Comments on: Campaign finance watch: Bailey on a roll, Regan among donors

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:48:54 +0000

I have a feeling she won’t, but we’ll see.

Dems and Republicans too often tend to be on the same side of “school reform”. It’s called neo-liberalism if you’re a Dem, and market-based accountability if you’re in the other party.

He may prove me wrong, but I fear Bailey fits right into the accountabilty crowd. He may be more receptive to higher taxes than the business types, but I don’t see him doing anything about choice and transfers. And that’s where the problem is with regard to school equity.

By: Steve Rawley

Steve Rawley — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:07:50 +0000

The overlap you speak of, Terry, is the fact that the middle and upper middle class run the show in Portland. Some of them own businesses and assert themselves as the “business community.” Others assert themselves through non-profits like Stand for Children or CPPS.

The coalition that gave us Bobbie, David and Dilafruz in 2003 is an example of this overlap.

But there are always shades of gray. I’m sure the percentage of Republicans in the Portland Business Alliance is about the same as the percentage of Democrats in Stand for Children, for example, even while they share a vision of “school reform” that preserves privilege and opportunity for white middle class neighborhoods at the expense of the rest of Portland.

It will be interesting to see the names that show up on Knowles’ balance sheet. My guess is she’s already got some big donations pledged and won’t mess around with the nickel and dime business (Bailey’s raised a big chunk through donations of $100 or less).

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:09:41 +0000

But what if Bailey represents the interests of the business community? In Portland there’s a fine line between the movers and shakers, the ones likely to back Bailey, and business interests.

The line, in fact, may be non-existent.