DPLC ENDORSES PRIMARY CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS

At September's monthly membership meeting, the Democratic Party of Lane County went on record in favor of fairness and equal treatment of all Democratic Primary candidates in statewide races. 

By more than a two-thirds vote, the Party passed a resolution introduced by Public Relations Chair Ron Burley, endorsing equal access for all declared and legally qualified candidates in any statewide candidate forum.

The resolution will be forwarded to the state Democratic Party of Oregon for their consideration.  Concurrent with the resolution, State Democratic Chair Jim Edmunson announced that the DPO is discussing a major new forum where all statewide candidates will have an opportunity to "make their case" to Democratic voters in Oregon. (Full Text of Resolution)

State Senator Vicki Walker, herself a potential candidate for Governor, spoke in favor of the resolution.  State Senator Floyd Prozanski also voiced his support and, in his role as a DPLC PCP, voted in favor of its passage.

The access fairness issue was initially brought up in relation to a request from announced Democratic Candidate for Governor Pete Sorenson to speak at next month's Oregon Summit.  State Chair Edmunson refused that request, stating that "the Oregon Summit is not a candidate forum."  As the state's highest elected Democrat, Governor Ted Kulongoski will make a brief address at the opening of the summit, but not in a candidate role.

Burley submitted his resignation prior to presenting the resolution. "So it would be clear that I was introducing the resolution; that it was not on behalf of the DPLC leadership," Burley said.  DPLC Chair Val Hoyle refused to accept Burley's resignation.