campaign trail

Could Richardson’s Independent Party nod help against Kitzhaber?

Published Jul 27, 2014 at 12:03AM

SALEM — Oregon’s gubernatorial candidates agree to five debates. Republicans owned the Independent Party primary. And we now know the full slate of ballot measures for November. Here’s a look at some of the week’s more interesting developments in Oregon politics: Independent Party primary State Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, won the Independent Party’s nomination for governor, grabbing a prize that Gov. John Kitzhaber won ...MORE

November Election

Wehby draws fundraising support from fellow MDs

Money race is on for November Senate campaign

Published Jun 9, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — With the matchup now set for November’s Senate race, both candidates face the daunting task of raising the money needed to sustain a congressional campaign. Republican nominee Monica Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon from Portland, won the primary in part on the strength of her fundraising. She raised $1.2 million, almost four times as ...MORE

Candidates, voters look to November

Conger says he has no regrets about Senate campaign, despite outcome

Published May 22, 2014 at 12:01AM

With Tuesday’s primary election complete, the stage is set for the upcoming November election, when Central Oregon voters will choose among a variety of local ...MORE

May 20 election results

State, county and city races and ballot measures

Published May 22, 2014 at 11:26AM / Updated May 22, 2014 at 11:31AM

Click here to review the scorecard for the May 2014 election.

Circuit Court

Miller defeats Spear in judge race

The judge-elect emphasized his background in civil litigation

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 01:14AM

Deschutes County voters on Tuesday chose the candidate who spent his career as an attorney focusing on civil, rather than criminal, cases to take the ...MORE

Five-year Bend, rural fire levies pass

Funds expected to improve emergency response times

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 12:16AM

Bend voters said yes to a five-year levy supporting the city’s fire department, while voters just outside the city limits also passed a levy for rural fire services. Measure 9-98 led by a comfortable margin late Tuesday. The levy is expected to raise about $1.8 ...MORE

Deschutes County

DeBone beats Esterman for commission

Incumbent DeBone will take on Bend City Councilor Jodie Barram in November

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 12:58AM

Deschutes County Republican Tony DeBone beat Richard Esterman in his bid for another term on the Board of County Commissioners, leading by a wide margin ...MORE

U.S. Senate

Wehby soundly defeats Conger

The Portland doctor will take on incumbent Merkley for U.S. Senate seat

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 12:55AM

PORTLAND — Republican Monica Wehby will take on Democratic incumbent Jeff Merkley for a seat in the U.S. Senate this fall. Wehby, 52, is a ...MORE

Oregon House

Huffman easily wins reelection

Promises focus on privacy next term

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 01:13AM

State Rep. John Huffman easily secured the Republican nomination for Oregon House District 59 Tuesday night, overwhelmingly defeating challenger Britt Storkson. No Democrats filed for ...MORE

Crook County scraps party labels

Voters OK a nonpartisan county government

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM

Crook County will be switching to a nonpartisan county government, after voters resoundingly approved a plan to scrap party labels for its county court on Tuesday night. With the vote, Crook County became the 21st of Oregon’s 36 counties to adopt a nonpartisan form of ...MORE

Jefferson County

Ahern keeps Jefferson Commission seat

November runoff for other opening

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 01:14AM

An incumbent will return to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, and there will be a runoff election in November for a new commissioner. Incumbent Mike Ahern, 57, handily won his race Tuesday against Floyd Paye, 50, for Position 2 and will serve a fourth term. Mae Huston, 63, narrowly led the three-candidate race for ...MORE

Crook County

Crawford bests Seley in Crook County

Crawford likely will face Shank for seat on County Court

Published May 21, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 01:14AM

Seth Crawford made easy work of his competition in the Republican primary for the Crook County Court, handily defeating Prineville City Councilor Jack Seley Tuesday night. Crawford, 35, was first elected to the court in 2010, knocking off sitting commissioner and former Oregon House Speaker Lynn Lundquist in a three-way Republican primary before defeating Democrat ...MORE

