For the Birds: Audubon Gets New Leader
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It’s party time, Irish style Many events planned for St. Patrick’s Day — SEE LIFE, B1 PortlandTribune THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 • TWICE CHOSEN THE NATION’S BEST NONDAILY PAPER • PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COM • PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND THURSDAY Split revealed at community summit MINORITIES VS. Kitzhaber’s exit NEIGHBORHOODS? alters 2016 election Shakeup may force date for governor in 2010, might decide to make another run political prospects to this time. He passed up a 2014 bid against Kitzhaber. rethink goals, strategy Former state Rep. Dennis Richardson, the party’s nomi- By PETER WONG nee against Kitzhaber last Capital Bureau year, could feel he was vindi- cated. But he still lost to a po- When John Kitzhaber be- litically weakened Kitzhaber came the fi rst Oregon gover- by 5 percentage points, and did nor to resign under pres- poorly in Multnomah and sure, state Treasurer Ted Washington counties. Wheeler said it would “set Will Brown face a challenger off a fl urry of speculation in the Democratic primary? about what will happen History offers mixed signals. next.” Republican John Hall, thrust Gov. Kate Brown will lead into the governorship in 1947 the list of political prospects after a plane crash killed the for what likely will become a governor and two other high- wide-open ranking offi cials, lost the Re- 2016 election publican primary six months Community in Oregon. later. It is still the most recent For months, time an incumbent governor Summit meeting Brown and has lost a primary. Wheeler were But Republican Paul Patter- discussed as son, who became governor in indicates that it TRIBUNE PHOTO: JONATHAN HOUSE likely Demo- 1952 when President Dwight The Native American Youth and Family Center has used some of its leadership grant cratic candi- Eisenhower appointed Douglas may be time to money to help design Thomas Cully Park, under development in Northeast Portland. dates for gov- McKay as U.S. Interior secre- Offi cials led a tour there on March 5. ernor in 2018 BROWN tary, easily won a full term in and both put 1954. rename the Offi ce in time travel- Republican Elmo Smith, who ing around became governor when Patter- of Neighborhood the state to son died of a heart attack in appear at 1956, lost to Democrat Robert Involvement public events. Holmes for the remaining two Brown’s stops years in Patterson’s elected included Ma- term. By JIM REDDEN dras and Wheeler would be the logical The Tribune Pendleton, challenger, because he too has WHEELER and she met won two statewide elections — The hundred of Portlanders who privately with in 2010 for the two years re- recently attended the city-spon- public employee union maining in Ben Westlund’s sored 2015 Community Summit were leaders. term, and in 2012 for a term of a model of diversity. Brown has not said yet his own. They comprised all races and ages, whether she will run in 2016 for Wheeler cannot run for trea- including native Portlanders and re- the two years remaining in surer again, based on an opin- cent immigrants. But despite finding Kitzhaber’s term — the mid- ion sought by Brown and is- common ground on many issues, a term election is specified by sued by Attorney General El- split was also evident at the daylong the Oregon Constitution. She len Rosenblum. event — one pitting representatives turned aside such a question at Wheeler — who had been from the city’s well-established neigh- her fi rst meeting with report- the elected chief executive of borhood associations against minority ers on Feb. 20. Multnomah County running organizations. PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: DAVID F. ASHTON If she does run, expect Re- for a second term when he was The division was most visible at the Neighborhood association and coalition leader Robert McCullough worries the city is publicans — who have not named treasurer after West- lunch session during the Feb. 28 event turning its back on Portland’s traditional public involvement organizations. elected one of their own as gov- lund died — could instead turn at the Ambridge Event Center. It fea- ernor since Vic Atiyeh won re- north and run for mayor of tured presentations by staff members tion-and-answer session held by idea, Portland’s changing demo- election in 1982 — to mount a Portland. Hales told the Port- from five minority organizations sup- Mayor Charlie Hales a short time graphics require the city to find oth- serious challenge. As secretary land Tribune editorial board ported in part of the Office of Neighbor- later. For many years, ONI has sup- er avenues for increasing community of state, Brown has won twice on March 6 he would run for re- hood