My November 2022 Ballot Choices

It’s time again to exercise that most important of citizen’s duties in our republic (I won’t use the word “democracy” here to avoid adding to the chorus of folks talking about its end) – voting. (Actually, I’m thinking that a general boycott of the vote is a good idea, but that’s for another post.) As I have done for years now, I’m going to tell the world (or at least ULE readers) how I voted, because I don’t believe in secret ballots – I believe voting is a social activity, and in a state where in-person voting doesn’t happen, this is a way to at least try to make the task a little more social. My hope is that I convince someone else, or many others, to vote the way I did, and change the world!

Some of my choices are standard liberal/moderate ones – voting for Democrats over Republicans – and some are bound to be controversial with that group. I’ll give my standard sermon about choice – I don’t feel there should be uncontested races, so I either wrote in a candidate (including me) or just skipped that race on the ballot. And I should say that at least this ballot is double-sided, with some interesting state and local ballot measures to ponder, so this Pacific Green Party voter at least gets to vote on a few things in this general election, instead of only non-partisan races like the primaries.

Without further ado, here are my ballot choices in this election that, according to some, may be the harbinger of the end of democracy, and the birth of fascism in the US:

US Senator – Dan Pulju (Pacific Green)
Wyden is favored to win easily in this race, so I get to vote for a Green without guilt. I pondered voting for Chris Henry, who is a little less controversial than Dan, who I know, but in the end, more of Dan’s positions are closer to mine than Chris’s. I especially like Dan’s focus on foreign policy. I think a Senator should focus on global matters, and not domestic ones. I’m afraid that Wyden, despite some good stuff he does, is kind of a standard warmonger. The more folks that vote for an alternative to Wyden’s left, the more he might be inclined to lean more that way (one can always hope…).

US Representative, 1st District – Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, Working Families)
Reluctantly, no Green or Progressive is running, and Bonamici got the Working Families nod, so I will reluctantly vote for her. I just don’t have anyone to write in, though it’s tempting to write in myself, Mickey Mouse, or just about anyone else.

Oregon Governor – Tina Kotek (Democrat, Working Families)
I know many of my friends and neighbors here in rural Oregon are voting for Betsy, but she lost my vote a while ago with her right-leaning, business-leaning, timber-leaning, environment-hating turn in the Oregon legislature. In addition, the race has become, according to polls, a toss-up between Drazan and Kotek, with Betsy way behind. I can’t see any good in the Trumpian Drazan as governor, and I don’t see really anything wrong with Kotek, except that maybe she’s a little too moderate. I’m one that thinks Kate Brown has done a reasonable job as governor, and I think Kotek would continue that, and maybe even be a little better. I hope that Betsy fans have seen that she can’t win, and I can’t see them voting for her with the chance that that vote would put Drazan in. I know this is standard Democratic hype, but in this case, they have a point.

State Senator, 16th District – Melissa Busch (Democrat, Independent)
Busch is the better choice here. Again, too bad there’s no Green or Progressive candidate.

State Representative, 32nd District – Logan C Laity (Democrat, Independent, Working Families)
Not sure why both candidates here needed to put in their middle initials, but again the Democrat is the better candidate. He sounds pretty good, in fact.

Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries – Christina E Stephenson
Again, what’s with the middle initial? The right-winger in this race didn’t use it… Anyway, I don’t understand why this is a non-partisan position, but it appears that Stephenson is the Democrat, and Helt is the Republican. The voters pamphlet says Helt is endorsed by Drazan and Betsy, so she’s out. Stephenson is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Oregon Nurses Association, AFT Oregon, Pro-Choice Oregon, Oregon LCV and even the Working Families Party. Seems like an easy choice. Again, too bad a Green or Progressive couldn’t be found to run. If this race is close, please consider voting for Stephenson, even if you don’t usually vote in non-partisan races. Anti-labor folks running agencies dealing with workers just doesn’t make sense.

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 10 – Kristina Hellman (incumbent)
Of the court races, this judge was the only one with a statement in the voters’ pamphlet, so I’ll vote for her. In general, I don’t vote in uncontested races, or I write in a candidate, especially in court races, where I’m of the opinion that these should be professionally appointed positions. But in this case, the statement her committee wrote for the pamphlet makes it sound like she’s above board. Unfortunately, there’s no endorsements, but there rarely are for court candidates. We need a better way to select these people!!

