The biggest gossip at this weekend’s Rebooting Democracy conference wasn’t about which policy was going to win the Battle Royale (the “Climate Change Package” ultimately did), who was wearing what at the Saturday night candidate fashion show, or what Dan Savage had to say at Saturday night’s party.

It was the rumor that mayoral candidate Sho Dozono—who kicked off his campaign a week ago today—was already halfway to his goal of collecting 1,500 $5 contributions and signatures for public financing, due January 31.

The rumor is confirmed today, with an announcement from the campaign:

SHO DOZONO COLLECTS HALF THE NEEDED SIGNATURES DURING WEEKEND RALLIES

PORTLAND- Community businessman and activist Sho Dozono spent the weekend at several Eastside Portland neighborhood and grassroots events in his race to qualify as a candidate for Mayor of the City of Portland under public financing laws.

Just a week after announcing his intention to run, Dozono gathered several hundred signatures at Woodstock Wine and Deli, the Asian Reporter, on N Killingsworth, and The Bus Project’s Rebooting Democracy Conference — pushing his totals over the half-way mark, in his race to collect 1500 signatures and $5 contributions before the January 31 deadline.

“It is clear that Portlanders want a choice for Mayor and I’m grateful that so many people think I can provide the new kind of leadership they are looking for” said Dozono.”

I plan to head to Grant High School this Saturday, to check out the Dozono machine in action. He’ll be there at 10:30 am, “to collect more signatures and thank the dozens of volunteers who are helping him reach the qualifying goal.”