So we’re done for a while … until, at least, November. See today’s print edition of the News-Register for our post-election coverage, some of which I’ll link to here.
I’d like to salute those in the Yamhill County Clerk’s Office — Jan Coleman, her terrific staff and volunteers who come aboard for elections. They work incredibly hard over there, a lot harder than I do on election night, which amounts to four or five hours at my desk. I know one staffer over there who worked Tuesday who was there all night long. They’re the ones who make it happen; thank them next time you’re in there.
Thanks also to News-Register interns Jillian Beaudry and Kelly Copeland for working Tuesday night and helping out with the blog, and doing in person what I usually do over the phone.
So here’s my piece on House District 24. Both Jim Weidner and Al Hansen are getting their ducks in a row for the November general. I think it will be interesting. Weidner’s people made much of the fact that one of their opponents this time around had a big union backing him (read: Democrats) but in the fall they’ll have an opponent who is likely to be backed by some prominent Republicans. It’ll be an interesting, but at the moment, November seems like it’s a year and a half off.
As you know by now, the two 4-way races on Tuesday produced two 2-way races for November: Kent Van Cleave will face Rebekah Stern Doll for Yamhill County Clerk, and it’s Leslie Lewis-Kris Bledsoe for Yamhill County Commissioner. Read all about it.
Finally, the obligatory turnout story: At 57 percent, not bad for a primary. It was fueled, not surprisingly, by Democrats who hopped aboard the Barack Obama Express. Curious that after drawing the biggest crowd of his campaign to Portland’s waterfront park in a state that was supposed to put him within striking distance, he celebrated in … Iowa?
We’re going to leave the Political Desk blog up for the summer. I won’t be posting a lot, but when I hear or read something interesting, I’ll pass it along here. I’m toying with the idea of occasionally throwing in a film review now and then - movies about politics, to be precise. I already write a DVD review column for the newspaper, but I’m not limited here by the 3-paragraph format, so I might give that a try.
Enjoy the upcoming campaign advertising-free 3-day weekend!
5 responses so far ↓
1 jonesjones // May 24, 2008 at 9:38 am
Kris Bledsoe has her work cut out for her if she wishes to defeat Lewis in November. I guess Donna did Kris a favor by partially splitting the votes and keeping Lewis under 50%.
2 eyes r open // May 25, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I notice Mr Bates throws out that Al Hanson ” is likely to be backed by some prominent Republicans” I will believe it when I see it quoted in writing. Typical rumors from the paper. So Mr. Bates, tell us who they are, Yamhill county wants to know!!! Please lets deal with facts not guesses or rumors. Thanks
3 David Bates // May 26, 2008 at 8:08 am
That Al Hansen “is likely to be backed by some prominent Republicans” is a fact. The name of one of them was reported Feb. 23 on the front page of the News-Register. I agreed to get additional names so long as it remained off-record until they had given their consent.
I would extend this “off-record” courtesy to any candidate who was in the process of securing endorsements. People sometimes wish to speak openly without having their name published. This is a courtesy we grant those who post on this board, and you obviously have no qualms about using it.
4 Kris // May 27, 2008 at 11:40 am
Yes, Kris does have her work cut out for her in November. However, she is up to the task. Kris, that’s me, has a blog with a poll re the bypass. Check it out and vote. This will help me get a sense for public views, not the views of a few vocal people. The site address: http://www.krisbledsoecommissioner.com/
5 jonesjones // May 28, 2008 at 10:22 pm
The solution is not alternative means of transportation, but alternative sources of fuel. The population is growing. Automobile sales continue to climb. Americans love their cars, and NO effort by well-intentioned but myopically naive opponents to cars is going to change that. This must be clearly understood.
What needs to change is the fuel. Dr. Scott Gibson reported to the McMinnville Rotary Club that bio-diesel derived from algae(!) could supply 100% of America’s transportation fuel needs, and that the production of this fuel would take up a minimal amount of land/water area. Ethanol could be more efficiently derived from sugar can or switchgrass than corn. Hydrogen power is a “tailpipe dream”. Electricity as a fuel source will not be widespread until the technology of battery development improves dramatically.
I repeat, cars are not the enemy. The fuel that powers them IS. The roads must be built. The by-pass should have been built 30 years ago.
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