Sho Dozono: He's in the race to stay
Moments ago, businessman Sho Dozono announced that he would stay in the race for Mayor of Portland. From KGW:
Portland businessman Sho Dozono said he will continue to run for Portland mayor despite a lack of public financing.Last Thursday, a judge disqualified Dozono from getting public campaign dollars because Dozono accepted a research poll valued at $27,000 as a campaign gift last December. That violated the $12,000 limit on goods or services that a candidate participating in public financing can receive.
Dozono had previously said he would quit if he didn't qualify for taxpayer help with his campaign. ...
“I do think it's important for the city to have a good race. Whoever wins should win because they're the best candidate not by default,” explained Dozono.
Discuss.
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March 24, 2008
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Mar 24, '08
Good.
We need the contest and debate.
Mar 24, '08
Sure it's good to have the debate, but what other "promises" will Sho keep? His word and/or lack of thinking things through leaves me questioning his abilities.
2:16 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
I don't have a horse in any PDX race. Still, it is entirely unfair to hold Mr. Dozono to a promise he made prior to an extremely dubious administrative ruling. The "value" of most research polls, given their track record, is worth less than their use as toilet paper. It's not as if he received $27,000 worth of advertising - which clearly was the law's intent.
So have at it, Mr. Dozono, Mr. Stenn. Just please focus on actual solutions to actual problems. Not stupid insider insults, which is, so far, what the reporting seems to indicate both of you have been doing.
2:16 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
I'm not particularly worried about Sho "breaking" his "promise" on this one.
I'm sure he'd say that the whole point of his original pledge was to demonstrate that he could get 1500 Portlanders to support him with $5 checks - not the technical question of qualifying. He accomplished that.
Back when Sam didn't have any opponent on the horizon, I remember asking him if he thought he would. His response? "I sure hope so. We need a conversation about the future of this city. I don't want to just win by default."
So, yes, Sho should run.
Of course, having screwed up the basic requirements of qualifying for the VOE system, voters should ask if he's ready for the complexity of running a major American city.
[Full disclosure: My firm built the campaign site for Sam Adams, but I speak only for myself.]
Mar 24, '08
The question is not about Sho Dozono keeping his word – it is about how many more misguided political grenades will Sam Adams toss out that Dozono must navigate around. The $10,000 dirty bomb Sam Adams hurled in to the arena to appeal Dozono’s VOE funding is comparable to the egotistical spending on Sam’s own misaligned priorities as transportation commissioner. If elected Mayor, Dozono proposes to bring back fiscal responsibility to Portland government.
3:15 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
I don't think Sho is breaking his word, as he did collect the necessary number of $5 contributions, which was the real test he was setting forth for himself. So bring on the election campaign.
However, I do want to take issue with Steve's suggestion above that the poll wasn't really worth $27,000 and not a real violation of the rules. If it was just a $10,000 poll, it might have been a relatively worthless test of how he'd fare against Sam. A $27,000 poll is a long message poll that maps out your campaign messages, both pro and con, and is of immeasurable value to a $200,000 campaign. It's why to this date Sho (and Len Bergstein, his patron in this case), have refused to release the questions in the poll, let alone the results, other than orally to Gary Blackmer on the phone.
In my opinion, the minute in November 2007 that Sho registered domains for the Mayor's race he had an obligation to learn the in-kind rules if he intended to be a clean money candidate. He didn't. He didn't have to sit down with Bergstein not once, but twice as we now know, to go over the results. That was his choice. And the judge squarely interpreted the law as it was clearly written to disqualify him.
Mar 24, '08
I don't have a problem with Sho's previous pledge. I agree with Kari that it was more about proving public support. I disagree with Terry, though. A meritorious (and successful) appeal of a ruling is not a "dirty bomb." It's a correction of an error. Now, both parties can play on an even field. (Also, legal fees aren't part of VOE money, not that Sam's using VOE anyway.) And I agree with Jonathan that this poll was not just some snapshot of the race, but one that provides value throughout the campaign. It definitely qualifies as a campaign expense.
Mar 24, '08
Since it appears that Sho supports VOE in principle, I hope he'll follow Sam's lead and accept no more than $200,000 in total contributions, as well as some reasonable cap on individual contributions.
5:23 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
Of course, having screwed up the basic requirements of qualifying for the VOE system, voters should ask if he's ready for the complexity of running a major American city.
Already testing out the talking points, Kari?
You conveniently forgot that the chief elected official in charge of administering the VOE system in Portland also doesn't seem to know the rules.