U.S. House

Walden wins Republican primary

Will face Democrat Christofferson in November

Published May 20, 2014 at 09:26PM / Updated May 21, 2014 at 01:14AM

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, overwhelmingly won the chance to run for re-election Tuesday night, beating out Klamath County Commissioner Dennis Linthicum in the Republican primary. In the general election, Walden will face Bend businesswoman Aelea Christofferson, who won the Democratic primary over two challengers. Walden, 57, is currently in his eighth term in Congress ...MORE

Ballot returns

Published May 20, 2014 at 12:01AM

Crook County: 28.9% Deschutes County: 27.2% Jefferson County: 30.1% ...MORE

Ballot returns

Published May 16, 2014 at 12:01AM

Ballot Returns Crook County: 22.4% Deschutes County: 21.2% Jefferson County: 22% ...MORE

May 20 Election

Campaign cash flow in Deschutes County

A look at funds raised by local primary candidates

Published May 10, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 10, 2014 at 03:49PM

Deschutes County Commission Tony DeBone Republican Cash raised: $13,800 (In-kind: $0) Richard Esterman Republican Cash raised: $0 (In-kind: $0) Jodie Barram Democrat Cash raised: $13,482 (In-kind: $0) Tammy Baney Republican Cash raised: $1,000 (In-kind: $105) Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel Cash raised: $59,810 (In-kind: $10,500) Patrick Flaherty Cash raised: $9,583 (In-kind: $8,067) Deschutes County ...MORE

Published May 7, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 7, 2014 at 12:12PM

May 15 OREGON LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS — PINTS AND POLITICS: Candidates for U.S. Congress, State Representative, Deschutes County Commission and Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge will be on hand to meet with the public; 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 N.W. Pence ...MORE

Senate primary

FEC complaint filed over anti-Conger ads

Dem Party of Oregon alleges coordination between PAC and Wehby campaign

Published May 6, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party of Oregon waded into the GOP Senate primary battle Monday, asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether Stimson Lumber CEO Andrew Miller’s political action committee illegally coordinated with Portland pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby’s Senate campaign. Miller, who is purported ...MORE

ELECTION

FEC complaint filed over anti-Conger ads

Dem Party of Oregon alleges coordination between PAC and Wehby campaign

Published May 5, 2014 at 02:46PM

WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party of Oregon has waded into the GOP Senate primary battle, asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether Stimson Lumber CEO Andrew Miller’s political action committee illegally coordinated with Portland pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby’s Senate campaign. Miller, who is purported ...MORE

May 20 Election

Merkley seeks Dem nomination

First-term senator wants to keep fighting for working-class Oregonians

Published May 2, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated May 3, 2014 at 10:26PM

WASHINGTON — When Jeff Merkley arrived in the nation’s capital in 2009 as a newly elected senator, it was not his first stint in Washington. But it quickly became obvious to the Portland Democrat that the Congress of which he was now a member was ...MORE

District 59

Huffman, Storkson in House District 59 primary

Incumbent faces challenger in May election

Published Apr 28, 2014 at 12:01AM

Republican voters in House District 59 will have a choice between a seven-year incumbent and a water pumping control specialist who refuses campaign contributions in ...MORE

Nation takes notice of Republican primary

Conger, Wehby vie to take on Sen. Jeff Merkley and Affordable Care Act

Published Apr 27, 2014 at 12:01AM

In recent weeks, the Oregon Republican primary for U.S. Senate has been in the Wall Street Journal, on Fox News, on MSNBC and on the ...MORE

Election calendar

Published Apr 26, 2014 at 12:01AM

Monday REDMOND PATRIOTS MEETING: Candidate for U.S. Senate Republican Primary Dr. Monica Wehby; 6:30 p.m.; Highland Baptist Church, 3100 S.W. Highland Ave.; 541-639-7784. Wednesday CENTRAL OREGON PATRIOTS CANDIDATE FORUM: Meet the candidates, hear moderated discussion and ask questions; 6-8 p.m.; A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum, 246 ...MORE

Deschutes DA candidates’ voting records examined

A look at who voted, how often and on what

Published Mar 12, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated Apr 28, 2014 at 02:47PM

Deschutes County District Attorney Patrick Flaherty has voted in 67 percent of elections since September 1996, according to county voting documents, missing only special elections ...MORE

