http://admin.politickeror.com en http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3494/courtney-thinking-about-2010-gubernatorial-run PORTLAND -- State Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) said Thursday he was considering a run for governor in 2010, but at the moment the race was far from his mind. “If you’re asking me if I’m thinking about it, the answer is yes I’m thinking about it,” Courtney said at the Oregon Convention Center outside of the Leadership Summit meeting. Bill Bradbury Peter Courtney Steve Novick Governor Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:51:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3494 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3493/hunt-predicts-gubernatorial-candidate-2050 Most Oregon politicians are preoccupied with who will run in Oregon’s open gubernatorial seat in 2010, but Speaker of the House-elect Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) offered a prediction for a much later Oregon Governor’s race when he addressed the Oregon Leadership summit on Thursday. Andrew Hunt Bruce Hanna Dave Hunt Emily Hunt Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:45:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3493 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3492/state-house-announces-new-committee-chairs Speaker of the House Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) released the Oregon State House committee assignments Thursday, and included one Republican as a subcommittee chair. Rep. Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) will serve as chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee of Ways and Means. The rest of the assignments went to Democrats, who currently hold a 36-24 majority in the State House. Ten committees have new chairmen. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3492/state-house-announces-new-committee-chairs#comments Bob Jenson Dave Hunt Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:25:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3492 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3491/ameri-will-not-be-discussing-possible-run-orgop-chair A spokeswoman for Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Goli Ameri said Ameri would not be discussing if she's interested in becoming the next chair of the Oregon Republican Party. "Assistant Secretary Ameri will not be discussing her future plans while in her current position,” said Kate Starr, spokeswoman for the ECA Bureau. “She is focused on finishing her tenure as head of the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau at the Department of State." http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3491/ameri-will-not-be-discussing-possible-run-orgop-chair#comments Bob Tiernan David Wu Goli Ameri Lynn Snodgrass Vance Day Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:53:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3491 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3490/adamson-be-merkley-s-business-liaison PORTLAND – U.S. Senator-elect Jeff Merkley announced that former State House candidate Jessica Adamson (D-Sherwood) will be his business liaison when he joins the Senate body in 2009. Adamson is the legislative affairs director for the Associated General Contractors, which deals with commercial construction. She also ran a tough state house campaign against State Rep. Matt Wiingard (R-Wilsonville). According to the official results from the Secretary of State, it was in the fourth-most competitive race in the state, despite the fact she was running in a Republican district. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3490/adamson-be-merkley-s-business-liaison#comments US Senate Jeff Merkley Jessica Adamson Matt Wingard Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:46:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3490 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3489/two-state-gops-leading-women-considering-run-party-chair Two more candidates are interested in becoming the next chair of the Oregon Republican Party, according to a Thursday report on Oregon Catalyst.   Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural affairs Goli Ameri is rumored to be interested in the job. Ameri, who was appointed to the position this past March, is famously remembered around Northwest Oregon as the candidate who gave U.S. Rep. David Wu a run for his money in the OR-1 2004 congressional election. Ameri was also known as a more-than-adept fundraiser, which could help the cash-strapped Oregon Republican Party.   Former House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass, who ran previously for the job in 2002, is reportedly also interested in making another run. The Oregon Catalyst described her as a ”quality leadership-proven woman” for the job. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3489/two-state-gops-leading-women-considering-run-party-chair#comments Bob Tiernan Goli Ameri Lynn Snodgrass Vance Day Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:36:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3489 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3487/kulongoski-floats-idea-2010-legislative-session PORTLAND—Gov. Ted Kulongoski floated the idea that the Oregon legislature may have to come back into session in 2010 to deal with the state’s budget issues in a panel discussion at the Oregon Leadership summit on Thursday. “I would talk with the legislature about coming back in sometime in 2010,” Kulongoski said. “This may be first time that the legislature has to look at budget in terms of single years. I think we’re all going to have to look at doing things a little differently than we have in the past.” http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3487/kulongoski-floats-idea-2010-legislative-session#comments Ted Kulongoski Governor Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:45:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3487 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3486/smith-gone-not-forgotten