Yippeee!!! Karen's leaving! YES!

As for Rob, several East County leaders have been talking to him and he hasn't stated either way last I heard...of course, that may well change now that Minnis has made her announcement. I can tell you, as a volunteer with the campaign last time, we kept and stored all the lawn signs for reuse.

At any rate, with that race wide open, we've got a good shot at that seat next time. YEA!

I am thankful, like the rest that Minnis is stepping down. It is not too suprising. She was a powermonger. Now, that the star has fallen she has nothing left to keep her there. Sort of like the little kid on the play ground that will only play if she can play by HER rules or not at all.

Today also marks the beginning of the 90 day time frame for those against domestic unions and civil rights for GLBT citizens to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. I have little doubt that they will succeed since Oregon requires a paultry number of signatures to qualify.

For those that would rather this be a NON-ISSUE, tough luck. This will continue to be an issue well into the future.

good riddance, minnis!

What a great session! So much got done. As to the political groups collecting signatures on HB2007 and Sb2 I am still holding out hope that they will fail. It seems from the emails I have seen and the people that I have talked to is that they are sticking mainly to petion drives within conservative churches. Also, from the emails I have seen they are very much having problems with incorrectly filled out petitions. True they may collect the signatures needed but its not going to be as easy as with M36 in 2004. This new group sounds very unorganized and they do not have the financial backing that they had before.

Does anyone know if they must collect signatures for two ballot measures to overturn both laws or can they do this with only one?

Two would make things more complicated, not only in collecting signatures, but also if they get on the ballot.

The chair of the JackCo Republican Party just sent out a pleading e-mail begging for signatures and petitioners. So far only the troglodytes seem worked up about this. Let's keep our fingers crossed but be ready to hit back hard and fast.

Regards

Vicki Walker is hardly a progressive and barely a democrat. Saying anything different is like saying John Edwards has a small house.

What defines "progressive" and "Democrat"----pleasing Portlanders?

I'm grateful for something Vicki Walker did earlier involving oversight of a school district dragging its heels in displining an abusive teacher parents complained about. Sen. Walker started to investigate and by golly, the school district decided they'd better do something. That teacher is now in jail.

What we need is a serious discussion of the issues involved in Sec. of State. Let's say Kate Brown also runs for Sec. of State. What they need to do is state their positions on all sorts of issues, from Sec. of State audits, to what the Public Comm. on the Legislature had to say about the role of Sec. of State, to campaign finance reform, election laws, and so much more. It may well be that I would agree with Kate on some issues and Vicki on others, but it takes a debate to find that out.

WHAT????? Hardly progressive and barely a D? Vicki has been a consistent vote for the rights of the oppressed, environment, labor, and education. She has high marks on all relevant scorecards and is known throughout the political world as a fighter for those without a voice. If the perception is that she isn't a good D because she challenged an incumbent governor, then does Pete Sorenson get the same treatment? Or is it because she outed Neil Goldschmidt as a child molester regardless of his party?

Vicki's had a few votes (nutrition bill, the UGB divorce, and the whole SAIF debacle) that might rankle some progressives, but she is one of the most prolific legislators in the state and nobody ever doubts that she is there on the issues that matter. Just look at the bills she has sponsored. Sponsored, mind you, not just voted for.

I knocked on over 6000 doors for her last summer/fall, not just to block Jim Torrey, but because I believe in her and in what she does. It was an easy conversation at the door.

Look, some may not like how Vicki does business, but she gets business done and to say she is not progressive or a big D democrat is an unfortunate misrepresentation.

James Mattiace

Does Vicki Walker not running for re-election hand that seat over to the Republican Jim Torrey? That would be tragic.

The Democratic Party is in a sad state of affairs if there is no Democrat in Eugene who could replace St. Sen. Vicki Walker.

Thanks for the update about Walker, t.a. barnhart, that's a relief, and I too look very much forward to Reps. Brading and Peralta.

Only 3 more to 36!

As long as we're counting unhatched chickens, I look forward to Rep. Jim Gilbertson in HD 59.

"Portland Dem" writes:

"Vicki Walker is hardly a progressive and barely a democrat. Saying anything different is like saying John Edwards has a small house."

Dude, you gotta get out of Portland a little more often.

Webster defines a "Progressive" as someone who supports "Progress." Voters in north and west Eugene, particularly Democrats and former Democrats now registered as Non-Affiliated, put people who support progress ahead of partisan politics. If they did not think that Walker supported Progress, Jim Torrey would be sitting in that seat today. It's really that simple. Ask former Representative David Dix about that one.

As for being a Democrat, last time I checked the only requirement for being a Democrat was simply registering as one. Is there some litmus test for being a Democrat in Oregon that I and about 750,000 or so registered Democrats don't know anything about?

If there is, I and those 750,000+ registered Democrats whould like to see it.

Now if Democrats like Vicki Walker, Nancy Nathanson, Chris Edwards, Bob Ackerman, Kitty Piercy (when she was a representative), Jim Edmunson, Ted Kulongoski and others like them who have served in all or part of what is currently Senate District 7 are not your idea of "Democrats,' might I suggest that the Democratic Party may not be your political cup of tea. Because like it or not, we are the majority who make up the rank-and-file and every two years or so, we get to decide who gets to serve and who does not.

I suspect that there will end up being a whole herd of candidates running for this seat. And like in the past, the one who wins will be the one the people decide supports "progress."

And like Webster, that will be their definitiion of what a true progressive is.

Why is it that a strong woman with a political agenda who is not afraid to speak her mind regardless of the political consequences is acceptably labeled as "crazy"?

Vicki is cut from the same cloth as Alice Paul, the Grimke sisters, Rachel Carson, Lois Gibbs, and other "crazy" women. The difference between Senator Kate Brown, (whom I admire the heck out of) and Senator Vicki Walker is that Vicki doesn't play well with the Portland political establishment. That's not a knock on Senator Brown by any means, its more of a geographic whimsy that makes her victim a of the rumor mill.

Either woman would make a great Secretary of State and a solid choice should the Governor have to leave office. For me, what I love about Vicki, is that as SoS she gets to wield a big stick when it comes to voter access, something she has been championing for years. And as head of the corporate division I can guarantee that some of our not so nice friends will be held accountable.

Its tough to replace Bradbury, but since it is a poltical reality, Vicki Walker is a solid, rational, and vivid choice.

Stop using conservative smear tactics, you're running the Republican opposition's taglines and the primary isn't even over.

James Mattiace