Election calendar

Published Apr 19, 2014 at 12:01AM

Thursday 2014 PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUM: The Deschutes County Citizen’s Action Group hosts forum for voters to meet candidates; 6:30 p.m.; La Pine Senior Activity Center, 16450 Victory Way; 541-536-3207, info@cagg.us or www.cagg.us. April 28 REDMOND PATRIOTS MEETING: Candidate for U.S. Senate Republican Primary Dr. ...MORE

Walden holds huge money edge

Candidates for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District report lopsided fundraising

Published Apr 17, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — With just over a month left before the May primary, incumbent Rep. Greg Walden has an enormous money advantage over his 2nd Congressional ...MORE

Deschutes judicial candidates highlight experience

Attorneys on May ballot answer questions at Redmond forum

Published Apr 15, 2014 at 12:01AM

REDMOND — The two attorneys running for Deschutes County Circuit Court judge invited attendees at a Monday evening forum to examine their differing backgrounds and ...MORE

COCC drops top choice for president

The move follows revelation that Patrick Lanning is on paid administrative leave in current job

Published Apr 10, 2014 at 12:01AM

The Central Oregon Community College board voted unanimously Wednesday night to not hire its “top choice” as the school’s next president, following the revelation that the candidate was placed on paid administrative leave by his current employer Feb. 11. The college was poised to appoint Patrick Lanning its next president on March 17, but that ...MORE

Campaign calendar

Published Apr 9, 2014 at 12:01AM

Monday REDMOND PATRIOTS MEETING: Candidates for Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Randy Miller and T.J. Spear; 6:30 p.m.; Highland Baptist Church, 3100 S.W. Highland Ave.; 541-639-7784. Tuesday VOTER FORUM FOR DESCHUTES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: District attorney candidates Patrick Flaherty and John Hummel will debate; 5:15 ...MORE

JEfferson County

Ahern, Paye vie for Jefferson County Commission

Incumbent faces challenger in May election

Published Apr 7, 2014 at 12:01AM

Jefferson County voters have the choice between a three-term incumbent and a longtime county worker for one of two county Board of Commissioner posts on the upcoming May ballot. Mike Ahern, 57, faces Floyd Paye, 50, who has worked for the county Public Works Department since 1983. While the race is nonpartisan, voters will have ...MORE

Election calendar

Published Apr 5, 2014 at 12:01AM

Tuesday VOTER FORUM FOR DESCHUTES COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Seat No. 1 candidates Tony DeBone and Richard Esterman; 12:15 p.m.; Deschutes County administration building, 1300 N.W. Wall St., Bend; 541-382-2724. April 14 REDMOND PATRIOTS MEETING: Candidates for Circuit Court Judge Randy Miller and T.J. Spear; 6:30 p.m.; ...MORE

Election calendar

Published Apr 1, 2014 at 03:51PM / Updated Apr 1, 2014 at 09:33PM

Are you holding an event to educate voters in the lead-up to the May election? Submit the information to elections@bendbulletin.com. We will not publish information about political fundraisers. Thursday THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY — FIRST THURSDAY LUNCHEON: Speakers talk about the ...MORE

U.S. Congress

Economy looms large in race for 2nd District

Published Mar 31, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — With the 2014 midterm elections looming, Oregon’s lackluster economic recovery remains a major issue for the candidates vying to represent Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress. More than four years after the recession ended, unemployment remains higher in Oregon than the national average, particularly in the rural communities that make up the bulk of the 2nd District. As they campaign ahead of the ...MORE

Election bendbulletin.com/elections

Crook County to consider scrapping party labels for commissioners

Measure on primary would take effect for 2015 elections

Published Mar 21, 2014 at 12:01AM

Voters in Crook County will be asked in the May election to consider eliminating party labels for county commissioners. The sitting commissioners, all three Republicans, voted last fall to put the measure before voters. Commissioner Ken Fahlgren said Crook County’s heavy Republican tilt has made ...MORE

May 20 Election bendbulletin.com/elections

Deschutes commissioner primary candidates face off

Tony DeBone and Richard Esterman speak about land rights and business fees

Published Mar 19, 2014 at 12:01AM

Two Deschutes County commissioner candidates took on issues from rural land rights to business fees to commissioner health insurance benefits during a forum Tuesday night. ...MORE