Alina Harway

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More Election Analysis: What About the Measures that Failed?

Monday, we took a look at the statewide trend of support for community services. In the primary election, 70% of all local money measures passed.

Today, it’s time to take a look at the other 30% and what it means for Oregon counties.

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More Election Analysis: local money measures show Oregonians' support for community

Oregonians voted on 40 ballot measures last Tuesday that asked them to support local fire and ambulance districts, police forces, libraries, and other community services. Several of the measures focused on providing funds to local schools to help with the reduced school funding from the state.

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The Bright Side of Life

Let’s face it, the news today can be downright depressing. It’s important to remember that things aren’t all bad — in fact, there are some really great things happening around us all the time. Introducing, The Bright Side of Life!

Happy Friday, folks! Here are a few (space) stories that brightened things up around the OO office this week:

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Tax Breaks Soar While School Funding Falls

In this time of deep budget cuts across the state that are leading to larger class sizes and shorter school years (examples here and here and here), it seems fair to take a look at what priorities the Oregon Legislature spent money on du

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Election results show big support for schools

 

The cry for help in our schools continues to grow louder, and Oregon voters are listening: In Tuesday’s election, Oregonians approved multiple local bonds and levies in attempts to keep their local schools afloat.

Voters faced five K-12 school bond measure and five K-12 school levy measures across the state. Results tallied after Tuesday's elections showed that 8 of 10 education measures passed.

Our schools across the state continue to face tough times. Deep budget cuts are leading to a still more dire situation for our students and community. Classrooms are overcrowded and class options are dwindling. Schools are understaffed and teachers are overburdened. But this election, Oregonians showed that they have had enough and took action to work towards restoring funding to their local schools. 

Klamath Falls City was among the eight that supported a school funding measure. This was the first time in at least 15 years that voters in Klamath passed a school levy. (The last attempt in 2006 failed, and there hasn’t been an attempt at the ballot since at least 1997.) Yet 57% of voters voted yes this May, in response to the needs of their community.

The other successful measures spanned the state, including measures in Washington, Morrow, and Douglas Counties.

For a list of the K12 school bonds and levies, visit the Oregon School Bond Association’s page where they list all education funding measures from the May 15 primary election.

One of the school measures turned down by voters was a levy in Canby School District which, notably, is located smack in the middle of conservatives’ latest strategic grounds: Clackamas County.

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The Day After: Clackamas Strategy Pays Off For Conservatives

Despite a relatively low turnout rate, the election that wrapped up yesterday featured some results that will have lasting impacts for years to come. One of the most intriguing developments has been the shift in political strategy by the state’s top conservative campaign donors.

Last week, we outlined this shift: conservative donors appear to have largely abandoned statewide races, and instead are focusing on local races, starting in Clackamas County.

Money from Loren Parks, Oregon Transformation Project (controlled by Spam King Dennis Richardson) and big timber companies (primarily Stimson Lumber) poured into Clackamas County to fund their slate of conservative candidates for the county commission. The groups poured nearly $300,000 into the county positions;  $200,000 of this went to candidate John Ludlow’s bid for County Chair.

The goal, apparently, is to use local races like this one to start pushing conservative political positions, since they have such difficulty passing them at the state level.

The strategy, led by the Oregon Transformation Project, appears to have paid off.

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UPSET about School Funding

Last Friday's UPSET rally monopolized the news this week. Missed it?

Check out our video here.

And our photos from the event here.

Why are these students and parents upset?

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UPSET Rally, May 11

According to city estimates, more than 1,500 students, parents, and teachers came out this afternoon to rally against school budget cuts.

Marching from the Rose Quarter to Pioneer Square, the crowd chanted "Whose schools? Our schools!" and "Get UPSET!"

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The Bright Side of Life!

Let’s face it, the news today can be downright depressing. It’s important to remember that things aren’t all bad — in fact, there are some really great things happening around us all the time. Introducing, The Bright Side of Life!

Happy Friday, folks!  Here are a few stories that brightened things up around the OO office this week:

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What Yesterday's Excitement Tells Us about Support for Marriage Equality

Big news yesterday.

The results rolled in that North Carolinians voted to ban marriage rights for same sex couples. But our nation's conversation yesterday was focused on the event that occurred shortly after-- the powerful statement from President Obama in support of marriage equality.

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