Involvement to increase commu- ported neighborhood associations by involvement. statewide, but each victory election. nity involvement in city affairs. funding the seven coalition offices The answer did not satisfy Robert was by 51 percent in a multiple- The mayor’s race could draw Several of the speakers suggested that serve them. But Al Ellis, a for- McCullough, chair of the Eastmore- candidate fi eld in a presiden- another candidate from state the city has spent $3.2 million on such mer chairman of the Beaumont land Neighborhood Association and tial election year. ranks: House Speaker Tina organizations because neighborhood Wilshire Neighborhood Association, president of the Southeast Uplift co- It’s not clear who Republi- Kotek. The last such mayor associations do not help the people told Hales there’s now a lot of talk alition office. He complained that de- cans would fi eld; their legisla- from state ranks was Vera they represent. Donita Fry, an employ- about the city going off in a different spite ONI support, some coalition tive bench has been thin, even Katz, a three-time House ee of the Native American Youth and direction. offices can’t even afford printed though they have promising speaker, who was mayor from Family Council, told the audience she Hales, who is in charge of ONI, re- newsletters. candidates for the future. But 1992 to 2004. did not feel welcome at her neighbor- plied that although “geographically “Many people aren’t on the Inter- Allen Alley, a Lake Oswego That still leaves secretary of hood association. based” organizations like neighbor- high-tech executive and former state, treasurer and attorney The issue resurfaced during a ques- hood associations are still a good See SUMMIT / Page 2 party chairman who also was general. the GOP nominee for state See ELECTION / Page 2 treasurer in 2008 and a candi- For the birds: Audubon gets new leader strategic plan, including testing New executive director creatively the feasibility of a new major project: building a new Wildlife Care and Education Center. led Portland Parks Foundation Currently, the Care Center takes in 3,500 birds and other By JENNIFER ANDERSON Thursday morning. critters each year to be rehabili- The Tribune A group of kindergartners tated by the care center’s veteri- hiked down the path near the narians and volunteers. But the The Audubon Society of pond, where Nick Hardigg was Will Audubon get 30-year-old building is too crowd- Portland was crowded with standing. a new wildlife ed and outdated. school groups as usual last “There’s a mallard up here,” care center? The idea is to build a new, larg- Hardigg offered helpfully. New Executive er, state-of-the-art care center at A young explorer at the front Director Nick another location, to be deter- of the line had a quick retort: “I Hardigg hopes mined. “This area is isolated,” think we saw it before you.” so; he sees it as Hardigg says. “Where do we Hardigg laughed, and made key to place it to be accessible to the more conversation with the stu- connecting people? We want a big vision. dents as they passed. These stu- people to nature We’re all excited. But we need a dents who play in the park will across the city. strong plan.” grow up to love the park, protect For the past two years, Har- TRIBUNE PHOTO: it and advocate for it, he says. JONATHAN HOUSE digg has been executive director “That’s what I love — the con- for the nonprofi t Portland Parks nection between environmental At Audubon, Hardigg sees the birds to the people: expanding “People get excited, and it makes Foundation, the three-person protection and advocacy,” says potential to expand access to their sponsored bird walks them think a litle more broadly fundraiser and advocate for Port- Hardigg, who on March 23 will kids and adults across the city, to across the city, bringing their than looking out their own win- land Parks & Recreation. assume the post of executive di- reach a more diverse audience. “traveling birds” to the schools, dow. (Birds) depend on the whole While at the foundation, Har- rector of the Audubon Society of He realizes not everyone can and boosting their other camp ecosystem.” digg helped mobilize a grass- Portland. “We need that environ- make it out to Audubon’s forest and education programs. Hardigg hopes that will all roots love affair for the parks — mental ethic to carry forward sanctuary on Northwest Cornell “Birds are a great window on come together when he helps forever, or we’re fi nished.” Road, but wants to bring the the natural world,” Hardigg says. lead Audubon in creating its next See HARDIGG / Page 3 “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to Portland Tribune deliver balanced news that refl ects the SKY’S THE LIMIT AT UP stories of our communities. Thank you Inside — SEE SPORTS, PAGE B12 for reading our newspapers.” — DR.