citizen power Archives

Thorough Public Process – Key to Code Change

On November 12, 2019, the League submitted comments to the City Council about the process for changing City Code Chapter 3.96. This part of the City Code governs the way the Office of Community and Civic Life engages with people in Portland. Action Chair Debbie Aiona also testified at the Council’s November 14 hearing.

The City Council resolution calls for a multi-bureau work group to carry out the next phase of this process. The League urges opening the work group’s meetings to the public for observation. We also recommend following up the work group’s proposals with a thorough public process that includes a broad group of Portlanders.

You can read our testimony here.

Campaign Finance Reform Forums

Are you worried about the influence of BIG money on politics? The League is! Come weigh in on next steps for campaign finance reform in Oregon.

Representative Dan Rayfield, who helped lead the charge for campaign finance reform in the 2019 Legislature, is hosting a series of forums around Oregon.

PORTLAND AREA FORUMS

Tuesday, September 10th, from 7:00-8:30pm
Clackamas Community College, Harmony Community Room–7738 SE Harmony Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222;
OR Wednesday, September 11th, from 6:00-7:45pm
Midland Library –805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233

What will be covered

Each forum will include:

a 20-minute presentation on the history and politics of campaign finance reform in Oregon
a 20-minute discussion of the recently passed campaign finance reform legislation
a 40-minute community discussion on various campaign finance limit goals and proposals

Oregon is one of five states without campaign contribution limits.

“We believe this statewide tour will help drive a local conversation about campaign finance reform and keep pressure on the legislature to pass a campaign contribution limits,” said Rebecca Gladstone, President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon.

“We made real progress on campaign finance reform during the session, but it’s not enough,” said Rayfield.“We need to do more in 2020 and I want to hear directly from Oregonians on what they want their campaign finance system to look like.”

see what the League is doing

The League of Women Voters of Portland and the Oregon LWV have filed a “Friend of the Court” brief in the Oregon Supreme Court. It supports the campaign contribution limits passed by voters in Multnomah County. See our earlier post here.

More Events

See the list of Upcoming Events in our sidebar to the right.

August 26 on the Portland Police Association contract
September 16 on Innovations in Education

New Directory of Elected Officials – Your Voice Counts

Want to ask or comment about what’s happening in your community? Concerned about state and national issues? Download your copy of the July 1 edition of the LWVPDX Multnomah County Directory of Elected Officials here.

The Directory of Elected Officials has phone numbers, email addresses and websites for government officials serving the people of Multnomah County. We just updated it by adding the new school board members who took office on July 1.

You can find how to contact President Trump, your U.S. Senators and Representatives, as well as state legislators, county, and city officials. You have a right to speak out on issues that concern you. Let your government know your questions and thoughts.

More Info

You can also find information in this directory about registering to vote. And there’s more contact info on this website under Advocate, Contact Elected Officials and also lots of voting info under Vote.

Make your voice heard and your vote count with information from the League of Women Voters!

New LWVPDX 2019-20 Board

At our May 13 Local Convention of LWV of Portland members, we elected a new board president and new members of the Portland Board. All these leaders are volunteers. They serve our community by providing civic and voter information and advocacy for the public good.

The new Board and other leaders for the League of Women Voters of Portland (L-R top row: Marion McNamara, Adrienne Aiona, Amber Nobe, Judy Froemke, Carol Cushman, Eileen Chase, Debbie Aiona; L-R bottom row: Peter Englander, Debbie Kaye, Linda Mantel, Margaret Noel, Maud Naroll, Nancy Donovan, Anne Davidson. Missing Kim Mason, Phil Thor). Our new president, Debbie Kaye, is holding the bouquet of yellow roses.

You may read the profiles of all the 2019-20 League Leaders on our Meet the Board page here.

You also may see more about what happened at our 2019 Convention by clicking here.

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!