Portland Fire Fighter’s Association: Why We’re Voting No on Measure 90

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Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Kyle MacLowry, Guest MINDSETTER

Portland Fire Fighters Association Local 43 supports the ‘No on Measure 90’ campaign.  We have joined the large coalition of organizations and individuals fighting to protect the voices of all Oregon voters. 

The measure, if approved, would create a top-two system of general election voting where the primary ballot allows voters to choose one candidate from all candidates, regardless of political party. The top two candidates, regardless of political party, would then be voted upon in the general election.  At best this system has grave flaws.

Here are the reasons we must defeat this measure:  it is anti-worker, it effectively disenfranchises working people, low-income voters, new voters and minority voters, and contrary to what its supporters claim, it will limit the choices available in the general election.

Here are some key facts to know about this measure to help inform your decision:

• Almost every labor union large and small opposes this measure. 
• Both the Democratic AND the Republican Party of Oregon oppose this measure.
• More than 70 percent of the funding in support of Measure 90 comes from three wealthy individuals, three large corporations, and one of the largest corporate lobbying groups in Oregon.  Also, most of this money is coming from out of state interests.
• Similar systems have been adopted in Washington and California and resulted in smaller number of voters making decisions for a larger portion of the electorate.  In recent congressional district primaries in both states, the Democrats running split the vote and came in behind the two Republican candidates who then moved to the general election. 

 

This can happen to either party and results in a misrepresented electorate and degrades our electoral process. You will hear this called ‘Open Primary’ or ‘Top Two Primary’ it is not a ‘Unified Primary’.  There was a video circulating recently which explained a similar system, called a unified primary.  A unified primary allows voters to vote as many times as they want across party lines.  The ‘top two primary’ being proposed allows only one vote.

It is clear that the backers of this measure are motivated by the ability of big business and big money to further the candidates that will champion their values.   They are not motivated by their claims to offer more choice to the voters in Oregon. Big business and corporate interests have demonstrated that their values are diametrically opposed to ours.  We support labor and a strong working and middle class.  This is why we must defeat Measure 90.

Kyle MacLowry of PFFA Local 43

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