A disproportionate number of Democratic legislative candidates have found themselves in hot water this legislative cycle. In a year in which the party is hoping to pick up seats in order to cross the next threshold -- to gain a quorum-proof majority -- they seem to have problems with elections integrity in many of their races. This fact may hold them back.

One wonders why, among the surely many talented possible candidates, the Democratic side has been unable to field a slate of integrity. Could it be that there is such hubris in the party that ethics is regarded as optional? Here are some of the examples.

• Democrat Lynette Shaw running against incumbent Republican Ron Noble in House District 24, which is the McMinnville area found herself making a false statement in the voters' pamphlet about her education. She claimed that she received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota, which she did not.


• In Bend, Democrat Assistant District Attorney Jason Kropf has run into some trouble of his own. After the Oregon Trial Lawyer's Association reportedly asked a harassment victim working in the District Attorney's office to stay quiet in order to help Kropf's campaign. He has since returned $10,000 from the Trial Lawyers, which doesn't look good.
  
  This scandal is a sequel, of sorts. You'll remember in the previous cycle, Helt's opponent, Nathan Boddie was accused of groping a 23-year-old colleague. Boddie refused to step down and he went down to Helt, despite the large registration advantage Democrats hold in the district.


• Democratic Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins is running in the Coos County area against local businessman, Republican Dick Anderson. She has been called out for spending public money on personal business. Cribbins spent over $56,000 on the county credit card in just three years for airfare, hotels, meals, drinks, gifts, transportation, parties and special classes.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-10-21 10:27:48

Last Update: 2020-10-20 20:54:48