SALTZMAN AND CORNETT AT THE MERCURY'S CANDIDATE OLYMPIAD EARLIER THIS YEAR
SALTZMAN AND CORNETT AT THE MERCURYS CANDIDATE OLYMPIAD EARLIER THIS YEAR
  • SALTZMAN AND CORNETT AT THE MERCURY’S CANDIDATE OLYMPIAD EARLIER THIS YEAR

BAM. Dan Saltzman just accused Jesse Cornett of grandstanding with the deaths of Aaron Campbell and others, after Cornett called on him yesterday to talk publicly about police issues. At the end of his two page letter back to Cornett this morning, listing all of the many things he feels he’s done, Saltzman writes:

These are difficult and longstanding issues that require hard work, and often do not have simple answers. So here is what I have not done and what I will not do: politicize these efforts by
playing them out in the media or using them as a campaign tool.

As you well know, we will have numerous opportunities to appear jointly at forums and debates
throughout the community, including the City Club on April 23rd. But the community is not
served by using the tragic deaths of Aaron Campbell and others to forward a political campaign —
or even more distastefully, a political career. We should honor their memories by making
change, not demean them by trying to use their deaths to score political points.

Therefore, I respectfully decline your invitation.

“Those are mighty tough words from a career politician who has been unwilling to learn lessons from history to save lives in the future,” Cornett responds. POW. ZAP. KABLONG. So:

Who’s Grandstanding Whom?

Update, 8:22: Cornett hit back at Saltzman this evening, bringing up the death in 2005 of his best friend Ray Gwerder, at the hands of the Portland police:

“In the middle of everything else that I’m doing in my life right now, to be accused of trying to make political capital out of this situation by someone who could never imagine picking up bloody gloves off your porch after the police have taken your best friend and roommate from the world.”

Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.

6 replies on “Saltzman Back At Cornett: “The community is not served by using the tragic deaths of Aaron Campbell and others to forward a political campaign — or even more distastefully, a political career.””

  1. No kiddin’. That’s a can of rhetorical worms he probably shouldn’t have opened: Hey Dan, guess what *else* doesn’t serve the community?

  2. Cornett hit reply all, and wrote the following:

    “Commissioner Saltzman,

    Maybe the brand of disdain you displayed works well for your wealthy friends that are funding your campaign, but most of us in Portland feel differently.

    To suggest I’m trying to “start a career” is as legitimate as you running as an outsider candidate. Neither could be further from the truth. If you took the time to look at my bio, you’d see I had a successful career that I decided to put on hold to run for City Council because I feel like downtown fat cats grip on City Hall is too tight. As a consequence, decisions rarely reflect the needs of everyday Portlanders.

    While I’m disappointed that you refuse to debate me on the issue of utmost importance to your constituency, I’d like to thank for your vote of confidence in my campaign. To date, I haven’t heard whether I will be included in the City Club Debate. I hope you are indeed correct assuming my inclusion. I would look forward to a forum where voters can consider whether your service warrants a 21st year as a professional politician.”

  3. Moot point. Saltzman wins on a walk in the primary. The opposition votes are split between too many candidates and it is impossible to beat an incumbent unless you outspend them at least ten to one. Cornett’s public financing makes it an even money race so he has no chance.

Comments are closed.