Endorsement Task Force Report and Recommendations

On Saturday, February 24, the Endorsement Task Force (ETF) met to consider requests for the endorsement of the Multnomah County Democratic Party. Liz Callison, KC Hanson, and Gavin White were present. Noelle Hurley, Mark Schwebke, and Sunny Petit were excused for illness and prior commitments. Aaron Minoo is also a member of the Task Force. Both Mark and Noelle submitted comments via phone before the meeting.

All the candidates listed in this report submitted responses to our online survey before the February 10 deadline to request the endorsement of the Multnomah County Democratic Party. These responses were posted online on the 12th, and members of the Central Committee were encouraged to give feedback to the ETF. Some did.

Although we received another application from an incumbent candidate not listed here, it was submitted after our deadline - and after the survey response of the candidate's opponent had been posted online. In keeping with our commitment to integrity, and in the interest of preventing disputes about the validity of our endorsement process, the Endorsement Task Force decided not to consider late applications. All parties inquiring about endorsements after the deadline have been told to contact the Executive Committee if they believe themselves to be running in extenuating circumstances (eg: against a stealth candidate selected by the incumbent, or in a race without another Democrat).

In addition to the consistency of their survey responses with the positions of the Party, we found the following to be influential in considering the qualifications of these candidates for endorsement by the Multnomah County Democratic Party (MCDP).
Zak Johnson's work in organizing a caucus of the state Party, and the canvassing, phone banking, and volunteer recruitment that he did during the 2006 election, have demonstrated his commitment to supporting the work of the Party. We have seen that he understands the importance of doing basic day-to-day work in order to accomplish larger goals. We have also seen that when Zak sets himself to a task, he completes it, and does it well.

Furthermore, Zak Johnson's educational background, about which we had not previously known, was impressive to us, especially considering his unassuming and amiable demeanor. It lends credence to his claim to being a consensus-builder. His employment history makes it clear that while he advocates for the rights of workers, he is also not beholden to any special interests. We would be curious to hear from Zak about his reasons for having switched careers. We recommend that the MCDP endorse Zak Johnson for Multnomah Education Service District At-Large Director, Position 2.

Ruth Adkins' work running the Oregon Rapid Response Network shows a commitment to grassroots activism and holding the media accountable to a high standard of journalistic integrity. This commitment to grassroots activism is particularly important in working with the School Board, where one of the chief complaints of the community has been a lack of public influence on the decisions made by the school board. We are curious to know from other school activists in SW Portland about their experiences working with Ruth in schools-related advocacy. We recommend that the MCDP endorse Ruth Adkins for Portland School District Director, Zone 1.