House District 48 Appointment - Political Power Brokering
While Future Portland has not yet ventured much into the realm of Oregon state politics, what better time than now to support a candidate that East Portlanders deserve, while hopefully helping to expose what appears to be political shenanigans to take a seat of power, no matter what or where.
When a state legislative seat opens up, often due to a legislator getting elected or appointed to a different role, the party who held that seat gets to hold a nominating convention to bring 3-5 candidates forward that might backfill the seat by appointment. The only people that can run are Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs) from that legislative district, which means they also live there. The party holds a nominating convention wherein other PCPs from that district get to vote to nominate the 3-5 people. Then, whatever counties the district lies in, those board(s) of commissioners vote on the final appointee.
As we’re learning this process, it’s very noticeable what issues are already at play. Both parties have embraced a level of extremism that has driven middle-ground residents from wanting to participate, so you are going to be given at least a few extreme nominees.
We’ve been presented with evidence that looks like one of the nominees put forth by the Democratic Party of Oregon for House District 48, which covers portions of East Portland, East Multnomah County and part of Clackamas County, appears to be registering to vote at 2-3 addresses to run for a variety of these appointments in different House and Senate districts. Obviously this is distressing to learn about, as this undermines the democratic process and does real harm to the communities being deceived by someone who is clearly seeking political power without regard to the constituents they will be serving.
Future Portland has a knack for endorsing candidates that don’t really want to be politicians. This is obviously because they have the residents they are fighting to serve at the top of their heart and mind, and are not running for political gain only. With the fiscal issues every level of our governments are facing, in part due to safety and livability issues contributing to declining property and business tax revenue, now more than ever we need elected officials that are going to buck the status quo and take real action to address these crises head on.
That is why we are proud to support the appointment of Terrence Hayes for House District 48.
His family live and work in East Portland, and he knows the issues the residents of this area truly face with regards to affordable starter homes for young families, public education funding and outcomes, workforce development and gang and gun violence reduction. We don’t need another talking head that doesn’t think before they vote on something that affects millions of Oregonians. Please consider writing to the Multnomah County and Clackamas County boards with your support of Terrence Hays and rejection of Lamar Wise, political opportunist.
Please read Max Steele’s in-depth coverage of this race and issue at his Recalibrate Portland Substack page:
Lamar Wise’s closing comments for his failed attempt to get appointed to House District 30 in Washington County in 2022 after failing to secure the appointment to Senate District 15 in Washington County prior.
Lamar grew up / has roots in Hillsboro, not East Portland.