State says Roats didn’t violate election rules

Residency of new Bend city councilor was challenged

Jan 9, 2015 at 12:01AM

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday found that recently elected Bend City Councilor Casey Roats did not violate the state’s election rules when he listed his business and an unfinished home as his address on election and candidate filing documents. A complaint was submitted in October by political activist Michael Funke, who contended these addresses are not valid residences. During the election, Roats ...MORE

Legislature

2015 Oregon legislative battles take shape at business summit

Statewide sick leave, $15 minimum wage among top divisive issues

Jan 7, 2015 at 12:01AM

PORTLAND ­— If there was any question that Oregon’s minority Republicans and majority Democrats would clash on high-profile issues emerging ahead of the 2015 legislative session, a panel of elected party leaders gave the answer at a business conference Tuesday afternoon. The panel of two ...MORE

Whatever happened to ...

Whatever happened to: state agency data breaches

Oregon hacks lead policy question to the forefront

Published Dec 30, 2014 at 12:02AM / Updated Dec 30, 2014 at 09:40AM

SALEM — Much of the country spent the last month focused on a crippling hack on Sony Pictures, but hacks on two Oregon agencies brought cybersecurity to the forefront of public policy in 2014. Two Oregon Secretary of State databases and the state’s Employment Department ...MORE

GMO label campaign concedes defeat

Ballot Measure 92 forced recount, lawsuit, was most expensive in history

Published Dec 11, 2014 at 02:27PM / Updated Dec 11, 2014 at 11:16PM

The most expensive and second-closest Oregon ballot measure contest in nearly a century will end today with the defeat of a proposal to require labels on some genetically engineered foods. The group pushing Measure 92 announced Thursday it would not win despite two counties still ...MORE

gmos

GMO labeling proponents file suit in attempt to count 4,600 invalid votes

Group: state needs to show all invalid votes were fraudulent or forged

Dec 8, 2014 at 05:05PM

The campaign pushing a GMO labeling measure that was the second-closest race in nine decades joined a handful of voters who filed suit against the state’s elections officials on Monday. The Yes on 92 campaign, which lost the general election by 812 votes, sparking a ...MORE

elections

GMO vote headed for recount

Nov 24, 2014 at 06:09PM

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has tallied the final unofficial results from the November election. A full hand recount of ballots is required when the difference between votes cast for and against a measure is no more than 1/5 of 1 percent of the ...MORE

Measure 92 nail-biter

Oregon GMO label measure tightens even more

Measure will likely spark first recount in six years

Published Nov 21, 2014 at 05:31PM / Updated Nov 21, 2014 at 09:04PM

The vote on the ballot measure that would require labels on some genetically modified food in Oregon tightened even further Friday after several county clerks finished counting their ballots and sent the results into the state. Ballot Measure 92 was failing by slightly less than ...MORE

GMO measure likely headed to recount

Measure 92 is losing by fewer than 1,500 votes

Nov 21, 2014 at 12:01AM

Oregon’s GMO labeling measure, which drew more campaign money than any other measure in state history, may be heading to a recount. The measure was rejected, but results released Thursday by Multnomah County pushed the margin of defeat to 0.1 percent, inside the 0.2 percent ...MORE

Head start on the next election

Lottery measures start 2016 election cycle in Oregon

Proposals would divert more money to counties, veterans’ services

Nov 16, 2014 at 12:01AM

Election season just ended, but another apparently has begun. Two initiatives that would change how Oregon Lottery profits are divided have surfaced, paving an early path toward the 2016 election. One proposal would give half of the state’s lottery profits, the second-biggest revenue stream, directly ...MORE

Measure 91: Marijuana

Local DAs: Nothing will change until July

Despite Measure 91, low-level marijuana will remain on dockets

Nov 15, 2014 at 12:01AM

Although Oregon’s most populous county will be taking a largely hands-off approach to marijuana prosecution, Central Oregon district attorneys say not much will change now that Oregon voters have approved recreational marijuana. Measure 91, which voters passed last week, permits possession of recreational marijuana in ...MORE

Election aftermath

Did Libertarian give Senate Democrats supermajority?

