Sten knew he was leaving in November, told his chief of staff, then they all took the holidays off. Ok, fine. But Eric Sten is supposed to be the proud father of VOE. The guy who created and believes in the process. If he knew he was leaving anyhow, why not announce it right away, creating at least the opportunity for any Portlander to seek public financing? Wouldn't that act have cemented his reputation as one who believes in the power of VOE to open elections to any candidate?

What we have here is not about conspiracy theory. Only Middaugh knows what he did to prepare for the race before the annoucement. No, it is more about cynicism. Sten's sin of ommission was in delaying his annoucement to shape the election. Clearly, he believed in VOE, just not in making it possible for all potential candidates to take advantage of the public financing system. Ignore the fact that Middaugh got all those signatures in record time. Just pause to consider how the Father of VOE, a process to increase public participation of viable candidates, made conscious decisions to limit participation that may have advantaged his favored candidate. Then think about a candidate who would be comfortable with the nature of such an advantage.

This is a fun--if tortured--frame to see Ed, Nick, and BoJack try out, but it's divorced from reality.

In the real world, Sten's timing helped Nick Fish far more than Jim Middaugh. If the race was longer and attracted more serious candidates, Nick's wife would never have let him run. This is why he didn't run for Adams' open seat, which was announced months before Sten's resignation, although he reportedly considered it. It's totally understandable--how many times can someone watch their spouse lose?

So when Sten announced his resignation in January, it was a perfect Fish recipe, and he changed his mind about being done with attempts at public office. Short time line, automatic frontrunner, nobody else would be able to raise as much money as quickly, and nobody would have enough time to gather sigs for VOE. It was the only environment he'd run in.

But he didn't count on Middaugh's ability to tap the community for signatures. So now he's in what appears to be a stalemate, and the best he can do is throw out allegations of a conspiracy. Stay classy, Nick.

Anonymous Poster. Yea, Class itself.

A few thoughts here worth noting.

I don't think Jim is lying, or "cagey", but did it ever occur to anyone (including Jim) that he may be a pawn in a much bigger chess game, that he is not even aware of?

Even Jim admitted to me that he was surprised by the groundswell of support that quickly surfaced for his campaign. I guess he didn't consider that it might have come from sources that extended beyond his own circle.

We also know that Erik "made a few phone calls". Did any of the other "Voter Owned" candidates have a City Commissioner make "a few phone calls" on their behalf?

As for "conspiracy theories", I would offer that as someone who spent most of my 58 years in places like Florida and California, where political double dealing is the norm, I might just be ahead of the curve.

The real issue here is not just about Jim, or Erik, or whoever else may be moving pieces on this chess board. The real issue is that the integrity of "Voter Owned Elections" has been seriously compromised by some people in city hall who had months to set up the game before inviting in the other players.

A few people have said to me, "This isn't the Portland I grew up in (or remember)." To that I have offered that once Portland popped up on the national real estate scene, everything changed because the stakes are much higher. After decades in Florida and California, I can assure you that the things some people will go through to make money off of prime real estate are really God awful.

Don't take my word for it, rent and watch the John Sayles movie, "Sunshine State" and take a glimpse into the world that I grew up in. Then maybe you will understand why all of these recent revelations look so familiar to me.

Regards, Ed Garren

Ed,

I think the point of what Amy was saying was that, despite whatever knowledge Jim might have possessed, she believes that didn't orchestrate his campaign months in advance.

Based on what she writes, I would tend to agree. And, in that light, I don't believe VOE was compromised in any way.

Ben (and Amy). I believe you, and Jim that he really did not plan on running (officially) till January 14th. But Erik was looking for a job in July of 07.

Did it occur to any of you that some of Eric's friends may have set this up before Jim decided "yes"?

I've lived through three decades of political shenanigans with Reagan, Bush one, Bush two, not to mention three Republican governors in California. A long deceased friend, who was a very high level political operative, knew the Ford and Reagan families personally, said it best, "Watch what we do, not what we say."

Why else was Jim's work in city hall, and for Erik omitted from his original web site? How much of his "excuses" are you going to believe before you question his explanations?

I go back to my original question, offered to Jim at the CDN forum, 1,700 of anything in ten days is NOT "grass roots".

Leaving your city hall job and years spent working there off your original biography is not an accident.

Waiting six months to announce your resignation, until only 20 days would be left for any candidate to qualify for VOE was probably NOT an accident. Especially since Erik was looking for a job last July (Phil Stanford's column in this Friday's Tribune).

How big does this have to get before you consider that maybe, just maybe, we have all been "played"? Maybe even poor Jim has been "played".

One thing is sure, the seat #1 race is how VOE is supposed to work, race #2 is how it is NOT supposed to work.

Regards, Ed Garren

Ed, unless you have something more than an odd hunch that "some people in city hall... had months to set up the game," you're really just throwing around baseless accusations of conspiracy that, admittedly, are fun, but cuckoo crazy and, at some level, borderline libelous.

