Margaret Noel, Author at League of Women Voters of Portland

School Board Election Forum Video!

Click on the arrow on the picture below to watch the Election Forum for candidates for the PPS School Board. Note that after introductions by the three sponsoring organizations–the League of Women Voters of Portland, the Portland Council PTA, and the Bus Project–the main part of the forum begins at about 7:40.

Voters elect board members from all the zones. All candidates were invited to participate. One of the candidates running for Zone 7, Eilidh Lowery, was unable to attend the forum. She is included in our Voters’ Guide and on Vote411.org.

The candidates are divided into two panels.

Panel 1: Robert Schultz – Zone 7, Wes Soderback – Zone 3, Amy Kohnstamm – Zone 3, Deb Mayer – Zone 3. Listen to these candidates’ statements and answers from 8:47 to 57:40.

Panel 2: Andrew J. Scott – Zone 1, Michelle A. DePass – Zone 2, Shanice Brittany Clarke – Zone 2. Listen to these candidates’ statements and answers from 59:58 to 1:38:07.

Ballots must be received by the Mulnomah County Elections Office no later than 8 PM on Tuesday, May 21. You may also learn about the candidates running in this election and for other Multnomah County school boards by going to Vote411.org and by reading the LWV of Portland Voters’ Guide, available online or in print at your public library or the Multnomah County Elections office.

School Board Candidate Information for the 5/21/19 election

Learn About Candidates for the Portland Public Schools Board!

Click on the arrow on the picture of the video recording in the post above this one to view the April 11 forum.

The recording of the forum features the candidates who are running for the PPS School Board in the May 21, 2019 Special District Election. You can listen as the candidates answer probing questions, so you can decide which candidates should help shape public school policies in the next four years. The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Portland Education Fund, Portland Council PTA, and The Bus Project.

Here are two photos from the forum:

Moderator and First panel of PPS School Board Candidates: L-R Moderator Linda Mather, Robert Schultz , Wes Soderback, Amy Kohnstamm, Deb Mayer

2nd panel of PPS school board candidates: L-R Andrew Scott, Michelle DePass, Shanice Clarke

VOTE411.org is the nonpartisan LWV website with information on the candidates that will be on your ballot for this May 21, 2019 Special District Election. (It includes board candidates for all school districts in Multnomah County, community colleges, and the Multnomah Education Services District).

Special Election Voters’ Guide

The Voters’ Guide is available in print now. You can also read a copy online by clicking School Board Election Voters’ Guide. It includes answers to questions by candidates for this May 21, 2019 Special District election, including board candidates for all school districts in Multnomah County, community colleges, and the Multnomah Education Services District. Printed copies are available at Multnomah County Library branches, and the Multnomah County Elections office.

We thank the funders for these voter service activities: the Wyss Foundation, the Carol & Velma Saling Foundation, the Sara Frewing Fund, the Multnomah Bar Foundation, and the League of Women Voters of Portland Education Fund.

How to Contact Elected Officials

*You can download a copy of the League of Women Voters of Portland 2019-2021 Directory of Elected Official by clicking here.*

Let your elected officials know about your opinions on how to use our tax dollars and which services our country, state and region need. Here is the League’s guide to how to reach all your elected government officials – from President Trump to your Soil and Water Conservation District!

Lobbying the Oregon Legislature

The Oregon 2019 Legislative session is in full swing, with committees meeting now to make decisions about state services and the Oregon 2019-2021 budget! Is there a program you want funded? A bill you think should be passed or defeated? Our 18-minute Highlights video on Lobbying the Legislature has many tips for how you can make your voice heard.

You also can learn about what’s happening in the Legislature and the Oregon League’s priorities and advocacy by clicking here and here.

Women’s History Month

By 1986, 14 states had already declared March as Women’s History Month. This momentum and state-by-state action was used as the rational to lobby Congress to declare the entire month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

The theme for 2019 is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.” This year we honor women who have led efforts to end war, violence, and injustice and pioneered the use of nonviolence to change society. These Honorees embraced the fact that the means determine the ends and so developed nonviolent methods to ensure just and peaceful results.

(The National Women’s History Alliance website)

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/womens-history-month

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers. The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975. When adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women’s Day, the United Nations General Assembly cited the following reasons: “To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”

National Archives https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/womens-history

Exhibit Opening in 2019“Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote” commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment by looking beyond suffrage parades and protests to the often overlooked story behind this landmark moment in American history. This fuller retelling of the struggle for women’s voting rights illustrates the dynamic involvement of American women across the spectrum of race, ethnicity and class to reveal what it really takes to win the vote for one-half of the people.