County will defend voter-approved contribution limits after all, instead of standing on sidelines.
In
an abrupt about-face, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on
April 13 decided to defend the constitutionality of a campaign finance
reform measure overwhelmingly approved by voters.
The
change of stance was announced hours after dozens of reform supporters
packed the board's Thursday morning meeting, protesting an earlier board
decision to not defend the reform measure. Speakers noted repeatedly
that 89 percent of the voters approved the change in November.
The
voters "spoke loud and clear," said Juan Carlos Ordonez, who sat on the
county committee that recommended the charter change. "If you respect
the will of the people you should instruct the lawyers to go defend the
measure."
