Breaking: Jeff Cogen, Steve Novick, Margaret Carter to run for county chair. Karol Collymore, Chuck Currie running for Cogen spot.

Kari Chisholm FacebookTwitterWebsite

The dominoes have started falling, and they'll fall fast - because 5 p.m. is the deadline to file.

With Ted Wheeler's appointment as State Treasurer, he's no longer running for re-election as Multnomah County Chair.

According to Willamette Week, Steve Novick intends to file today to run for Multnomah County Chair. Novick previously worked in the chair's office, as a senior policy advisor to then-Chair Diane Linn.

Moments ago, Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen told me that he will file today as well. Cogen has been on the commission since 2006.

And Karol Collymore, currently a member of Cogen's staff, just filed at Multnomah County Elections to run for Cogen's seat. Collymore sought a pair of legislative appointments earlier this year, and is a BlueOregon editor. (Per our policy, she'll no longer participate here as long as she's an active candidate.)

Update, 9:45 a.m.: Willamette Week reports that Chuck Currie will also file to run for Cogen's commission seat. Currie is a long-time affordable housing advocate, an ordained minister, and blogs at ChuckCurrie.com.

Update, 10:10 a.m.: Willamette Week reports that Margaret Carter will also file to run for Cogen's commission seat County chair. Carter was a long-time state legislator - and resigned last fall to take a post with the Department of Human Services.

Stay tuned for more on this eventful filing day.

By Kari Chisholm
March 09, 2010
  • Bruce Wayne (unverified)
    9:09 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Novick is a good man and a great progressive, but this choice isn't even close... Jeff Cogan is the best candidate for the job. My disappointment at losing Ted is tempered by the prospect of having someone as bright and capable as Jeff taking over the chair position.

  • Bear Wilner-Nugent (unverified)
    9:14 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    I think Steve Novick is the cat's pajamas but Jeff's current County Commission service is an irreplaceable asset. I am going to support Jeff in this race and hope that Steve, who so richly deserves public office in Oregon, is able to win election to another post in 2012.

  • bradley (unverified)
    9:15 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Why do these good guys have to run against each other? As much as I admire what I have heard about Cogen, I am going to have to jump at the chance to finally get a dynamic local leader in my life. Run, Steve, run!

  •
    9:18 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Karol will no longer participate at all? Or just not participate as an editor?

  •
    9:51 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    not sure why Cogen is "irreplaceable". not many electeds are. some have great value, but they are not priceless like the Hope Diamond.

    Steve's combination of passion & brains is what this job needs; it's what Ted has (a quiet passion, i'll grant you). the more i've gotten to know of Steve -- what a lot of people have known about him for much longer -- is that he knows what he's talking about, he knows how to get the 'roots involved, and that he makes a difference wherever he goes. i'm excited to support him -- again.

  • Alex T (unverified)
    9:55 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Would love to see Novick as Chair, but would hate to lose Cogen as a commissioner... wish we could have both!

  • Andy Nelson (unverified)
    10:00 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Jeff is smart as a tack and an innovator who has shown that he can restore faith in County government. The County CROPS project is a great example. I am really looking forward to supporting Jeff as County Chair.

  •
    10:19 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Best of the best for Steve Novick's run!

  • Joey Lyons old friend of Kari (unverified)
    10:36 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    What a great group of candidates. I wish every election had this depth. Gotta get to the County office to file for PCP.

  •
    11:27 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Aghhh.... too many good people, not enough positions.

    I'm actually glad I don't have a vote in a lot of these races.

  •
    11:35 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    I'm thrilled Karol is running -- not only does she have the intelligence, potential and energy to make a great leader, she's the most familiar with the work of the Commission -- there will be no learning curve, only effective leadership, from Karol.

  •
    11:41 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Karol will no longer participate at all? Or just not participate as an editor?

    As an editor or a contributor. Like the rest of the public, she's always welcome to post comments and submit guest columns.

  • Mike Grigsby (unverified)
    11:57 a.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    As others have echoed, an embarrassment of riches. Cogen, Collymore, Currie and Novick are all amazing, can't we just expand the commission and have more seats on the commission? :o)

    Note my silence on Carter. If you can't say something nice.....

  •
    12:01 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    So that means three bloggers are in the mix. Add Jesse Cornett's bid for the city council and we could see the "blogger cohort" arrive in early 2011. I like it!

    I'm still holding out to be the governor's special appointee as Oregon's ambassador of beer.

  •
    1:42 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Jeff, You're going to have to fight me for the beer position.

  •
    1:42 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Get your dukes up, brother!

  • sparrow (unverified)
    1:53 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    Jeff is extremely intelligent and is amazing at bringing people together to get things done. He has the skills to bring the Commission together to work on issues. Novick, who is also very smart, is more of a fighter than a get things done type of guy. It is too bad we have to choose between these great candidates but I am going to have to say...Go Jeff Go!

  •
    2:01 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    sparrow, if your opinion is common, it's an issue to address. it's not factually based, as anyone who worked with Steve recently on 66/67 knows. he directed his combativeness at those using dishonest means to harm the state. he spent far more time & energy educating the public and volunteers -- and media. he'll do a fine job leading the Board, and it'll be one of the rare opportunities to take a step up in brainpower from Ted; Steve's one of the few who qualify in that category.

  •
    2:44 p.m.
    Mar 9, '10
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    According to April Baer, Novick out of Chair race. My head is spinning.

  •
    11:46 a.m.
    Mar 10, '10
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    I'm in to referee the Alworth-Calhoun drinking contest. IPAs at Cocktail Hour. No glugs barred.

    But on the topic, this is quite a shakeup in Multnomah County. I look forward to helping support the best candidates for the jobs available.

  • Bill Wilkinson (unverified)
    7:26 a.m.
    Mar 11, '10
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    Karol Collymore's candidacy is very disturbing. It's impossible to find a cell in her body that isn't hypocrisy or identity politics. Here's a short list of just the things that come to mind.

  • GLBT advocate that continues to give support, her faith and encouragement to the Catholic Church, the single largest agitator against GLBT rights in Portland
  • Is the kind of person that corrects dinner guests, at a public restaurant, that the word "black" is not acceptable to use around her
  • Thinks that things like the recent police shootings are race, all race, period, but "loves Michael Jackson to pieces". She seems to believe that only the white devil can be guilty of racism. Self hating mental cases are good people, if they're negroid.
  • Would have censored the "Parking Ticket" thread, never allowing it to be published, because the only allowable reasponse is shouting racism, and comparison with anything else is heresy

    • .

  • As an editor and a Cogen staffer has taken the attitude that "lots of people are too stupid to respond to". Look at the number of responses she's ever made to a poster. This is identical arrogance to what we get from the City right now.

    • Bottom line, you're looking at another Sam. Irrational hypocrite through and through- but I'm gay and I'm proud and you need to vote for me so that our people advance!

    The other disturbing thing- nothing against the Rev. Currie- is that our choice is an ordained minister and a practicing Catholic. Personally, I have no problem with Chuck's practice of religion, but again the hypocrisy of the matter stinks to high heaven. How many times has Collymore's clique told us that we need a woman or a black or another minority on the ticket, because the choices don't reflect the constituency? By my 2000 census, 52% of the area to be represented does not practice religion. This isn't a very representative choice.

    (Per our policy, she'll no longer participate here as long as she's an active candidate.)

    At least there's some upside to it!

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