THE DOZENS of candidates vying for spots on Portland’s city
council—as commissioners or the mayor—are doing more than
sticking lawn signs all over your neighborhood.
In Sam Adams and Sho Dozono’s case, both are furiously raising money
in the weeks before they appear—along with 11 others—on the
mayoral primary ballot. Since Dozono announced on March 24 that he
would continue his mayoral bid by raising private funds, he’s raised
$18,314, according to state elections reports, and has a little over
$43,000 in the bank.
Adams, who’s already spent nearly $100,000, has almost $67,000 left.
But he isn’t bringing it in as fast as Dozono currently is: In the same
week Dozono pulled in over $18,000, Adams raised just over $6,000,
according to state records.
Untethered from the fundraising phone, the five voter-owned
candidates with their eyes on Adams’ council seat have been appearing
at neighborhood forums, holding house parties and—in Jeff
Bissonnette’s case—forums on issues like energy and Portland’s
family friendliness.
But John Branam, one of the publicly financed candidates in that
race, is also cooperating with the auditor’s evaluation of “whether
there have been violations of city code” for paying his campaign
manager, Phil Busse, a lump sum of $15,000 shortly after Branam cashed
his city check, and for promising Busse $10,000 more through the end of
the election.
A request sent to the campaign on Monday, March 24, asked for copies
of contracts, Busse’s resume, any timesheets, invoices, or “other
documentation describing work performed,” and any correspondence
between Busse and Branam regarding the payments. Lastly, the auditor
requested an explanation of Busse’s large prepayment.
Branam complied with the request, sending City Elections Officer
Andrew Carlstrom a 10-page packet with his answers, Busse’s resume, and
the campaigns’ contracts with staff. Branam did not, however, include
timesheets or invoices outlining what Busse’s $25,000 payment covers.
“The ‘documentation’ of the work performed during the period following
certification is the work-product itself,” writes Branam. “Timesheets
have not been kept.”
Branam explained that the payment works out to about $30 an hour for
the hours he’s expecting Busse to keep through the election, and
reflect the fact that Busse will be working overtime, without health
benefits, and that he’s got multiple talents the campaign will tap.
Carlstrom—who was out of the office last week—says he
and the auditor don’t yet have a timeline for what happens next in
their evaluation of the payment.