"We're also concerned—despite Smith's anti-labor stand against the wasteful Columbia River Crossing bridge—that there's still a reason that most major public employee unions (especially the Portland Police Association) have lined up on his side."

I don't quite get this statement. Is the Merc now against candidates that public employee unions back? In case you haven't figured it out, not all unions are the same. The labor union that endorsed Brady for her pro-CRC stance likes it because they want the jobs from it, plain and simple. The public unions, on the other hand, know that Smith will work hard to _not_ waste money on boondoogles, but instead work to save core services, and thus public employee jobs.

As for "standing up to the police union" -- sorry, but standing up that union is not going to work, and I'll put $100 on that with you Merc folks if Hales gets elected and tries that approach, because I know it's going to fail. Maybe he "reformed" the fire bureau, but affirmative action is a lot different than changing aggressive behavior in the police ranks. Maybe you felt that Smith didn't listen to you, but his colleagues in Salem think he's a good listener, and so does the police union.

THE MERCURY SHOULD JUST HAVE SAID, "FUCK IT" AND ENDORSED FRANK CASTANO FOR MAYOR. THAT WOULD AT LEAST HAVE MORE INTEGRITY THAN THIS PANSY-ASSED WAFFLING ON THE DECISION.

"We're also concerned—despite Smith's anti-labor stand against the wasteful Columbia River Crossing bridge—that there's still a reason that most major public employee unions (especially the Portland Police Association) have lined up on his side."

And the Mercury endorsement for governor of Wisconsin is...

Paul Cone wrote: "In case you haven't figured it out, not all unions are the same. The labor union that endorsed Brady for her pro-CRC stance likes it because they want the jobs from it, plain and simple. The public unions, on the other hand, know that Smith will work hard to _not_ waste money on boondoogles, but instead work to save core services, and thus public employee jobs."

Sorry, Paul Cone. They're the same by definition and purpose. It's not like they have plenary membership meetings to endorse candidates, either. It's the executive boards that are looking for an easier time negotiating. Do you know of any labor unions that have real endorsement meetings where the rank and file can participate directly? Did you know the major public employee unions have staunchly opposed campaign finance limits in this state in much worse than Citizens United -- so that there are no hard limits, not just no soft limits. Hell, it was the unions that were the major backers of the Citizens United decision by filing briefs in support -- on the record in favor of it. Measure 47 failed in only one county -- Multnomah -- center of all the public employee unions. All those Republican districts out East? They all voted heavily for campaign finance limits.

And guess what, the Republican Secretary of State candidate is also in favor of campaign finance limits. Guess who isn't? The Democrat, bought and paid for with tens of thousands if not over a hundred thousand dollars in public employee union money.

I'm not in either of those parties. But this talk of Governor Walker and Citizens United people need to realize that party labels aren't very useful anymore when it comes to talking about the problems of corruption in Oregon. The Dems are in power here, and they love it just as much as Republicans do when they get elected and oppose the same exact reforms they seem to support when they are the opposition party elsewhere. Party labels and unions as public interest champions -- those mean nothing to me anymore. It used to mean something to me. I'd never take away rights to form a union, but facts are facts, their support for specific politicians isn't a good thing.

As far as the endorsements, Fritz is a great choice compared to Nolan, another staunch opponent of democracy while in the legislature. I've had to run campaigns against her anti-democracy bills. Mark White is so much better than Novick, who also opposed campaign finance reform as a shill.

Hales -- well, you know my opinion of hales if you do a web search. Here's the link anyways: http://swoolley.org/blog.cgi/StatementRega…

I'm voting for Cameron Whitten and whoever isn't Hales in the next round.

Seth Wooley, what the hell are you talking about? The primary function of a union is to protect its members jobs, and its leaders are elected by their members to do just that. If they don't, they're not reelected, just like public officials. You're just reemphasizing my point about the Mercury not getting that.

