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August far from political doldrums in Portland

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles over the coming months that will explore ballot measures Oregonians must decide upon in November.

By Dave Mazza

As this issue of The Portland Alliance goes to press, election officials at the city, county and state are busily poring over initiative petitions to determine which will make the leap to ballot measure. While election officers may take up to 30 days to qualify an initiative petition for the ballot, some high profile initiatives can already be counted to qualify based on the huge number of signatures turned in by the campaigns. Once again, Oregonians will be crafting policy by ballot on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to yet another round of “tax reform” when they cast their vote.

At the state level, the most amazing - and troubling - accomplishment was the collection of 244,587 signatures in under five weeks to qualify Petition 150, better known as the “Defense of Marriage Initiative, for the ballot. Only 100,840 signatures are needed to qualify a proposed amendment to the state constitution. If adopted, the ballot measure would amend the Oregon Constitution, making “only marriage between one man and one woman” as valid “or legally recognized as marriage.” The measure fills the hole that currently exists in the state constitution’s definition of marriage and closes the door of equal access by which the county issued licenses to same-sex couples.

This countermove against the opening of marital rights to lesbians and gays earlier this year by the Multnomah County Board of Directors was led by the Defense of Marriage Coalition, the brainchild of Pastor Dennis R. Tuuri and Kent Walton. Tuuri, the executive director of the Parents’ Education Association Political Action Committee, or PEAPAC, has been a key figure in Oregon’s Christian Right since the mid-80s. As leader of PEAPAC, Tuuri has been a champion of Christian home schooling, the insertion of Christian belief into public school curriculum, and, of course, the elimination of un-Christian principals such as same-sex marriage. Tuuri also participated in two unsuccessful attempts to recall Governor Barbara Roberts in 1992. PEAPAC and Tuuri both are closely affiliated with the Oregon Family Council, another coalition of politically active Christian Right churches best known for a Christian voters guide. Walton, though lacking Tuuri’s celebrity has also served his time in trenches of Oregon’s religious wars.

It comes as no surprise that the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community and other progressives are already organizing for the struggle over the next three months. Basic Rights Oregon, the lead organization in pushing Multnomah County into issuing licenses, is marshalling its forces, including retaining top political guns like Liz Kauffman. Some within the campaign say Basic Rights Oregon plans a campaign emphasizing the lack of difference between heterosexual and same-sex couples, not unlike the “equal rights” message of the historic Measure 9 fight. But some of these same sources expressed concern that this was a far different fight. Religious belief draws a different response than issues of equality in the workplace, for example. Even church leaders who traditionally support progressive causes, like Sr. Pastor T. Allen Bethel of Maranatha Lutheran Church, have come out against same-sex marriage. One fact with which everyone agrees is that this is going to be brutal trench by trench fighting that will leave scars on Oregon’s body politic for years to come.

Initiative Petition 36 is another measure arriving with a hefty safety margin. Known as “Son of 7” - the “takings” initiative that was passed by Oregon voters in 2002 but overturned by the Oregon Supreme Court on technical grounds - the “Measure Requiring Compensation for Regulations Taking Value of Property” campaign turned in 146,495 signatures for this proposed statutory change. Only 75,630 signatures are required for statutory initiatives to qualify for the ballot.

Sisters, Oregon property owners Eugene Prete, Barbara Prete and Dorothy English are the chief petitioners of this measure, but the author and organizer behind it is Oregonians in Action, the lands rights group that has been fighting to dismantle the state’s land use system for over 15 years. Like the group’s previous efforts, this initiative petition would require government to pay “fair market value” for property effected by government regulation. The government can set aside the regulation in lieu of enforcement. This measure would not only attack government’s ability to regulate property use by creating a higher level of compensation than under the “takings” protections of the Fifth Amendment, it would have a chilling effect on governments’ willingness to enforce or pass new land use laws.

Oregonians in Action are confident they have drafted a challenge-free measure this time. This is especially troubling since opposition to “Son of 7” does not appear to be closing ranks. One Thousand Friends of Oregon, the land use group that led the defense of Oregon’s land use system for 15 years is, according to some members who asked not to be identified, suffering financial difficulties and lacks the funds needed to take on Oregonians in Action.

At the county level, Don McIntire, Oregon’s second-best known “tax activist,” turned in over 21,000 signatures for his tax repeal measure on July 6. The county requires only 14,714 signatures for a county initiative to qualify for the ballot. Reacting to what he says was “sticker shock” for most people, McIntire would eliminate the second and third year of the three-year 1.25 income tax increase Multnomah County voters approved earlier this year. That would eliminate $118 million each year, of which a significant portion was earmarked for public schools. McIntire believes that people will support the recall because the amount assessed proved far higher that what the county predicted, coupled with recent events which suggest County Chair Diane Linn has not responsibly handled public tax dollars.

As with the land use measure, opposition to McIntire has not yet come together. Whether it will remains to be seen. Money is tighter all around and people are feeling the stress of the long economic downturn.

Getting measures qualified, of course, is not the same as winning an election. Having reached their base, these petitioners must now identify likely new supporters and what messages will move them to cast their vote in favor of the petitioners. It is in these areas that the grassroots groups have not excelled in the past and may not do so today. Then again, even if these measures fail to pass, they will have placed progressives on the defensive, fighting fights in which they would rather not be involved. These measures also provide opportunities to keep the progressive community from being proactive.

Dave Mazza is The Portland Alliance editor.

 

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Last Updated: August 3, 2004