As far as I can tell, Dozono did not commission the poll, it was conducted by an interested third party and then shared with Dozono.
Essentially, what you are asking is that Dozono somehow know what the poll cost, realize that this might possibly violate the VOE rules, and know that Blackmer's interpretation would be overruled.
Yes, by that standard, Dozono fails. Not sure who can meet that standard.
(By the way, since when did we believe that the Mayor in Portland runs the city? I thought we'd pretty much agreed that we have a strong Commission / weak mayor system.)\
Mar 24, '08
"As far as I can tell, Dozono did not commission the poll, it was conducted by an interested third party and then shared with Dozono." paul g
Dozono could have, and probably should have said to the interested third party that commissioned the poll and wanted to show him its results: 'I don't want to see the results of any such poll because I'm thinking of running for mayor of Portland under the VOE. The strength in numbers of $5 contributions made to my campaign will sufficiently indicate whether or not the people of Portland wish me to be a candidate for mayor'.
If Dozono and other people really feel the that the people Portland will benefit from a choice between candidates running for mayor, he and they shouldn't be so concerned with actually winning the seat to the point of going and throwing around $27,000 to hedge their bets. What an amazing waste of money.
If Sho Dozono is the real deal, and truly has something better to offer the people of Portland than any other mayoral candidate for Portland, he surely doesn't need that kind of aid.
Mar 24, '08
Kari: "Of course, having screwed up the basic requirements of qualifying for the VOE system, voters should ask if he's ready for the complexity of running a major American city."
That's the first cheap shot I've ever seen you throw, Kari. Sho did immediately go to Blackmer, co author of the VOE you support, and ask for the City Auditor's opinion. Now, I'm not an Adams supporter (used to be voted for him in '04), but I think he was right to challenge the ruling and I think the judge made the right decision. VOE should be as black and white as possible, despite written in a thousand shades of grey.
On the one hand you're defending the great work of Blackmer and Sten, then you turn around and attack a candidate (who's running against one of your clients) who went forward after seeking out the okay from the City Auditor. Save that crap for the Republicans.
Mar 24, '08
"What an amazing waste of money."
Not comapared to Admas spending $10K to prove Blackmer wrong after he told Dozono it was OK?
8:01 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
Wow.
I'm sure that if you're extra nice to Kari, he'll give you a personal tour of his greatest hits sometime. You might want to pack a lunch though.
Mar 24, '08
I'm looking forward to a good debate, and to seeing what the mayoral candidates want to do to improve our city.
I'm not looking forward to the "My guy is better than your guy, your guy sucks" back and forth that Blue Oregon is well-known for.
Mar 24, '08
"If elected Mayor, Dozono proposes to bring back fiscal responsibility to Portland government."
I wonder if he'll start by dropping his own company's bloated contract to provide travel services to the city & replace himself with Orbitz...though I think I already know the answer to that question.
10:42 p.m.
Mar 24, '08
You conveniently forgot that the chief elected official in charge of administering the VOE system in Portland also doesn't seem to know the rules.
Yeah, well, ain't that the truth. As the judge noted, the rules are crystal clear. I'm still baffled by how Gary Blacker flubbed it.
I've been tremendously disappointed in the management of this program by Blackmer. If VOE goes down, the blame lies squarely with his astonishing incompetence in managing it. It's a strong progressive and good idea, but the execution has been stunningly inept.
As I told Gary back before the proposal became law, you have to assume that campaigns will seek to exploit every loophole that exists (and even some that don't.) The phrase, "No one would try that," should never cross the lips of those responsible for rule-making and rule-enforcing. Shockingly, some of VOE advocates (I remember a woman from Arizona) actually argued with me on that score.
I was right. Not that my insight was particularly brilliant. It's obvious. Almost a tautology.
So the failure of the Auditor to anticipate relatively obvious ploys by campaigns is unbelievably stupid.
I've actually been marshaling all my thoughts on that score for some time now, so expect that post soon.
Mar 25, '08
"Not comapared to Admas spending $10K to prove Blackmer wrong after he told Dozono it was OK?" steve
I looked around, but never could find the bit about Adams spending $10K to prove Blackmer wrong. If he did, and it had something to do with what Kari Chisholm is talking about (10:42), maybe it was money justifiably, and well spent. I think VOE has great potential for leveling the playing field a little bit. It's way too soon to give VOE the boot because of a couple early mishaps.
Now that Dozono's mayoral campaign has officially started, I'm looking forward to hearing him speak more about the great things that he believes he can do for Portland as mayor.
