Dozono staying in mayor’s race

UPDATE: Candidate will not appeal ruling against public funds

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Mar 21, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (53 Reader comments)

Businessman Sho Dozono said Monday he would stay in the mayor's race even though he is not eligible for public campaign funds. Dozono said dozens of supporters urged him during the past few days to continue his run for the office.

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE PHOTO

Portland businessman Sho Dozono is staying in the race for mayor despite a decision last week blocking his use of public campaign funds.

The other major candidate in the race, Commissioner Sam Adams, said he welcomed the decision because it would ensure a full debate about the issues facing the mayor's office.

Dozono also told reporters Monday morning that he will not appeal the ruling, even though he is convinced he could have won it.

On March 20, state Administrative Law Judge David K. Gerstenfeld overturned city Auditor Gary Blackmer’s ruling that allowed Dozono access to $161,171 for his campaign through the Voter-Owned Election system.

Gerstenfeld said Blackmer’s March 5 decision was contrary to city elections code. Four mayoral candidates, including city Commissioner Sam Adams, challenged Blackmer’s ruling, saying it failed to take into account the value of a $27,295 poll commissioned by Portland lobbyist Len Bergstein in December that was provided to Dozono.

Although Blackmer said information from the poll was provided before Dozono was a declared candidate, the challenges claimed the poll violated the city’s $12,000 limit on in-kind contributions for the primary election.

Dozono talked during the weekend with friends and family members about his decision.

On Friday, Dozono said he was “disappointed” in the ruling and doubtful he could run a viable race with the $20,000 or so remaining in his account.

“It would be very difficult, that’s for sure,” he said.

A short time later, Adams told the Portland Tribune that he spent $10,000 in campaign funds challenging City Auditor Gary Blackmer's decision to certify Dozono for funding.

Referring to the $27,295 poll commissioned by lobbyist Len Bergstein that resulting in the decertification, Adams said, “Dozono could have saved himself a lot of time and me a lot of money if he’d just been upfront about the (in-kind) contribution earlier.”

At the same time, Adams said he hoped Dozono would stay in the race.

“I think it’s important to have a debate about the mayor’s office,” Adams said.

Although Dozono did not formally ask for private contributions during the press availability, he suggested he might stay in the race if the public indicates it is willing to support his campaign financially.

“I believe it is important to have a viable choice for mayor, and if people agree with that, maybe that can happen,” he said, indicating he had received many calls and e-mails in support of him staying in the race since the ruling was released.

‘Took him at his word’

Gerstenfeld’s decision came after a six-hour hearing Monday on challenges to city Auditor Gary Blackmer’s March 5 decision certifying Dozono for public financing. Mayoral candidates City Commissioner Sam Adams, Beryl McNair and Craig Gier claimed that the poll commissioned in December and shared with Dozono violated the city’s $12,000 limit on in-kind contributions.

Adams praised the ruling as upholding election laws.

Dozono said he did not even know there was in-kind contributions limit until after he has seen the poll.

“I didn't know there was a limit on in-kind contributions until I picked up my packet of the rules,” he said.

Blackmer said the poll was done before Dozono was a declared candidate and didn’t fall under city public campaign financing rules.

Gerstenfeld said Blackmer’s decision was “contrary to the text and context of the (city) code provisions and for that reason cannot stand.”

Blackmer said he appreciated the “thoughtful review” by Gerstenfeld. “He had all the necessary facts for his final order, and we respect his decision.”

Dozono said he was "shocked" when the Blackmer's decision was challenged because he believed he was following the rules.

“At no point did Gary say you can't do that,” said Dozono. “I took him at his word.”

Although Dozono said he still supports the VOE program, he believes the rules need to be clarified for future candidates.

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