1. I have watched members of public labor unions in this state work hard for campaign finance reform that works in the course of 5 years working on this issue in the state legislature.
2. I know that at the very least PAT has a very open process, with all sorts of members at the table, to make their endorsements. They endorsed Smith through that process.
3. Anyone who knows Jefferson knows that he is fiercely independent. I have never seen him make a move with special interests or his own interests at the forefront of his mind. I have seen him do just the opposite. I have also seen him work across the aisle in a way that is both smart and sometimes frustrating to his own party.
4. I am super bummed that *my* paper of record has chosen not to endorse the progressive (read: frugal, forward-thinking, independent) in this race. To say that pink riot gear will make up for allowing developers to run rampant makes it all worthwhile? Agh. Sometimes funny is just not that funny.
5. And I will leave at this. Get to know the candidates better. Attend more forums and debates. Spend a day with each of the candidates. I promise - you will, by November, find yourselves excited by one candidate. He is totally the Portland Mercury in this race - edgy, funny, self-depricating, interested above all in the public interest - and I heart you both.

The CRC. Is. Not. A. Bridge. Project. Repeat it with me: Five miles of highway expansion: roughly 50% of costs. Bridge: 25%. Light Rail 25%. Please, please, please get this right and stop helping this polluting boondoggle along by talking about it like it's a bridge project.

Jefferson's been a strong leader speaking out against this highway boondoggle for years. And for government transparency. And for on-line voter registration. And for energy efficiency. And for investing in our local small businesses instead of throwing ourselves like a hungry hussy at out-of-state corporations. I know the state legislature isn't really your beat, but I'd encourage folks to look at Smith's record.

Finally, if Jefferson was *so* convincingly connected to the Police Union, he would have had that endorsement months ago, when Smith could have used it in his Voters' Pamphlet and all that. Fact is, he's a friend of organized labor on most issues - which seems like a good thing to this progressive - while having had some clear disagreements with the Police.

Smooches.

Boondoggle.

It's disappointing that The Merc didn't cover the judicial races -- at least the contested supreme court position (#3).

Charlie Hales is a cancer on this city.

I really expect better from you guys. You're the Portland Fucking Mercury.

You - unlike all the other papers in town - had the luxury of publishing your endorsement AFTER we all learned that Charlie Hales has been repeating a glaring falsehood about his involvement in saving the public schools a decade ago. This misstatement starts to look like a pattern of deception when coupled with his tax and residency issues over the past ten years or so, voting in Oregon while avoiding Oregon income taxes by claiming tax residency in Washington State.

And you had before you a candidate you mostly agreed with, the only leading candidate who opposes the most cripplingly expensive potential mistake a future mayor could make, but you couldn't endorse him because on interview day you weren't feeling his "personal style?"

WTF is THAT about?

This is the kind of shit I expect from the Oregonian. What exactly are you trying to prove here?

Yeah, I'm voting for Jefferson Smith because (unlike either of the other major candidates) he is smart, well-informed, substantive, thoughtful, progressive, AND honest. And because he already busts his ass for the people of East Portland every single day, and I want all of Portland to benefit from that.

I want to live in whatever city the Portland Mercury Endorsement Board lives in, because it sure as hell isn't Portland, Oregon.

SOMEBODY CALL THE WHAAMBULANCE FOR ALL THE COMMENTERS WHOSE CANDIDATES YOU DID NOT ENDORSE.

"Novick says Salem should give local governments like Portland and Multnomah County a set chunk of cash for public safety and let everyone get together to prioritize how much should be spent on front-end treatment (which is cheaper) and how much should be spent on jail beds and prison stays (which are ridiculously expensive)."

Yeah, that'll happen. Salem LOVES giving away money from their own kick so other politicians can spend it.

About the only sensible part of the mayoral endorsement is dismissing Brady to start with, IMO. And if you really think a coddled developer class (which Hales shows far more fealty to than Smith does to unions) left to run amok won't have a more deleterious effect on the city's well being than giving good contracts to City workers (by no means a given), I'm not sure you're paying attention in this town. Bad Merc, no biscotti!

Paul, first you say not all unions are the same, and now you say they are the same. I'll leave it at that.

I can't find any info on the PAT website about how they had an open process where the rank and file got to vote.

I looked at the endorsements list, it was incumbents every time, and in races where there was a legislator moving to city, they endorsed the legislator (an incumbent, too). When two candidates met the same criteria, they did a co-endorsement. Why do they bother having a meeting to vote if it follows a formula? Greg Walden, even?

Endorse the incumbent, hope you get your back scratched. Boring and useless.