City of Astoria, Mayor – Bob Goldberg (write-in)
Here’s an uncontested race for the important position of the mayor of my resident city. Everyone I contacted about the candidate, Sean Fitzpatrick, and about the fact that he is uncontested couldn’t believe this was the situation. Fitzpatrick is a developer, and is known to support development, as the current mayor is known to as well. He seems to have been picked by the current mayor and perhaps the power structure to promote development in the city. I briefly considered officially declaring a write-in candidacy, but decided to hold off due to many reasons. I’ve asked people to write me in, or anyone, so that Fitzpatrick and the power structure doesn’t declare a clear mandate. In the end, I decided that I would just be a regular citizen that focused on doing pathway maintenance and lobbying for the natural environment in Astoria and the surrounds, and against development in any unpaved area.

State Ballot Measure 111 – Yes
It’s hard to figure out what is behind this referred ballot measure. It requires the state to ensure affordable healthcare access, but this must be balanced against funding for schools and other essential services. WTF??!! How does this play out in real life? The voters pamphlet doesn’t really say anything. The measure doesn’t define affordable, health care, or even spell out the essential services that must be balanced, nor what balanced means. I guess I decided to vote yes to show my support for a state medicare for all measure, which this ballot measure is decidedly not. I could be accused of making sure medicare for all will never happen, but it’s a risk I’ll take, since this measure appears to be meaningless.

State Ballot Measure 112 – Yes
Do you believe the Oregon Constitution allows slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime? And can you believe that prison officials are against this measure because they think it will prevent prisoners from being forced to work on important state programs like license plates? Changes to the state Constitution have to be referred to the people for a vote. Well, let’s do it and decide what it means afterwards. It would be nice to have a public discussion on prisoner servitude and even slavery. Come on, we’re supposedly a civilized society, no?

State Ballot Measure 113 – No
I’m bucking the trend on this one. I’m just guessing that this is what the Democratic majority came up with to punish the Republicans for sitting out important legislative votes in the last couple sessions. Since I’m a substitute teacher and an opponent of mandated school attendance, and because I just can’t fathom treating legislators like school kids, I just can’t vote for this particular method of forcing Republicans (or Democrats) to attend floor sessions. Plus, given all that’s occurred during the pandemic, I can’t believe we’re kicking out folks who miss sessions. That’s the voters’ job. There’s so little accountability, discourse, and above-boardedness (like that word?!) these days in politics, and resorting to the equivalent of kicking a student out of school for not attending school is just ridiculous! Let’s completely revamp politics and advocate for sortition-based citizen assemblies!

State Ballot Measure 114 – Yes
Ok, this one is another big one for Oregon – gun control. Well, it’s a very small step, but one in the right direction. Yes, it’s going to place more burden on the police. Yes, it’s probably going to be challenged in court. Yes, it’s way too little. But it’s a signal (like our recent drug measures and our wonderful bottle bill are signals in their areas) that Oregon is trying something to combat mass killings and stupidity around guns.

County Ballot Measure 4-219 – No!!
Speaking of drug measures, we passed a beauty in the last election allowing the sale of magic mushroom drugs (psilocybin) in Oregon, and I definitely voted for it! Now Clatsop County wants to delay getting these drugs to people for 2 additional years? I don’t think so. Let’s get these out to people ASAP! What do the commissioners have against magic mushrooms? I certainly hope this was not an attempt by our now Republican-dominated county commission to curtail drug manufacturing and distribution. And I hope our residents will vote to allow these new and exciting drugs to be sold in our county as soon as practical. In any case, I’m glad I get a say in this, because like most residents, I don’t particularly follow the commission, but want a say anyway.

City of Astoria Ballot Measure 4-220 – Yes
What the heck! I’m generally against the plan adopted for the library, which leaves the brutalist shell intact and doesn’t make our local library into a world-class center for learning, reading, socializing, and meeting. I think the plan adopted is way too expensive for what it accomplishes, and doesn’t accomplish nearly enough. But at least it doesn’t develop space that isn’t paved, it leaves the location unchanged and central, and has needed improvements to the current building and associated hardware and software. And my wife and most of the establishment is for it, and I need to stay in good stead with them!!

That does it. In general, it’s a very disappointing ballot, as most are. The soil and water conservation district positions are either unchallenged or no candidate has filed, which is typical. These are important positions, but we can’t get people to take them, and the requirements make it harder for just a regular environmentalist to get these positions. The Astoria mayor race is extremely disappointing, with only a developer applying. I can’t vote for the two Astoria city council positions that are being contested in this election, and these could be the most impactful races for me, since once they get on the council, city councilors vote on city-wide issues. I’m hoping to do some things during the next year or two that have some impact at least locally, and I hope the world doesn’t self-destruct due to the unbelievable stupidity and hubris of so many people, so that we can go on living in this amazingly beautiful and awesome place.

Happy voting!!