Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Matt Garrett, Josh Alpert, Amanda Fritz
Friday, July 03, 2015
HOT:
Matt Garrett
Mr. Garrett is the Director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). When preparing for his testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Sustainable Transportation (that was a mouth full), he discovered the figures regarding reduced emissions were incorrect. Long story short, one number was based on another number. The first number was changed, but the second number wasn't. Oops. So he had two options. He could have said nothing and let it be discovered down the road after the bill had been signed into law. That would have been tantamount to a bait and switch. Or he could let everyone know the truth to make an informed decision. He chose the latter and pissed off pretty much everybody in the Capitol. Senator Ted Ferrioli even demanded his resignation after the meeting was over. I say, good for him. It is not Garrett's fault that the Democrats set the adversarial tone of this session by ramming through the controversial low-carbon fuel standards bill. It is also not his fault that Republicans are all pouty because they are in the minority and have been afforded all of the privileges of that position heretofore. And it is not his fault that both sides waited until the last minute to get together to hammer this thing out. There is enough blame to go around and the least of which should fall on the shoulders of Mr. Garrett.
Representative Jennifer Williamson
It is all but certain that House Majority Leader Val Hoyle is running for Secretary of State. When not in session, the role of the Majority Leader is to oversee the House Dems political action committee, FuturePAC. This entails raising money and getting Dems elected. With the success that grew the Democratic edge in the House to 35-25 in the last election cycle, that leaves some pretty big shoes to fill. Enter Representative Williamson. In only her second term she has become very effective down in Salem. This session she sponsored a bill that got body cameras on cops and co-sponsored the bill that required background checks on all gun sales. She is well respected by her peers in both parties and the consensus is that she would be just as formidable outside of session as she is in session.
Josh Alpert
Mr. Alpert is moving on up in the world. The former Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Mayor's office is now the Chief of Staff. He is taking over for Gail Shibley who left the Mayor's Office to work for the Oregon Youth Authority. Apparently dealing with petulant children is more appealing than dealing with petulant developers. Alpert is an experienced City Hall veteran who will benefit Hales in the next 16 months. Some (but not this intrepid e-columnist!) would say that this is this just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Possibly. But not if Hales keeps listening to the results of those polls he's been conducting.
NOT:
Elisa Dozon
Ms. Dozono has a pretty sweet gig. She is a partner at Miller Nash, one of the top law firms in the city. Her side job, up to this point, has been Chair of the Oregon Lottery Commission. A position she has held for the last three years. Last week those two worlds collided when her firm, representing the owner of Paddy's Old Irish Cafe, filed suit against the lottery commission to prevent the removal video poker machines from his Hayden Island restaurant. If you are unfamiliar with Paddy's, it is owned by the same guy who owns Dotty's Deli's, the lottery's largest retailer. These "restaurants" are essentially video poker rooms that sell pre-made sandwiches and cigarettes and energy drinks and anything else that will give you the energy to keep shoving your $20s into the machines. Some people on Hayden Island saw this as an ethical conflict and were quite vocal about it. These are the same people who don't understand how a law firm works. Needless to say, Ms. Dozono had to step down as Chair of the commission. Which is unfortunate considering she did nothing wrong. Ironically, the residents of Hayden Island have long thought she would be generous with lottery retailers as the largest of these retailers are represented by her law firm. In fact, it was the lottery commission's attempt to limit the number of machines for that lottery retailer in that area that led to this lawsuit and ultimately her removal from the commission. Well played, HINooN, you might have just shot yourself in the foot.
Amanda Fritz
Wednesday morning Commissioner Fritz was in charge of the Bureau of Development Services. Wednesday afternoon she was not. In exchange she got the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. This is what happens when you are not the rubber stamp the Mayor is looking for. You find yourself in the doghouse. Things are already icy between these two and this is surely not going to make things better. Adding insult to injury, The Oregonian knew of it before she did. She didn't learn of it until the Mayor sent out his press release. I bet I know someone who just sent $50 to the Ted Wheeler For Mayor Campaign Fund.
Mike Rosen
Newly elected Portland School Board member Mike Rosen is going to have a lot of time on his hands to devote to the kids of this city. On Wednesday he resigned his position in the Bureau of Environmental Services. In his letter, he cited "tension in the workplace" as one of the reasons he wanted to move on. What led to this "tension"? Maybe it was his "direct and frank communication style". What the hell does that mean? Translation: I can be an a-hole to my co-workers". Great, that is all we need, a school board member that can't play nice with others. I can't wait until he employs his "direct and frank communication" with Steve Buel. I'm sure that will go over really well. And caught in the middle of this potential fireworks display are the other board members. Those poor souls. This might be the toughest job they'll never love.
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