Candidate takes 9 percent of the vote as incumbent Republican barely falls to Democrat

Nov 13, 2014 at 12:02AM

With the apparent victory of Democrat Chuck Riley in Senate District 15 over a Republican incumbent, a win that would give his party a supermajority in the Oregon Senate, analysts are debating whether a Libertarian challenger tipped the scales in Riley’s favor. It’s conventional political ...MORE

Jefferson County race still close

Mae Huston takes the lead over Tom Brown for county commission seat

Nov 13, 2014 at 12:01AM

Mae Huston now leads Tom Brown by 14 votes in the Jefferson County Commission race in which they were initially a single vote apart after last week’s election, according to the county clerk’s office. Ballots submitted at drop sites outside of Jefferson County and ballots ...MORE

Election

Oregon probably has highest voter turnout nationwide

Votes from the midterm election are still being counted, but Oregon’s 70% likely highest

Nov 10, 2014 at 12:02AM

In a year that saw perhaps the lowest turnout in decades elsewhere, Oregon probably had the highest voter turnout in the nation, according to preliminary results. A Bulletin review of each state’s voter turnout shows Oregon’s 69.5 percent turnout is highest in the U.S. for ...MORE

Election Aftermath

Oregon third parties lose races, claim victories

Libertarian candidate influences outcome of undecided Senate race

Published Nov 9, 2014 at 12:01AM / Updated Nov 10, 2014 at 01:51PM

Oregon’s third parties fielded candidates in partisan races across the board in this year’s elections. None of them won a major race, continuing a near dry spell that stretches back decades. But the parties are still claiming victories. The Pacific Green Party, whose candidate Jason ...MORE

In D.C.

Oregon senators face life in the minority

Merkley, Wyden must adjust to life after Republicans’ victory

Nov 9, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — When the 114th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, Oregon Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley will find themselves in the unfamiliar position of being in the Senate minority for the first time in eight years. For Merkley, who has been in ...MORE

Lawsuit filed over Bend councilor-elect’s residency

Opponents ask that Roats not be certified as race’s winner

Nov 7, 2014 at 12:01AM

Casey Roats won a seat on the Bend City Council on Tuesday despite questions over whether he was eligible to run, but others have asked the courts to stop the councilor-elect from being certified as the winner. A complaint was filed with the Deschutes County Circuit Court one day after the election by Bend attorney Charlie Ringo. The complaint was filed on behalf of Foster ...MORE

In face of Republican tide, Oregon shifts left

Democrats pick up at least one seat in House, Senate

Nov 6, 2014 at 12:01AM

Democrats bucked the national Republican trend and added to their lead in the Oregon House and Senate, sending a loud message across the country that this is a solid blue state. In an election in which Democrats lost their majority in the U.S. Senate and ...MORE

What legal marijuana in Oregon means for you

Pot possession is still illegal until next July

Nov 6, 2014 at 12:01AM

Oregon joined Alaska and the nation’s capital in voting Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana in the face of federal law that says it’s still a banned and dangerous substance. The state will have a textbook of sorts to follow when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission ...MORE

Merkley survives Republican wave

In winning re-election, senator avoided pitfalls that beset other Democrats

Nov 6, 2014 at 12:01AM

WASHINGTON — Even as a string of victories on Election Day gave Republicans enough seats to regain control of the Senate, Jeff Merkley’s double-digit win in Oregon was a rare bright spot for Democrats. As one of eight first-term Democrats defending their seats Tuesday, Merkley ...MORE

Bend marijuana shop owners react to Measure 91 passage

Some say they plan to stick with medical pot business

Nov 6, 2014 at 12:01AM

Some medical marijuana dispensary owners in Bend expressed excitement Wednesday about the passing of Measure 91, although, like many Oregonians, they still have a lot to learn about what it means for them. Measure 91, which allows for the possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana ...MORE

Oregon voters reject GMO labeling

Measure 92 narrowly defeated 50.61% to 49.39%

Published Nov 5, 2014 at 12:23PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 12:24PM

PORTLAND — Oregon voters on Tuesday rejected the labeling of genetically modified foods following the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history. Residents voted down an initiative by Oregon GMO Right to Know that would have required manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to label raw ...MORE

ELECTION UPDATE

Boddie, Campbell, Roats win Bend City Council seats

Published Nov 5, 2014 at 02:37PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 03:10PM

Two members of the Bend City Council lost their seats Tuesday night, while newcomer Casey Roats eked out a victory in a four-way race. Updated vote counts released overnight by the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office showed Nathan Boddie widening his lead over Councilor Mark Capell ...MORE

Deschutes

DeBone remains Deschutes commissioner

Incumbent defeats Jodie Barram

Published Nov 5, 2014 at 12:03AM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 12:36AM