PORTLAND-- U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) received a shout-out from ESCO Corporation CEO and Oregon Business Chair Steve Pratt in his opening remarks at the Oregon leadership summit Thursday morning. “Senator Smith has been a great friend of the Oregon business plan,” Pratt said. “He has worked in a bipartisan way to set the tone with his colleagues and get work done.” http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3486/smith-gone-not-forgotten#comments US Senate Gordon Smith Jeff Merkley Ron Wyden Steve Pratt Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:05:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3486 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3484/wyden-wyden-twins-first-word-may-be-bailout PORTLAND—In his opening remarks to the Oregon Leadership Summit, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) said that the recent economic downturn has drastically affected his family. “The Wyden twins are now one, and I am convinced the first words they speak will be ‘bailout,’” Wyden said to a crowd of 400 Oregon business leaders gathered at the convention center Thursday morning. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3484/wyden-wyden-twins-first-word-may-be-bailout#comments US Senate Ava Rose Wyden Ron Wyden William Peter Wyden Local Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:47:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3484 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3483/walden-lone-oregon-nay-auto-bailout U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) was the only Oregon congressman to vote against a $14 billion loan package for auto companies on Wednesday. The measure is designed to help Chrysler and General Motors stave off bankruptcy until the next Congress can decide what other action, if any, should be taken. U.S. Reps. David Wu (D-Portland), Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland), and Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) voted for the bill.   http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3483/walden-lone-oregon-nay-auto-bailout#comments Darlene Hooley David Wu Earl Blumenauer Greg Walden House Peter DeFazio Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:03:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3483 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3481/oregon-state-house-5-closest-races Republicans staved off an even bigger Democratic majority in the Oregon State House by pulling out three of the closest victories in the state, according to official election results released by the Secretary of State’s office. However, Democrats pulled out two close wins in House Districts 51 and 52, which had been Republican seats during the last cycle. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3481/oregon-state-house-5-closest-races#comments Bill Kennemer Brent Barton Jessica Adamson Linda Flores Lynn Howe Matt Lindland Matt Wingard Sal Esquival Suzanne VanOrman Toby Forsberg Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:14:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3481 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3480/politicians-descending-portland-oregon-business-plan-leadership-summit Oregon’s highest elected officials will descend on Portland Thursday for the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit. The summit, which will take place at the Oregon Convention Center, is an annual gathering of business and political leaders to meet and discuss plans for the state’s economy and improve the quality of jobs available to Oregonians. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3480/politicians-descending-portland-oregon-business-plan-leadership-summit#comments US Senate Bill Bradbury Earl Blumenauer Greg Walden House Jeff Merkley Kurt Schader Peter DeFazio Ron Wyden Ted Kulongoski Governor Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:53:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3480 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3479/expect-next-us-attorney-appointments-be-more-professional President-elect Barack Obama appears to be on track to re-professionalize the justice department, Oregon State University professor Bill Lunch said Wednesday. “All signals from Obama are that he values very professional qualifications,” Lunch said in an interview with PolitickerOR.com. “He was a law professor at the University of Chicago and the editor of the Harvard Law Review. I’m sure he knows extremely capable people all over the country.” President US Senate Alberto Gonzales Barack Obama Bill Clinton Bill Lunch George W. Bush John McKay Ron Wyden Local Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:38:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3479 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3476/oregon-state-senate-5-biggest-losers Rural Democrats and Portland-area Republicans were the biggest losers in the Oregon State Senate 2008 election, according to official numbers released by the secretary of state Friday. The following is a list of the top 5 state senate candidates that received the fewest votes (major-party candidates with major-party opposition only): http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3476/oregon-state-senate-5-biggest-losers#comments Dave Kim Eldon Rollins John Wight Lisa MIchaels Richard Koopmans Local Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:55:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3476 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3475/mauer-i-would-have-liked-david-plouffe-dnc-chair Newly-elected Democratic National Committee member Lupita Mauer said Tuesday that she hoped the next chairman of the DNC would continue current Chairman Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy. Mauer, who was elected one of Oregon’s newest committee members this past weekend, said that the 50-state strategy had been extremely effective in the state, and that the next chairman needs to be able to bring a similar ground game to the Democratic Party. