The Tomei rumor is interesting, since her and Rosenbaum make up Brown's senate seat. I wonder if the rumor turns out to be that she isn't running for the house seat because she is going to go for the senate seat. I'm not sure Rosenbaum is ready to leave the house, since she is in a leadership position.

And don't forget that State Representative Greg Macpherson is rumored to be looking at the AG race.

I've also heard rumors about some other potential openings in the Portland metro area. It was obvious looking around Emerging Leaders Day at the state capitol that others knew about those rumors too, based on the house districts represented.

This could be an extremely busy primary season in Portland next year. We'll have county commission, Portland mayor, Portland city council, plus several house and senate seats.

It's a great opportunity for up-and-coming leaders in the Portland metro area to seriously consider running for office next year. Now is the time to do it, since many of these races will be decided in May, which is less than a year away.

Our top target is Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith. His attempt to portray himself as a moderate flies in the face of his actual votes. Between 2003 and 2007 Mr. Smith has voted 20 times in support of the Iraq War. He has, with his fellow Republicans, obstructed almost every bill in the Senate since the Democrats became the majority party. His attempts to reinvent himself the minute his plane lands in Oregon as a Blue State Republican now translates into "He's a right-wing Bush backer and a fake advocate for ending the Iraq War." He's pandering to the Democrats.

Interesting that Scott doesn't mention himself or Donna Nelson as likely retirements...

Plus, I'm pretty sure that Brian Boquist has announced his retirement from politics. At least, that's what the Oregonian reported:

"The Democrats came in with an agenda, and they left with the agenda complete," said Rep. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas. An Army reservist who served multiple tours in Iraq, Boquist was considered a rising star in the party. But as the session came to a close, a dispirited Boquist announced his retirement from politics. "You get to the point of, is it worth it?" Boquist said.

From WW Murmors:

State Sen. Avel Gordly 's announcement that she won't seek re-election next year has set off a chain-reaction fire alarm in the independent's Northeast Portland district. Although nothing is official yet, Democratic Rep. Jackie Dingfelder is expected to run for Gordly's Senate seat. And that would open a House seat for several wannabes. Included in that mix of possibles are the Bus Project's Jefferson Smith; Chris Garrett, a lawyer at Perkins Coie and former aide to Senate President Peter Courtney; Portland Community College English instructor Michael Dembrow; and Cyreena Boston, who's worked as the constituency director for the Democratic Party of Oregon.

There are a lot of shockers, but none more then that of Minnis retiring. I'll give 5-1 odds that she becomes a political consultant. Anyone willing to take the bet?

I used to be in Carolyn Tomei's district when I was in Milwaukie. It wouldn't suprise me if she opted to run for Brown's vacant seat in the Senate.

It seems like 2008 will be the year of musical chairs in terms of political seats in Oregon.

Chuck Burley, Patti Smith, and John Dallum are also likely to leave. They might lose one third of their entire caucus.

"Insider" (if indeed your are), please, please, please, tell me what you know about Patti Smith retiring. I've heard this rumor from a few sources, but no one offers any quotes, statements, actions, or anything else to bolster the rumor.

Offer some hope to those of us that have campaigned against her for the last three cycles.

Rosenbaum has never even said she's thinking about running for the Senate. Just throwing that out there.

Seriously.

I live in District 45 (Jackie Dingfelder's district) and it's going to be an interesting and fun primary season. I've gotten to know Cyreena Boston through her work at the DPO, and she just left her job there to avoid conflict of interest. It's no rumour that she plans to run for the seat. She's doing it.

I think she's a good fit for the district.

I agree with Jenny G. Cyreena is a great fit for the district, she's been in touch with what's going on there, has been listening to constituents there for some time now, etc.

I've gotten to know Cyreena through her work at the DPO, and I think she would make an excellent state representative.

Patton:

With the news of Kate Brown not running again being so sudden (unlike Gordly, which we've known about for some time), I'm sure Rosenbaum hasn't talked about running for the State Senate. Until now, it wasn't open.

FYI: Patton Price was Diane Rosenbaum's aide during this last session. If anyone would know her plans, Patton would.

I'm sure he does know her plans. I'm just saying that since it was apparently a surprise to many in the legislature about Brown's departure, Rosenbaum wouldn't have even thought about it until now.

Although I'd be surprised to see her run for the Senate. She's in a great leadership position.

I should have also said I knew that about Patton Price, since I've received at least one e-mail from Patton during the session. Rosenbaum's committee was hearing a bill that was important to me - same day voter registration.

And hey--if Rep. Rosenbaum had said "I am not going to run," I would be passing that along. My point is not that it is impossible that she would do it, only that those who are taking it as a foregone conclusion are talking out of their asses. That being said, I would be very surprised if she took a serious look at that seat.