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone resoundingly defeated challenger Jodie Barram on Tuesday and was elected to a second term. DeBone met with about 70 supporters at the Sunriver Brewing Company after hearing the initial results. He said the election came down to voters trusting the ...MORE

Walden cruises to ninth term in Congress

Easily bests Bend businesswoman Aelea Christofferson

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 09:59PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 10:26AM

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, cruised to a ninth term in Congress on Tuesday, handily beating Bend businesswoman Aelea Christofferson in the race in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race for Walden shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Walden, 57, ...MORE

Merkley easily wins re-election to Senate

GOP takes back control of the Senate

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 10:09PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 10:18AM

Oregon voters re-elected Sen. Jeff Merkley on Tuesday, opting to send the first-term Democrat back to Washington over Republican challenger Monica Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon from Portland. Merkley’s victory was among the few bright spots for Senate Democrats, who could not prevent Republicans from retaking ...MORE

Oregon House District 54

Buehler defeats Wilhelm for state House

Independent, unaffiliated voters figured in to Republican’s victory

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 11:07PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 10:12AM

SALEM ­— Bend voters have elected Republican knee surgeon Knute Bueh­ler over Craig Wilhelm to become the lone doctor in the state House at a time when Oregon will continue reforming health care. Buehler won House District 54 to replace Republican Jason Conger in a ...MORE

Bend

Bend City Council: Boddie defeats Capell; other races close

Ramsay trails Campbell; Roats leading for third seat

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 11:45PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 09:54AM

New faces are coming to Bend’s seven-person City Council, as one incumbent fell, an open seat will soon be claimed and a second incumbent trailed his challenger late on election night. Nathan Boddie, a physician at St. Charles Bend, defeated Position 5 incumbent Mark Capell, ...MORE

Governor

Kitzhaber wins fourth term

Setbacks for the governor were not enough to put Richardson in office

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 10:31PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 09:48AM

Showing an ability to withstand another of several political tests, Democrat John Kitzhaber, the longest-serving governor in the state’s history, was elected to a fourth term Tuesday. Kitzhaber beat Republican state Rep. Dennis Richardson, of Central Point, who hounded Kitzhaber for high-profile embarrassments during the ...MORE

Your election scorecard

Nov 5, 2014 at 02:00AM

...MORE

Ballot measures

Published Nov 5, 2014 at 12:54AM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 10:14AM

Primary change fails — Oregon voters Tuesday rejected a big change to the state’s primary election system. They voted down Measure 90, a proposal to scrap Oregon’s current primary-election system in favor of a “top-two” format. Currently, only Democrats vote in the Democratic primary, and ...MORE

Crook County Commission

Crawford poised to win Crook County race

Seth Crawford appears to win commission seat

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 09:15PM / Updated Nov 4, 2014 at 11:51PM

Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford was cruising to reelection Tuesday night, carrying a comfortable lead in his race against Walt Wagner. Crawford, 36, was first elected to the commission in 2010. A real estate agent, Crawford touted his work on a trail system on the ...MORE

Jefferson County Commission

Jefferson commission race too close to call

One vote separates Brown and Huston

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 11:23PM / Updated Nov 4, 2014 at 11:58PM

The race for the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners was as close as it gets late Tuesday, with Tom Brown clinging to a one-vote lead over Mae Huston. Brown, a lifelong Jefferson County resident and owner of an auto body repair shop, currently serves on ...MORE

Redmond Council

Graham wins Redmond City Council seat

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 09:47PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 12:14AM

Anne Graham, the lone challenger in a four-way race for three Redmond City Council seats, handily won her place at the table by appearing to finishing second only to longtime councilor Jay Patrick on Tuesday evening. Graham, 63, serves on the Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission and Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee. She ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2012. A retired manufacturing facilities manager, ...MORE

Photos: November 2014 local elections

Published Nov 5, 2014 at 12:58AM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 01:20AM

Deschutes County Commission and Bend City Council candidates ...MORE

Connolly picked for Sisters council

Holzman, Asson also appear to have been re-elected

Published Nov 4, 2014 at 11:21PM / Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 12:37AM

The race for the Sisters City Council brought two challengers into the mix and one, retired nonprofit manager Nancy Connolly, 53, rose to the top in a five-way race for three open seats. Connolly and project manager Robert Wright, 69, challenged incumbents Wendy Holzman, David Asson, and Brad Boyd. “Encouraging community involvement in a positive fashion, that will be my first priority,” Connolly said. Boyd, ...MORE