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3475/mauer-i-would-have-liked-david-plouffe-dnc-chair#comments President Barack Obama David Plouffe Howard Dean Lupita Mauer Pail Tewes Steve Hildebrand Local Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:51:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3475 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3474/state-senate-committee-heads-announced The Oregon State Senate announced its committee chairs and members for the 2009 legislative session Tuesday, and many potential gubernatorial candidates will have some influential assignments. State Sen. Mark Hass, who has been rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2010, will head up the Education and General Government Committee. He’ll also be on the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, as well as the Finance and Revenue Committee. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3474/state-senate-committee-heads-announced#comments Bruce Starr Jason Atkinson Mark Hass Peter Courtney Governor Local Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:14:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3474 at http://politicker.com http://www.politicker.com/most-corrupt-political-office-america-illinois-governor The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his top aide on charges, among other things, that he attempted to sell off his pick to replace President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat, creates a drama for political junkies just in time for the Holidays. It has high drama allegation of bribes. It has big political families. It has ties to Obama. It involves the most exclusive club in the world and possibly the most corrupt office in the land. http://www.politicker.com/most-corrupt-political-office-america-illinois-governor#comments Pindell Report Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:04:00 -0500 James W. Pindell 3470 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3473/auto-industry-shows-oregon-lawmakers-little-campaign-contribution-love The auto industy has been somewhat stingy toward Oregon lawmakers when it comes to campaign contributions, according to a report from the Center for Responsive Politics. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3473/auto-industry-shows-oregon-lawmakers-little-campaign-contribution-love#comments President US Senate Barack Obama Darlene Hooley David Wu Earl Blumenauer Gordon Smith Greg Walden Hillary Clinton House Jeff Merkley John McCain Kevin Mannix Mike Erickson Mitt Romney Ron Wyden Rudy Giuliani Local Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:38:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3473 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3471/oregon-state-senate-5-biggest-winners State senator-elect Chris Telfer (R-Bend) was the biggest winner among state senate candidates seeking a seat with a major incumbent challenger in the 2008 election, according to official voting tallies released by the secretary of state Friday. Chris Telfer David Nelson Diana Rosenbaum Doug Whitsett Ginny Burdick Jason Atkinson Jeff Kruse Joanne Verger Margaret Carter Mark Haas Suzanne Bonamici Ted Ferrioli Local Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:12:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3471 at http://politicker.com http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3468/day-will-run-orgop-chair-re-election-will-be-challenged-tiernan Republican Party of Oregon chair Vance Day told PolitickerOR.com on Monday that he plans to run for re-election as state Republican Party Chair.   According to a Monday report on Oregon Catalyst, Day is going to be challenged by former State Rep. Bob Tiernan is vying to be the next chair of the Oregon Republican Party, according to a Monday report on Oregon Catalyst. Day said he knew Tiernan for many years, and was not surprised he was going to be challenged for the seat “You get a good bit of success going and you’re bound to get people who want to challenge you for the position,” Day said. Tiernan, of Lake Oswego, was an Oregon State Representative from 1992-1996. He lost re-election for his seat in 1996 to now-state senate majority leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). Day has been chair of the Oregon Republican Party since 2005. If re-elected, he will see the party through the 2010 governor’s race, where, in addition to outgoing U.S. Sen. Smith (R-Pendleton), he sees many qualified potential Republican candidates. “Greg Walden is a very natural choice,” Day said. “He knows Oregon very intimately.” “But I think we’ve got a very deep second tier of candidates; Sen. Jason Atkinson and Sen. Bruce Starr would do well,” Day continued. “Allen Alley and Rick Dancer as well. Both of them did very well in a difficult year.” Alley (R-Lake Oswego) lost the State Treasurer’s race to Ben Westlund 52 percent to 45 percent, while Dancer (R-Springfield) lost to Kate Brown (D-Portland) 51 percent to 46 percent. That is much closer than the U.S. Presidential race, where President-elect Barack Obama beat U.S. Sen. John McCain 57 percent to 40 percent. Another large statewide race that will be looming for Day, should he be re-elected, is the 2010 U.S. Senate race against U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland). Day said it may take some sorting out in the governor’s race before a Republican announces his intentions to challenge Wyden. But he felt confident about the party’s chances. “If the Democrats do what we expect them to do, then 2010 will not be a great year for Democrats,” Day said. The election for Oregon Republican Party chair will take place January 12 in Lake Oswego. http://admin.politickeror.com/brittenchase/3468/day-will-run-orgop-chair-re-election-will-be-challenged-tiernan#comments Bob Tiernan Vance Day Local Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:19:00 -0500 Britten Chase 3468 at http://politicker.com