@OREGOMETRY: I SORT OF AGREE WITH YOUR WAAAHMBULANCE OPINION... BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEIR DECISION AS WRITTEN IS STUPID AS FUCKING INBRED TURKEYS. I PERSONALLY EXPECTED A STRONGER EDITORIAL DECISION. IF NONE OF THE 23 DIFFERENT CANDIDATES IMPRESSED THEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR A WRITE-IN OR A LEAVE BLANK CAMPAIGN... INSTEAD WE GOT.... WHATEVER THE FUCK THIS WAS. WHOEVER ON THE STAFF LED THIS ENDORSEMENT PROCESS SHOULD HAVE THEIR PAY DOCKED.

Great endorsements, Merc. You're actually paying attention in this race.

The Police Union is neck-to-neck with the Water Bureau in the race for most corrupt organization in this city, and the biggest threat to our city and our freedom. They have a long, long history of being the ruling body in this city- read "Portland Confidential" or any scholastic history of the city, and you'll see the pattern that continues unabated in the 21st century. Jefferson Smith had a chance to make a great statement here, and secure the race, by rejecting the bureau's endorsement and making it clear that he will not play their games as mayor. Unfortunately, he's shown his true colors by accepting their endorsement- he's just another Xerox-copy Democrat in a city that needs someone more progressive and aggressive than the Oregon Democratic Party. He's only running as a stepping stone to something else.

Sorry Jeff, you're about to fall in the river, and your police union buddies won't bail you out.

Hales doesn't impress anyone, but he shook my hand and looked me in the eye when I talked to him, and that's more than I can say for either Brady or Smith. I think he'll listen to Portlanders and I don't think he has his own agenda to push through in office.

Too bad Tres Shannon isn't running again. That's who we need as mayor to make this city the paradise it can be.

Based on your description Mikey, I have a very hard time believing you talked to or met Jefferson Smith at all. Smith kowtows to nobody except his wife and his dog, and has made a point of disagreeing with certain special interests to their faces in this race. Smith has the best experience with budgets in general, and is the only one making the protection of the general fund from boondoggles (like the CRC Hales's developer friends want him to build and which he promised he would) his highest priority.

Mikey, unless you've dropped your support for Chris Rich, then like the Merc, you're a "none of the above" guy. One thing impresses me about both your soft endorsement of Hales and that of Team Mercury. Your reasons for not supporting Jefferson Smith for Mayor don't sway me.

Among the Mercury staff, some were turned off by Jefferson's personality. I think the big guy can be overbearing too. Grizzly at times... You say you lost confidence with Jeff because he didn't take your advice and reject the police union endorsement. Boo hoo.

Sorry Merc - I won't vote for someone who stepped down from office for reasons of "business opportunity". Once a quitter always a quitter.

I support the Merc Ed board's decision on Jefferson Smith, even though I held my nose and voted for him over Hales.

From all I've read about the guy, he seems like someone who's far more interested in being seen as someone who gets things done, rather than actually being the candidate who has the interest, stamina and political abilities it takes to actually get things done.

The Mercury is considered a thought leader for 18-30 year olds in Portland.

That is why I am completely mystified you endorsed Charlie Hales for mayor, as did the Willamette Week, which reaches a much older audience.

I have known Jefferson Smith for at least 8 years. I agree he is the opposite of Brady in personal warmth, which seems to be the core of your concern.

Smith's Bus Project has placed people in their 20's in positions of power to create new and change old policy. That includes congressional, state, city and non-profit staffers.

Smith is a management geek and is the most fiscally conservative of the lot.

He is the most honest in his positions, he does not promise what he thinks the audience wants to hear.

Smith is the smartest of the bunch and has consistently attracted smart, creative people to his projects.

Mercury readers are hungry for an honest candidate, a different kind of public servant, and a leader.

Of the candidates, Smith stands far above the rest.

Colin, I have the same impression as you.

Smith supporters, can you defend your candidate's acceptance of the police union endorsement? It'd be much more interesting to hear about policy than to read your constant personal attacks and criticism of the people who don't agree with you.

"Smith ... is the most fiscally conservative of the lot."

That's like saying Charles Manson is the sanest person in his cell block. It might be true, but it don't mean much considering the competition.

Jeffy's supporters do seem to be the most ... aggressive in their defense. I'm not sure it's having the impact they'd like.

