The Skanner News Endorsements: May Primary 2022

MAY PRIMARY 2022

U S SENATOR, RON WYDEN

Ron Wyden can be counted on to lead the charge for Oregon’s interests. He is always on the right side of legislation that has the interests of the people who elected him at heart, especially regarding health care, unemployment relief and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. He has fought to safeguard our privacy from business interests. And most importantly, he supported rebuilding our infrastructure, and worked hard to get the bill passed, despite opposition from his colleague, Kurt Schrader.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR WYDEN

U. S. HOUSE DIST. 1, SUZANNE BONAMICI

Rep. Bonamici has been a steady, reliable force in Congress for Oregon. She was solidly behind the infrastructure bill, and works well with her colleagues. Oregonians can be proud of her representation.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR BONAMICI

U. S. REP. DIST. 5 NO ENDOSEMENT

We do not endorse Kurt Schrader. He was a huge disappointment on the infrastructure bill, and over the years has not supported issues that benefit his constituents and the people of Oregon.

Jamie McLeod-Skinner is a worthy opponent.

U. S. HOUSE DIST. 6, LORETTA SMITH

Loretta Smith is the best choice for the newly created U.S. House Dist. 6. Smith has an impressive background as a two-term Multnomah County commissioner, and prior to that worked extensively for 20 years with Oregonians—families and businesses—on behalf of U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden as a member of his staff. As a former Multnomah County commissioner she has experience working with rural and urban interests, and knows who to talk to in D.C. to get things done. Smith has brought over $50 million in federal dollars to Oregon for Head Start and early childhood education, created jobs for youth, helped seniors with housing and has worked tirelessly for a $15 minimum wage for workers. She supports lowering energy costs by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Smith has been endorsed by people across the state who believe she has the background and experience to move Oregon’s interests forward in Congress. We do, too.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR SMITH

GOVERNOR, NO ENDORSEMENT

STATE SENATOR, DIST. 14, AARON WOODS

Aaron Woods has broad support from farmworkers, school employees, people concerned about the environment and office holders throughout the state. He has a background in business and city planning. He plans to increase workforce training, technology for increasing senior literacy, reducing racial disparities in health care, increase shelter for the homeless. He has a strong background in city government, and wants to ensure fairness and equity for everyone. We support his plan to build safe, thriving communities while meeting the needs of all people.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR WOODS

HOUSE DIST. 45, THUY TRAN

CITY OF PORTLAND, POS. 2, DAN RYAN

Consistent, smart, knows how bureaus function, knows where he wants to go and what he wants to accomplish. That’s Dan Ryan, who has done an outstanding job as city commissioner after only two years on the job. Ryan is out in the community, people know him, they trust him, he listens to their concerns. Ryan, follows through on individual and community needs.

He has worked diligently to provide safe rest villages for homeless people, and continues that effort with six villages scheduled to be built. He has worked to get more funding for additional shelters and mental health professionals. Ryan’s collaborative skills are needed at city hall.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR RYAN

CITY OF PORTLAND, POS. 3, JO ANN HARDESTY

A Self-assured and outspoken Black woman is often characterized as an arrogant trouble maker. Hardesty has not escaped that label, having been attacked for taking strong positions in many areas of policing. She has been at the forefront in promoting police reform, beginning with training procedures at the police academy. She has called for accountability and that police respect the citizens of Portland. And she has been falsely accused by the former head of the police union of being at fault in a traffic accident, when she was at her home at the time of the incident. Other efforts have been made to discredit Hardesty. But she continues to do the work she was elected to do, while defending herself and having to be vigilant about her every move.

Hardesty has made some mistakes, but she has also gotten a lot done. She led the effort to create a new police oversight board, and worked with neighborhood communities to lower crime in their areas. She is out in the community listening to residents and addressing their concerns, implementing solutions they want. Many citizens are pleased with her efforts to increase safety in their neighborhoods.

We need Hardesty in city hall. We need her energy, her straight talk, her fearlessness and her ability to work with her colleagues. We strongly urge you to

VOTE ✔ YES FOR HARDESTY

METRO COUNCIL PRESIDENT, NO ENDORSEMENT

MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSIONER, SUSHEELA JAYAPAL

While Susheella Jayapal has been okay in her job as a county commissioner, she is perceived by many in North/Northeast Portland as not doing enough for the people she represents. Black and Brown people say they don’t know her, don’t see her and believe she is not addressing their needs. Jayapal is sincere and capable, but she needs to get energized and do more for her constituents.

Elizabeth Taylor, an African American who lives in North/Northeast Portland, believes she is the best choice for this position. She knows the community and its needs, and is enthusiastic about serving the people. She worked for former state Sen. Bill McCoy and Derry Jackson, a former Portland Public Schools board member. We encourage her to continue to seek public office and bring her enthusiasm for addressing community needs forward, but we are going to give Jayapal another chance.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR JAYAPAL

MULTNOMAH COUNTY SHERIFF, DERRICK PETERSON

Derrick Peterson has the background, qualifications and capacity to be a good and effective sheriff. We wish him the best as he pushes forward to serve in that capacity. Where or not he is successful is up to him.

VOTE ✔ YES FOR PETERSON