the election is not appropriate, it’s not good for democracy or fair to any of the other candidates in the race.”
They said she was welcome to come in and listen.
“I’ve heard his campaign speech plenty of times,” said Volm. “This is absolutely irresponsible, and I wish you good luck.”
And she walked away to get in her car and leave.
Sure enough, the event is on Commissioner Saltzman’s calendar as a community association meeting, and not a campaign event.
Matt, are you still on pain pills? It seems like the proof-reading has been a bit lax lately. There was a “me any my brother” in the British election piece and now the “Loyd District.” I just want to make sure the Mercury is still firing on all cylinders!
Yeah sorry Bronch. I’ll fix em.
Everybody knows the incumbent never loses in Portland. Why make Commissioner Saltzman waste his time listening to an unworthy adversary.
I think I may have come down a little hard on you, Matt (like that Rekers rentboy, eh?). I forgot you get up suuuuper early on Thursdays to go on the radio. My apologies. Beers on me sometime.
Mary Volm for King of the Tri-County Metro Council!@!!!11@#!
@Bronch That’s alright mate. This election, the police shootings, they’ve rather frayed the nerves, somewhat. You know? Yeah. You can buy me an O’Douls anytime.
This is exactly how incumbents work the system to stay elected.
If it is not using the Children’s Levy as a slush fund, they have control over the budget to force endorsements from unions and special interest.
This story highlights how incumbents use city resources to have a ‘Community Event’ weeks before the election letting business know what you are doing for them (excluding others candidates from offering an alternative).
Good on Mary for calling the LDCA on their shit and having the courage to stand up to them. This is exactly the type of person Portland needs on City Council.
good to see Mary has her minions poised at the ready to chime in on the comments about how She Is The One. no matter that she was wrong. the commenters have her back. teh awesome.
That is a fetching cape, Ms. Volm.
(I’m not a minion)…but how dare these organizers pull something like this! Look at that woman’s smile–she looks so condescending, you know that she’s undoubtedly “in on” this switcheroo! Do they think they can “gaslight” someone as smart as Mary Volm???? I’m sure Volm has every email confirming her attendance/participation. These losers invited Volm to speak, changed programs and didn’t bother to notify her! They are standing there shrugging like they screwed up some rotary meeting…Mary Volm is running for PUBLIC OFFICE! She should be treated with the RESPECT that any candidate would receive. What is wrong with those people??
Where were all the other candidates running for PUBLIC OFFICE trying to get the RESPECT that any candidate would receive? What was wrong with those people??
Maybe Ms. Volm didn’t bother to notify them that she was “in on” the switcheroo!
Look at Ms. Volm’s smile–she looks so condescending, I guess “they” thought they could “gaslight” someone as smart as her.
Yea!!! Politics!!
Well…seems like her campaign coordinator should be calling at least a couple of weeks in advance to confirm the meeting, make sure the logistics are all set, arrange for publicity, etc. Did that happen? Usually when I deal with speakers we do a lot more than a “put it in the calendar right there in the meeting.” Just because someone says “you should come speak at our XXXXX meeting” a few times doesn’t make it so–that happens all the time in meetings and doesn’t necessarily come to fruition. Both sides have to do followup. Did they?
For example, there’s a confirming letter, follow-up calls to make sure you’ve got the right equipment for the speaker, requests for bios, discussion about allowed handouts, etc… If she worked through all that with these guys, showed up today and got stiffed, then she deserves to be angry–she was robbed. But if she showed up based on an in-meeting request with no follow-up on either side, then…she needs better organization and a little less “look at me I’m a victim.”