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Political Endorsements

The upcoming 2012 election cycle will include many new candidates, as a number of seats at the City of Portland, Multnomah County, Metro and regional legislative level will either be open or challenged.

Recent endorsement news:

• December 2011: Alliance endorses City of Portland candidates for Portland mayor and Multnomah County district attorney
• September 2011: Alliance begins candidate endorsement process
• August 2011: Alliance announces 2012 endorsement process

December 2011: Alliance endorses City of Portland candidates for Portland mayor and Multnomah County district attorney
At the December board meeting, the Alliance board voted to endorse Eileen Brady for Mayor of Portland. The board also endorsed Rod Underhill for Multnomah County District Attorney. Read more >>

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September 2011: Alliance begins candidate endorsement process
September 8 was the first day to file candidacy for nonpartisan or major party office for the 2012 election and the Alliance's Government Relations Executive Committee has begun the process of interviewing candidates for possible endorsement.

To begin the endorsement process, the Alliance has provided candidates for critical positions, including Portland mayor and city council, with questionnaires covering business issues. Responses to those questionnaires will be published in October.

A number of interviews are currently taking place and will continue to take place in the coming months. Currently, the committee is interviewing candidates for the First Congressional District's special election, and will provide an endorsement recommendation to the Alliance board in October for that election. That district is currently holding special primary election on November 8, 2011 and special general election on January 31, 2012.

Interviews for Portland mayor and open city council seats will happen in October with an endorsement by the board soon following. Candidates for District Attorney will be interviewed in November, with an endorsement decision upon their completion. Other candidates, such as Hillsboro mayor, Metro Council and county positions will be interviewed before the May 15, 2012 primary election.

Two-thirds of the board members present must agree before an endorsement is made.

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August 2011: Alliance announces 2012 endorsement process
The Alliance board of directors will decide in January 2012 which races it will select for endorsements. Some endorsements will be made on time for the May primary election, while others may be delayed until November. The normal process is to hold off on any endorsements until after the March filing deadline, but this year the board may elect to make some endorsements in February.

The Government Relations Executive Committee will meet candidates in January to review their positions and then make a recommendation to the board of directors on which candidates to support. All endorsements require a two-thirds majority vote of the board.

In order to determine how individual candidates approach critical business issues, the Alliance will provide candidates for critical positions, including Portland mayor and city council, with questionnaires covering business issues. The Alliance will publish candidate responses to those questionnaires this fall, as well as provide opportunities for members to meet with individual candidates where possible.

2012 Alliance endorsement schedule >>

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