Portland’s anti-war “Raging Grannies” had the case against
them dismissed in court on Monday, June 9, after prosecutors were too
unorganized to get cops to show up on the right day. Sara Graham and
Bonnie Tinker were arrested at last year’s Rose Parade for
sitting down in front of a tank. At first they were charged with
interfering with a parade, a charge that doesn’t exist, and then, with
disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer.
The district attorney’s office blamed a computer error for
the scheduling conflict. Senior Deputy DA Jeff Howes told the
Mercury,”It’s not the fault of the district attorney’s office,”
even though it is, technically, the DA’s responsibility to have its
witnesses ready for trial. Asked whether the incompetence was
politically convenient, so that the DA wouldn’t have to prosecute two
elderly ladies for protesting an illegal war, Howes responded: “It’s
not convenient. It’s inconvenient. I think these issues are best aired
in the trial proceeding.” MD
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Former city council candidates who received public campaign
financing dished the dirt this week about the fledgling program. As
part of exit public finance process interviews with the Citizen
Campaign Commission—the city’s volunteer group which oversees
public financing—the candidates were mostly positive about the
rule-heavy system. The biggest point of contention was whether the
city’s $150,000 in funds is enough to actually run a citywide
campaign.
Jeff Bissonnette and Jim Middaugh felt they lacked the money to
advertise effectively, hurting their name recognition. “I don’t think
you’re going to see any incumbent defeated by a publicly financed
candidate,” says Middaugh.
Citizen Campaign Commissioners replied that the public financing is
meant to provide access to the political process, but not necessarily
equal footing between candidates. Candidate John Branam noted
that while the system could use small changes, the important thing was
that it worked: “These public dollars bought Portlanders a very
competitive race.” All three candidates said public financing was a
major factor enabling them to run. SM