Well, I'm almost done voting. I'm stuck on measure 65 (changes general election nomination processes for major/minor party, independent candidates for most partisan offices) and levy 26-94 (renews five-year levy for Children's Investment Fund - I hate the thought of another 3% property tax hike that I'll have to pay as a Portlander but from what research I did conduct, CHIF runs efficiently and is effective so I'm leaning towards a yes vote). If you have thoughts, now is the time to share 'em. We've got a few more days before I need to turn this baby in.Here's how I voted:
U.S. President and Vice President: Obama and Biden
Everyone else: the Democrat candidate
State Measures:
54 - Yes
55 - Yes
56 - Yes
57 - No
58 - No
59 - No
60 - No
61 - No
62 - No
63 - No
64 - No
65 - ?
Metro:
26-96 - Yes
Portland Community College:
26-95 - Yes
City of Portland:
26-94 - ?
7 comments:
Ooh... as someone with a "yes on 26-94" yard sign in my yard, I could give you a whole schpeel... but no pressure or anything. :)
What really swayed me on it is the fact that it's money we've been paying all along, nothing new. And it comes to about $5 per month. But I agree, anything that adds more money to the tax bill is a tough pill to swallow right now. Seems mean to me to send out property tax bills THE SAME DAY as ballots!!
I'd like to encourage you to vote "yes" on Measure 65. It's been said that it's a "problem in search of a solution," but nothing could be further from the truth! In Oregon, it makes a huge difference what party you choose when you register to vote. In most districts, there's only one party that has any real influence in the primary elections. If you don't register in that party, you don't get to participate in the meaningful primary elections!
What's more, the legislature has recently (in 2005) passed a law that makes it even harder for non-major party candidates to get on the ballot.
The system Measure 65 would establish treats all voters equally. The top two candidates would advance to the general election, assuring more competitive elections.
For more check http://ballotfreedom.wordpress.com or http://voteyes65.com
Good luck, I agree with you on everything else...well, one big exception...you might want to take a closer look at Measure 57. It's important to vote "yes" on this one, to prevent Measure 61 from being enacted. Weird, yes, but that's how it's set up.
I'd like to encourage you to vote YES on 26-94, the Portland Children's Levy. Tough economic times are toughest on kids, and this program currently helps 16,000 kids each year in our city. It is a renewal of the same levy voters approved in 2002. More info can be found at www.childrenslevy.com. Or, for questions, call 503-224-5160.
I have to agree with Pete. You may want to reconsider 57. It is (for some bizarre reason) linked to 61. Whichever measure recieves the most "yes" votes goes into effect. 57 is the lesser of the two evils, so my suggestion would be Yes on 57 and No on 61. Thom Hartmann told me so :)
I have great fear, however, that trying to change the two-party system will invariably favor the Republican party and dismantle any real hope progressive/liberals have to win future elections.
definitely yes on the Portland Children's Levy. I do not have super-articulate reasons, so bear with me. But I have worked in children's mental health and school-based mental health for nearly ten years in this town, and I see the positive results of these programs. More importantly, I see what happens when these programs go away. It really sucks to get a client and feel like what they *really* need is a mentor or some other program to build resilience and support, not a therapist (not to say I don't try to do that as a therapist), but there is no mentor/program available. So I'll throw money at that issue with no reservations. And dang, our property taxes are ridiculous!
We don't have the childrens levy on the ballot...but it's kids. Why not?
On another note, your ballot has ovals, ours had boxes. Well, more like rectangles. Just something I noticed....I think I need sleep.
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