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Election 2022
Posted inNews

Oregon is Poised to Pass the Strongest Gun Law in the US With Measure 114

Not all progressive supporters of gun control are sold on the proposal
Avatar photo Abe Asher

For years, Rev. W. J. Mark Knutson, pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church, held services at his red brick church in Northeast Portland following mass shootings in the US—ringing the church’s bell again and again for lives lost in the country’s gun violence epidemic.  Those services took a toll—and inspired Knuston to make a deeper commitment […]

Posted inElection 2022

Mercury Endorsements: Say “HELL YES” to Charter Reform!

Avatar photo The Mercury Election Strike Force

[Check out all the Mercury‘s endorsements here. Don’t have time for all those words? Use our handy-dandy election cheat sheet!] Portland Measure 26-228 (Charter Reform): Yes Here’s an uncontroversial opinion: Portland’s system of government is garbage. First established in 1913, the city’s commission form of government requires council members to lead city bureaus as well […]

Posted inElection 2022

Tuesday, October 18, is the Last Day to Register to Vote

Voters are encouraged to make any changes to their voter information by October 18.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18, is the last day for Oregonians to register to vote in the November 8 general election. Elections officials also encourage voters who need to update their voter registration information to do so by 11:59 pm on October 18. Oregonians can check their voter registration status on the Oregon Secretary of State […]

Posted inNews

Commissioner Mapps Reveals Alternative to Charter Reform Measure

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

City Commissioner Mingus Mapps has released a much-anticipated charter reform proposal to serve as an alternative to the charter reform measure headed to the November ballot. The proposal, first reported on by the Oregonian, was shared with the Mercury Sunday. Mapps chose to propose alternative adjustments to the city charter—via his political committee, Ulysses PAC—after […]

Posted inElection 2022

City Elections Office Upholds Campaign Penalty Against Council Candidate Rene Gonzalez

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

The city elections office remains convinced that city council candidate Rene Gonzalez did violate small donor election laws when he accepted—and failed to report—a heavily discounted rental rate for a campaign office in downtown Portland offered up by a monied campaign donor. While Gonzalez urged the city to reconsider its $77,140 fine levied against his […]

Posted inNews

Council Candidate Rene Gonzalez Asks City to Reconsider Historic Campaign Finance Penalty

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez has asked the city reconsider the $77,000 fine levied against his campaign for allegedly violating the city’s small donor election laws. The Gonzalez campaign called the penalty “unjustified” in a letter sent to the city Tuesday, accusing the city of attempting to undermine Gonzalez’s campaign for council a month before […]

Posted inNews

Candidate Rene Gonzalez Faces Historic Fine for Violating Election Law

Discounted rent could cost the city council hopeful $77,140 in total.
Avatar photo Isabella Garcia

City council candidate Rene Gonzalez may have to pay $77,140 in fines for violating the city’s small donor election laws, according to a letter sent to Gonzalez’s campaign Tuesday. The fine, proposed by city election officials, is the largest in Portland’s Small Donor Elections program history. Gonzalez’s campaign, which is attempting to unseat incumbent city […]

Posted inNews

Secretary Fagan Confident “Every Vote Will Be Counted” in Clackamas County Election

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Motoya Nakamura / Multnomah County Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan said Tuesday that Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall has accepted Fagan’s help in meeting the state’s deadline for processing the county’s ballots from the May 17 election. “At this point, I’m in the trust but verify category,” said Fagan, who met with Hall and […]

Posted inHousing

Judge Agrees That People for Portland’s Ballot Measure is Unconstitutional

Avatar photo Alex Zielinski

Shelter beds at Portland’s Wy’East Shelter. Motoya Nakamura / Multnomah County A Multnomah County judge ruled Monday that a proposed ballot measure—meant to redirect funding set aside for helping homeless people retain permanent housing—is unconstitutional and cannot move forward to the November ballot. The ballot measure, filed by members of the nascent political organization People […]

Posted inthe Mercury Endorsement Strike Force

Welcome to the Mercury‘s 2022 Primary Election Night Live Blog!

Avatar photo The Mercury Election Strike Force

MICHELLE MRUK [EDITOR’S NOTE: Wooo-whee! There are a mess of elections on the table tonight, including the governor’s primary race, a run for the Multnomah County sheriff’s office, and a number of City Council seats up for grabs. It’s bound to be spicy. Before we dive in, however, it’s important we point out how this […]

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