Mar 25, '08
"I've been tremendously disappointed in the management of this program by Blackmer. "
So, should he have booted out Chris Smith for breaking the rules also?
Funny how everyone gripes aabout Dozono, but when someone who is basically a log-roller for Adams comes along we look the other way.
Mar 25, '08
"A short time later, Adams told the Portland Tribune that he spent $10,000 in campaign funds challenging City Auditor Gary Blackmer's decision to certify Dozono for funding."
http://www.localnewsdaily.com/news/story.php?story_id=120605152893114300
Mar 25, '08
I'm afraid of all the taxes Sam Adams would clobber us with if he becomes mayor.
Mar 25, '08
I looked around, but never could find the bit about Adams spending $10K to prove Blackmer wrong.
Also reported in The Oregonian on Tuesday.
The same story notes that the Bureau of Transportation under Adams' (mis)management spent a large sum, several hundred thousand dollars, I believe, doing what amounts to PR to prepare for Adams' pitch for a street tax. In other words, he's been running the Bureau of Transportation as his personal fiefdom and wasting our money for PR. Oh sorry, I mean for getting "community input".
Of course Adams is now commending himself for political bravery for even proposing the tax at the same time as he's running for mayor.
Just remember, the most dangerous place you can be in Portland is between Sam Adams and a camera.
Mar 25, '08
Steve, thanks for the URL to the story about Adams spending the $10K to examine Blackmer's decision.
It's fine to be concerned and question the means by which elected officials get things done for the city. Maybe people that dread Adams are right to think he has spent money irresponsibly. The question I'm waiting to hear Dozono supply the answer to, is how he, with his abilities, will be able to do the job better.
I'm not certain enough about how things work to say a lot about whether Adams mis-spent money to get things done. Maybe, but not necessarily. One thing I feel for sure, is that for example, with the Safe, Sound, Green Streets proposal, Adams was naive in attempting to deal with the Paul Romain crowd. He got sucker-punched really bad by that crew. The reference may sound off topic, but I've been wondering if Dozono is cut from some of the same cloth as the Romain crowd. I don't see how any kind of person like that as mayor would benefit Portland.
3:19 p.m.
Mar 25, '08
Kari,
One positive side of this episode is that what constitutes "outside assistance" has been significantly clarified for potential candidates.
I'm not as familiar with Blackmer's supervision of the program as you are, but I agree with you that the assumption must be that campaigns will try to game the system and gain every edge.
I remember an interaction with Gary once, where he told me with all sincerity that one of the problems with VOE currently is that we allow candidates to spend too much, and that is we just lower the limits even further, this will somehow transform campaigns into face to face, citizen driven, grassroots efforts.
I appreciated the sincerity but completely disagree in practice. If you cap spending too much, you only end up benefiting candidates who can draw upon pre-existing networks of organizational contacts, resources, and voters--precisely the opposite of what VOE was supposed to do.
Similarly, a well-functioning oversight committee has to have some folks who understand political hardball. Stocking it only with starry eyed idealists just won't work. It needs some grit.
Running a city of 600,000 people is serious business, and you have to assume that candidates are going to take it seriously.
Mar 25, '08
Sho has been quoted as complaining that the Safe Sound & Green proposal seemed like a "back room deal." If $100k+ of community input gets you a back room deal, then how in the world can anyone run an entire election campaign on $200k?
And who did a $27k poll just for Sho in the first place? You are all missing the big picture, someone, (with $27k to blow,) desperately wants Sho to win. Regardless of if you like or hate Sam, Sho is pretty clearly in the pocket of special interests...
5:12 p.m.
Mar 25, '08
If VOE goes down, the blame lies squarely with his astonishing incompetence in managing it. It's a strong progressive and good idea, but the execution has been stunningly inept.
I imagine it will go down because most voters, including liberals, don't want to see taxpayer money going to political campaigns. That's why supporters didn't want to put it on the ballot.
Mar 25, '08
I don't think VOE is going to go down quickly unless people that generally have been able to fly ever more expensive campaigns figure out a way to sink it. There are plenty of people that are completely tired of the extreme waste of candidates spending millions upon millions of money to outspend their other candidates for just a little extra visibility and name familiarity. Even though that money might not officially be the 'publics money', it has cost the public big time.
<h2>VOE can be a real leg up for the relatively unknown candidate, even a nobody candidate with potential. They often have little money to run a campaign, but with $160,000, a creative, resourceful candidate's campaign staff might be able to show the vets a thing about visibility on a budget. Reminds me of the Stenmobile; simple, cheap, very visible, very effective, and fun too.</h2>