Mikey, you can read Smith's own defense in a lengthy response to the Merc. Look under the Hall Monitor column.

WTF, I head to Seattle for a couple of days and you guys endorse Hales? No, it can't be true...this Amtrak Wifi must be defective.

Mikey: you suggest that rejecting an endorsement from a union that represents employees that you might someday manage is a good idea? It may be politically popular to hate the PPA right now, but our future Mayor will have to work with them.

Yea I stopped reading after the Mayor bit. That was poorly researched, poorly argued, and poorly written. Fucking bush league, guys.

Michael, I reject your whole premise. "Can you defend your candidate's acceptance of the police union endorsement?"

It's a bullshit question, like "Have you stopped beating your wife lately?"

I frankly didn't expect Jefferson Smith to be backed by the police union. Of the 3 media spotlighted candidates, Hales and Brady are the ones who would have had the police sweep the parks of protesters early on. Smith is on record as having the back of OccupyPDX. Should grass roots win over Brady's millionaire Miracle-Gro campaign, we'll have elected the one candidate who will be able to lead the police bureau, as opposed to fighting it. That doesn't sound like a sound reason to withdraw your support. But like I noted before, you're not much of a fan of any of the 3 leading candidates.

Vote for Cameron.

"Sending (Meireran) to Salem affirms the notion that qualified political outsiders deserve just as much a chance to serve as insiders do."

You use this rationale to endorse the health insurance industry-backed candidate over single-payer champion Williamson, but then you endorse Charlie Hales?

I'm baffled.

The police union is actively defending murderers on the city payroll. Jefferson accepted their endorsement. That does not put Jefferson in a strong position to reduce police violence and keep police from shooting unarmed citizens in the back.

The police union supports the excessive use of force to suppress protests. Witness 2 cops for every protester on May Day. Most of those cops were getting paid overtime, which pleases the union and takes budgeted funds away from other city priorities. Jefferson is not demonstrating a commitment to reining in excessive overtime by accepting the endorsement of the police union.

The next mayor should not be coddling the police union. The police union is not a friend to the budget or to the citizens of the city of Portland. Accepting the union's endorsement sends a very poor message about Jefferson's priorities as mayor.

I had no idea Tre Arrow is a candidate for mayor until i saw his name on the ballot. Perhaps folks ought to consider him?

"Accepting the endorsement of the police union" has ZERO significance with regard to "coddling" the police or anything else. If you have some evidence that a quid pro quo of some kind was involved, then please share it. Otherwise, you're just talking out of your ass.

Look, I hate the way the police have been shooting unarmed people too. Do you think Smith doesn't? Yes, he got the police union's endorsement. But in the absence of a quid pro quo, it means simply that this union believes that this candidate will be a better Mayor.

Maybe it's because he won't waste buckets of money on the Sustainability Center and other expensive projects. Maybe it's for other reasons. But it's more than a little naive to think that the only possible reason they endorsed him would be that they expect his support when they do something wrong.

Dear Mercury:
The community center that's Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack's most conspicuous achievement? It doesn't exist. Hopefully will someday. Don't if you ever get out this way, but maybe you ought to visit us in SE Portland sometime.

@ DamosA, I see the compelling argument you've made there for the Arrow candidacy.

*wipes away tear *

Comparison for the moneyed mayoral candidates as an aid to figure out where they actually stand from a Green perspective. http://swoolley.org/files/mayorcompare.htm…

I suspect that most people reading this article already made up their mind about the mayor's race. Why make an endorsements for the judicial races instead?

What the hell kind of line up is this? Babes-in-diapers, plutocrat whores and politcorp fascist pigs dancing on stage. These bitches are gonna make Sammy look like a study in competence.

I lost faith in Mercury political endorsements during the era of Amy J. Ruiz' constant trolling for a job in the upcoming Adams' administration on the editorial page.

This was a no win situation on the mayor thing. There is no win there. Progressive minded people WANT to believe Mr. Smith will go to City Hall do good. But we don't believe him. He is to Portland progressives as Mitt Romney is conservatives. You really want to believe him, but something about him makes you want to run the other way. Trust your gut.

Cameron Whitten got my vote! Only honest fella running in this here election. The rest can just fuck right off.