Stories for the May 15, 2012 Primary Election
Here are some of the main stories published on KATU.com regarding the May 15, 2012 primary election.
Oregon Supreme Court/Legislature:
Candidates tout resumes in Ore. Supreme Court race
Oregon voters have a rare opportunity to influence the state's highest court as three lawyers vie for one seat on the Supreme Court.
Oregon legislative incumbents face primary challenges
A handful of Oregon legislators hoping to keep their seats are facing challenges from members of their own parties.
Mayor candidates fight for every last vote
Knowing the race is incredibly tight, Portland’s mayoral candidates are spending the last few days of the campaign trying to get every single vote possible.
Portland politics are as quirky as the city itself
Portland is famously weird and fiercely proud of it, so things can get a little bizarre when it comes time to pick a mayor.
KATU Poll: Mayor's race a three-way tie; Fritz Nolan also tied
With just over a week until ballots for Portland's mayor are counted, the race has tightened to a three-way tie among the leading candidates, according to a KATU News/SurveyUSA poll released Monday.
East Portland put in the spotlight during KATU mayoral debate
Businesswoman Eileen Brady, former City Commissioner Charlie Hales and state Rep. Jefferson Smith debated some of Portland's most pressing issues in a high school auditorium on a stage complete with chalkboards and school desks.
Mayoral candidates diverge on Columbia River Crossing project
Perhaps the biggest policy difference among the top three Portland mayoral candidates is over the Columbia River Crossing project.
Hales will remain on ballot after election complaint
The Multnomah County Elections Division said Wednesday that Portland mayoral candidate Charlie Hales is eligible to run.
Candidates 'gone wild' face off Portland-style
Cold beer, hot food, a crowd, and political candidates. Yep, it was Candidates Gone Wild in Portland Tuesday night at the Bagdad Theater.
Randy Leonard throws support behind Smith in mayoral race
Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard said Smith is a "forward-looking leader with the right experience and a record of getting results."
Portland mayor candidates promise more open government
The leading candidates to be Portland's next mayor vowed during a Thursday forum to improve transparency at City Hall, in part, because voters are demanding it.
Portland mayoral candidates answer your questions
From new MAX lines to water and sewer rates, Portland mayoral candidates tackle questions submitted by KATU's Facebook audience through a KATU.com questionnaire.
Max Brumm: Experience no; Enthusiasm, yes
Portland mayoral candidate Max Brumm lacks any significant experience in politics and employment, but that is to be expected because he's only 20 years old.
Brady's New Seasons co-found claim questioned
Mayoral candidate Eileen Brady refers to herself as a co-founder of New Seasons market but a different co-founder says Brady doesn't deserve the same credit.
For Eileen Brady, life experience prepares her for mayor's job
Portland mayoral candidate Eileen Brady told KATU's Steve Dunn during Sunday's broadcast of "Your Voice, Your Vote" that her life experience has prepared her for the city's top job.
'Undecided' leads in Portland mayor's race
With 11 weeks still left until the May 15 primary, a SurveyUSA/KATU News poll released Monday indicates the Portland mayor's race is still wide open.
Jefferson Smith: Mayor's job is to make government work better
Jefferson Smith says the main goal for a mayor should be to ensure a city's government works well and by doing so will help the citizens who live within its borders prosper.
Environmental activist Tre Arrow wants to Portland mayor
Tre Arrow, who pleaded guilty to firebombing charges in 2008 and served time in federal prison, has filed paperwork to run for Portland mayor.
Charlie Hales: Asking for votes one door at a time
Charlie Hales says so far he's knocked on 7,000 doors in his campaign to be the next mayor of Portland, doing so because he likes meeting people he wants to serve and he learns a great deal about what's on their minds.
Portland mayoral candidates spell out their visions for city
Three candidates for Portland mayor say they have big plans if they're elected, some of which could help you with your daily commute.
Some want to expand (Occupy) protest; mayoral candidates weigh in
While Occupy Portland protesters are dealing with a growing number of mental health and sanitation issues at their camp at two parks downtown, a handful are advocating expanding to another area in the city.
WW: Brady argued with police, got banned from park
Portland mayoral candidate Eileen Brady was banned from Waterfront Park for 30 days after a squabble with police, according to a report in Willamette Week.
Mayor Sam Adams says he'll not seek re-election
Portland Mayor Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city whose first term in office was overshadowed by his admittance of a pre-election lie regarding a relationship with a young male intern, says he will not seek a second term as mayor.
Portland City Council, Position 1
KATU Poll: Mayor's race a three-way tie; Fritz Nolan also tied
With just over a week until ballots for Portland's mayor are counted, the race has tightened to a three-way tie among the leading candidates, according to a KATU News/SurveyUSA poll released Monday.
Nolan says she has the skills to deliver results for Portland
She says her background in the private sector, starting an electronics company focused on new technologies in aviation, and the public sector, including being Portland’s director of Environmental Services, has given her the skills to help businesses prosper in the city.
Fritz proudly limits contributions, saying it makes her independent
Even after Portland voters did away with public campaign financing in 2010, City Commissioner Amanda Fritz is still limiting the amount of money people can give to her re-election effort to prove to voters she works for them and not big-monied interests.
Nolan goes after Fritz over new 911 system failures
City Commissioner Amanda Fritz came under fire when her challenger, state Rep. Mary Nolan, accused her of omitting and ignoring the advice of key stakeholders while overseeing the implementation of the new 911 system.
Holton takes issue with Rosenblum campaign money
A month ago, Oregon attorney general candidate Dwight Holton was taking heat for campaign contributions from out of state. Now, he's the one giving it.
KATU Poll: Rosenblum far ahead of Holton in AG race
Out of 432 respondents likely to vote and those who had already voted, Ellen Rosenblum, a retired judge, received 52 percent of the vote while Dwight Holton, a former federal prosecutor, received 27 percent.
Untangling the Willamette Week, Backpage and AG candidate link
Candidate for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is promising to crack down on teen prostitution, but at the same time she has a link – though family – to a website accused of being a primary conduit for human trafficking.
Medical marijuana becomes key issue in Oregon attorney general race
Of the thousands of laws that Oregon's attorney general enforces or interprets, the one allowing medical marijuana has lit up the campaign for that office more than any other.
Attorney general race raises questions about Measure 11
A debate is raging at the highest levels over the candidate’s stances on Measure 11, which imposes mandatory sentences for certain crimes.
No GOP candidates for attorney general, treasurer
The general election is still eight months away, but Oregon's Democratic state treasurer can be pretty certain he'll keep his job because the Republican Party couldn't find anyone to run against him. The GOP also won't field a candidate to run for state attorney general, so that race will be decided in the May 15 Democratic primary.