And just because you can't imagine a grassroots campaign as successful as Middaugh's, it doesn't mean it wasn't authentic. Maybe it means that your grassroots organizing is simply less effective.

Another thing to remember: If one candidate has an "advantage," it doesn't automatically mean it's an Unfair Advantage. Does Middaugh have an advantage because he's close to Sten's network and has spent years working in city hall and in city bureaus? Of course! But that doesn't mean it's unfair--it means he spent a lot of time working hard for the city. Does he have an advantage because he's getting VOE money? Of course! But he busted his ass to get those signatures and played by the rules. Does Fish have an advantage because he's run for office before, has high name recognition, and a lot of friends in influential positions? Of course! But that's what he's spent his life building up, and he's done a lot of great work to get there.

And, come on, be logical. If Erik's "friends" that you refer to here were setting something up in advance, wouldn't it just have been a helluva lot easier for them to write some big checks, rather than figure out how to corral 1,700 people into giving $5? Do you have any specific allegations? Or are you just trying create an unfounded cloud of suspicion over Middaugh's success?

Lastly, it says a lot if you're going to quote Stanford as any source of credible political information/analysis. He isn't exactly the most insightful of commentators (and I'm not sure he's ever even stepped foot in city hall).

I'm not sure who "Wow, Really" is, which is it's own comment on the comment.

I don't think Jim's direct answer to a question is an "odd hunch." But if we're talking "odd hunches" here, I think there are all sorts of precedents, from how we got sold a bogus war based on lies and greed for oil, to the real origins of HIV.

What appears to be factual is that Erik was looking for a new job last July and Jim knew Erik was going to resign last Thanksgiving.

As for conjecture, anything is possible. But one certain possibility is that Erik could have announced his resignation last summer, or last fall.

Instead he chose to wait until the last possible moment, leaving a 20 day window to collect 1,000 signatures to qualify for VOE.

Why did Erik wait so long to announce his decision?

The whole thing smells, and it is disappointing that someone who was once considered a champion of the disempowered, is now a part of such a rotten mess.

Ed Garren

Hi Ed,

For what it's worth, here's the real story.

1) I had no idea who would jump in the race. I didn't see Nick, Jim or you coming.

2) Phil is wrong. What the WW interview said correctly is that I was approached by a headhunter in July, not that I was looking. I was honest that it got me thinking, but it's an inaccurate take on that interview to present the argument that I was looking for a job.

3) I didn't make my decision final until over the holidays. I told Jim in late November that I was potentially going in that direction. He tried to talk me out of it.

4) As Amanda, Chris and John can attest, I thought it would be fair to let them switch races and called them to see if they had any interest in considering that should the Citizens Commission allow it. I also said publicly that I thought it would make sense to give anyone who wanted a short extension.

Comm. Leonard made a very strong case that ultimately prevailed that no extra consideration should be allowed.

There is no conspiracy here. Amy is right. Jim has a lot of support out there, including mine. You look like a guy who has a lot to add to the civic debate.

I'm headed out on a vacation and won't be particularly active, so I wish you the best.

Erik Sten

Thanks Erik:

A couple of questions.

Who decided to put the financial parameters of the special election on the consent calendar? This included an automatic cash drop of $200,000 to the VOE winner in the primary.

When did you call Amanda, Chris and John to discuss the possibility of them switching races?

In your resignation interview at the first of the year, the WW used words like "ambitious, controversial and Machiavellian." It was also reported that you did not have a new job lined up.

Now we find out that something was happening as early as last July.

Erik, I've never met you, and would not really care much about all of this were it not so blatantly laden with unanswered questions, and sprinkled with the possibility (if not probability) of deceit.

Jim popped up on my radar because of his bragging. He was bragging in the CDN housing forum, and he was bragging again during the interview with the teachers union. When people who have access to power start waving it around, it doesn't feel good. Jim was bragging about the $350,000 he was going to get, and using it as a reason as to why he is the most viable candidate.

After decades of working in non profits, which constantly go begging to help people with shoe string budgets, all I can think of is how may pot holes can be fixed or how many meals to homeless can be bought, with $350,000.

It's one thing to make a system for genuine grass roots candidates to get elected. It's another to hijack that system for reasons that remain very questionable.

While I am appreciative of all of the good work that others have told me of your career in city hall, this exit plan, and the PR associated with it feels more and more strange by the hour. Machiavellian appears to be the word that best fits all of it.

We are being told that all of this is merely innocent coincidence, no plans were laid, no strings pulled, no prior knowledge was exercised.

Do you also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy?

Enjoy your vacation Erik.

Regards, Ed Garren

After decades of working in non profits, which constantly go begging to help people with shoe string budgets, all I can think of is how may pot holes can be fixed or how many meals to homeless can be bought, with $350,000.

Did you have the same moral qualms over the $350,000 when you were actively seeking public financing qualification?

::: crickets chirping :::