We are thrilled to announce the Bernie PDX endorsements for 2016! Scroll down to read more about each candidate.
We’ll be inviting our endorsees back to our weekly Tuesday meeting so Bernie PDX members can get to know them better, learn how they will change our region for the better, and find out how we can help! Join us every Tuesday, 7:30pm, 5040 SE Milwuakie Ave. Phonebank at 6:00pm.
We believe these candidates and initiatives embody Bernie’s values, and will bring important elements of Bernie’s platform to our region.
The candidates do not accept corporate contributions. Like Bernie, they will work solely in the interests of the people. They are all running grassroots campaigns against establishment opponents backed by big-money donors, like Comcast and wealthy developers. One initiative will make corporations pay their fair share, and the other will enact county-wide campaign finance limits, in a state without any.
Our 2016 Endorsements
Chloe Eudaly for Portland City Council
Chloe Eudaly would be the only renter on City Council and the only member to live on the east side. Chloe is a tenants’ rights advocate, and will fight to enact rent stabilization and an end to no-cause evictions to help keep Portlanders in their homes. She supports Community Workforce Agreements for all city projects to provide economic opportunity for businesses owned by women and people of color, and guarantee a living wage, benefits, and job opportunities for underrepresented populations.
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Chloe’s Oregon upbringing instilled in her a deep commitment to environmental justice. She supports a real clean up of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site, and taking action to transition the city to renewable power. As a parent, Chloe sees how Oregon’s schools are suffering, and as a small business owner, she understands how the system is skewed to benefit those at the top. This is why Chloe supports Measure 97, the campaign to make corporations pay their fair share, to keep necessary public services funded.
Chloe Eudaly has owned and operated her mission driven bookstore, Reading Frenzy, for 22 years. She co-founded the Independent Publishing Resource Center and Special Education PTA of Portland. She is a passionate, life-long activist for social and environmental justice, and a fierce disability advocate. She lives with her 15-year old son in Northeast Portland.
Amanda Schroeder for East Multnomah County
Amanda Schroeder is backed by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, Oregon Nurses Association, and eight union locals. Amanda supports: A fair wage for all workers, more workforce training, and better support for local small businesses. Helping kids show up ready to learn with early education for kids and parents, affordable daycare, and the SUN program. Adequate services in East County to help those with mental health and addiction problems, and those facing homelessness. Safer neighborhoods by addressing threats like gangs and sex trafficking. Providing support to help people choose a better life. A push for investment in East County for better roads, safe bridges, and more sidewalks. And a vibrant community where all are welcome, all can succeed and the shared contributions of our neighbors make it a better place to live.
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Amanda is a wife and mother, veteran, lifelong resident of East County, union leader, cancer survivor, and tireless feminist working for the needs of women and families. Amanda works for the Portland VA Regional office. She has held many elected offices within her union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). She was the President of Local 2157 from 2013-2016, and currently serves as the National Women’s Advisory Coordinator for AFGE’s Eleventh District.
Amanda’s strong leadership earned her the Elsie Schrader Outstanding Achievement in Labor in 2012 award, recognizing activism on behalf of women within the labor movement and the advancement of women into leadership roles. Some of Amanda’s most notable achievements include: co-founding the AFGE Eleventh District Support Our Sisters Domestic Violence Community Awareness Project, which has distributed over 1,000 bras and over 5,000 dignity kits nationwide; serving as a member of AFGE’s National Human Rights Committee; testifying on behalf of AFGE in favor of Oregon House Bill 4077, “The Healthy Teen Relationship Act,”; and drafting a marriage equality resolution to bring to AFGE’s National Convention.
James Ofsink for Oregon Senate District 21
James Ofsink is the Green Party and Progressive Party Nominee for Oregon Senate District 21, which is one of the most progressive districts in the state. He has received endorsements by many local progressive champions such as Julian Bell, Seth Woolley, Teressa Raiford, Cameron Whitten, Gregory McKelvey, Juan Rogel and many more. Oregon needs leaders in the Senate who will be out in front championing policies to help workers and families get ahead. With the scale of problems to tackle and with only 30 Senators, passive support is not enough to make progressive policies a reality.
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This has been a historic year, where Bernie Sanders campaigned on a very progressive agenda and helped move the entire political conversation to the left. James believes that we don’t need to wait for liberals to come from across the country, we can grow our very own independent progressives at home where it matters most.
While the Democrats hold majorities in both chambers as well as the governorship, Oregon has failed to live up to it’s potential as a progressive model for the rest of the nation. If elected, James will immediately work towards single-payer healthcare, lifting the preemptions on rent control, comprehensive campaign finance reform, and economic inequality.
James helped thousands of students achieve their educational goals and was responsible for over $250M per year in federal, state, and institutional funding as part of his work at Portland State University. He led the Redistricting Matters Coalition to pass several bills relating to redistricting reform, and worked on youth civic engagement and good government reforms through the City Club of Portland. He joined the board of directors for the League of Women Voters of Portland and has hosted their voter forums during election season. He helped coordinate Hack Oregon’s Behind the Curtain tool to make political spending in Oregon more transparent to the public. In 2016 he was appointed to the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission, providing citizen oversight on the budgets of the largest tax districts in the state.
Yes on Measure 97: A Better Oregon
Oregon has the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. Measure 97 increases the corporate minimum tax for the largest corporations doing business in Oregon — C Corporations with more than $25 million in Oregon sales. The measure requires new revenue to be directed to schools, healthcare, and senior services. By raising the corporate minimum tax for some of the world’s largest corporations, we can invest in the Oregon that working families deserve.
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Oregon families deserve good schools and affordable healthcare. We have the 4th lowest high school graduation rate in the nation; nearly 400,000 Oregonians lack health coverage; and more and more seniors are retiring into poverty. Our schools and services are suffering because large corporations like Comcast, Monsanto, and Bank of America pay lower taxes here than anywhere else in the country. Measure 97 makes large corporations pay their fair share.
Yes on Measure 26-184: Honest Elections Multnomah County
There are NO campaign finance limits in Oregon! This measure aims to change that — and it’s starting with Oregon’s largest county. Big money in politics weakens our democratic institutions, undermines confidence in government and excludes the vast majority of citizens from seeking public office. Yes on 26-184 keeps Multnomah County of, by and for the people by: 1) Limiting the influence of big money in Multnomah County, 2) Empowering ordinary voters and candidates not beholden to big money, and 3) Increasing transparency and accountability.
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Ballot aims to limit the influence of big money in all Multnomah County races, such as county commissioner. Currently, there is no limit to the amount of money an individual or political organization can give to a candidate seeking office in Multnomah County. A win for Yes on 26-184 would establish a new campaign contribution limit of $500 for individuals and political action committees (PACs). It also will require that political advertisements relating to candidates disclose the identify of the ads top 5 funders. The main goal of the ballot measure is to create a more level playing field for candidates without ties to big money interests while helping to restore public trust in government.
Key Provisions:
- Limits campaign contributions from individuals and Political Action Committees (PACs) to $500 for Multnomah County candidates
- Requires advertisements in support or against Multnomah County candidates to disclose the top 5 funders of the ad
- Places limits on independent expenditures by individuals and PACs
