Date Set for Democrats to Replace Deckert October 18, 2007

The Washington County Democrats have sent out a press release indicating that Monday, October 29, will be the date of the convention to pick nominees for Senate District 14, which Sen. Ryan Deckert is vacating to serve as the Oregon Business Association President.

According to the Washington County Democrats website, Sen. Ryan Deckert intends to tender his resignation, which will become effective October 28, 2007. The website also stipulates the general process for the convention:

All current Senate District 14 Precinct Committee persons are eligible to cast nominating votes [. . .] You must be physically present to cast your votes and may not designate a substitute.

For a more in-depth look at the process, look here.
As referenced in the Boundary’s first substantive post way back in August, there is already a group of local Democrats actively seeking appointment to Sen. Deckert’s seat. According to sources in and close to Washington County politics, the following are likely to jump into the nominating contest on Oct. 29:

• Betty Bode, current City of Beaverton councilor and health/human rights advocate
• Mike Bohan, former candidate for the Democratic nomination in House District 27
• Mark Hass, former state representative in House District 27
• Jennifer Warren, former county party officer

If those four are the only nomination-seekers at the convention, it’s possible that the precinct committee people of Senate District 14, which also includes a small chunk of Multnomah County, will all receive a nomination. Oregon election law allows the party nominating convention to pick between 3 and 5 nominees. The Boards of Commissioners for Washington and Multnomah County will select the replacement from among those nominated by the party, and proportionate to population of the district, the Washington County commissioners (3 Republicans, 2 Democrats) will have a lot more weight than their Multnomah County counterparts (4 Democrats, 1 non-affiliated).

One interesting factor in this race is Mark Hass’s candidacy in the May 2008 primary for this very seat. He is seeking to hold the seat both by interim appointment and by popular election. It seems that if for some reason former Representative Hass is not selected by the commissioners, he will run for the seat anyway, presumably against whoever else is selected. According to Washington County sources, it seems that it’s a possibility that Hass might not get the nod, though he’s by no means the underdog. That he has filed his candidacy for the office in 2008 is proof of this enough–but it does seem a shrewd move on Hass’s part to get the commissioners to acknowledge his name recognition and popularity among his former constituents.

The nominating convention itself probably won’t generate much excitement if the only contenders are those four above. If that’s the case, then look to the joint meeting of the commissioners as a rare moment in local politics: for one of the few times so far in Oregon’s history, Washington County’s decision will significantly outweigh that of Multnomah County.

Guv’s Deputy Allen Alley Won’t Seek Treasurer Post October 18, 2007

Today’s Statesman-Journal continues the trend of outscooping the Boundary with the article explaining that Allen Alley, CEO of Pixelworks and Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, and registered Republican, will not run for state Treasurer.

Steve Law, the man, beat us to it again:

‘I love the public service that I’m doing,’ Alley said Wednesday, explaining his decision to stay on the governor’s staff. In an internal e-mail Alley penned to inform colleagues of his decision, he said it was one of his ‘most difficult professional and personal decisions.’

Alley is former chief executive officer of Pixelworks, a Tualatin computer-chip maker, and a former venture capitalist with Battery Ventures of Boston. His business credentials and post on a Democratic governor’s staff made him a top prospect for Republicans.

The Boundary is indeed surprised that Alley would even give a run for Treasurer a serious thought such that it would become one of his ‘most difficult professional and personal decisions’. After all, Alley serves Gov. Kulongoski, who was the earliest endorser of state Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) for the position. Westlund remains the only candidate in the total field at this juncture.

Vance Day made it seem like the Oregon GOP is already conceding the race by offering Alley’s future elective pursuits as a consolation prize for Republicans. Law had this to say about Day:

[. . .] he said there are two other potential GOP candidates considering the treasurer’s race. [. . . H]e’s not worried that Westlund is getting a healthy head-start in the treasurer’s race. He expects Alley to seek elective office in the future.

He seems to accept that Westlund is indeed getting a healthy head start by admitting that he’s not worried about it. And of course, he wouldn’t worry at all if he were writing off the GOP’s chance at winning the Treasurer post, which has been in Democratic hands for over a decade.

With Alley’s refusal to run coming just one day after union leader Alice Dale ruling out a bid for Attorney General, could it be that would-be candidates just don’t think they have a shot?