What’s on the Street

These statewide petitions are currently allowed to circulate for the 2012 election. Statutory initiatives require 87,213 validated signatures to qualify; constitutional amendments need 116,284 validated signatures.

Initiative Petition 3

Prohibits individuals, entities from using "public resource" (defined) to collect funds for "political purpose" (defined)
Chief Petitioners: Jess A. Messner, Tim Rohrer
Similar initiatives have been circulated nearly every two years, most frequently by Bill Sizemore. In 2008, it was on the ballot as Measure 64 and rejected by voters for the fourth time. This initiative would prevent public union members from making voluntary political or charitable contributions directly from their paychecks. Messner and Rohrer are recycling several of Bill Sizemore’s old ideas this cycle. Rohrer is a close associate of Sizemore’s—he took over Sizemore’s signature gathering operation, Democracy Direct.

Initiative Petition 5

Amends Constitution: Prohibits imposition of real estate transfer taxes, fees, assessments, except those operative by certain date
Chief Petitioners: Arthur Kegler, Barry Cain, James Frick
This initiative prohibits real estate transfer taxes and fees. Local real estate transfer taxes are already banned by state law—this expands the ban to the State government. The Realtors group behind the petition recently made headlines for requiring their members to donate to the initiative political committee.

From The Oregonian: “To some, the action by the Realtors is a bit puzzling. Russ Dondero, a retired political science professor at Pacific University active in low-income housing groups, noted that advocates have largely given up on a real estate transfer tax.”

Initiative Petition 8

Creates Commission Authorized To: Develop, Generate, Sell, Buy, Distribute Electricity And Renewable Energy; Issue Bonds
Chief Petitioners: John Bartels, Carolyn Bruce, Larry Rea
(from the preamble of the initiative) "The purpose of this Act is to obtain and assure reliable, dependable, stable, adequate, economically affordable and environmentally affordable supplies of power, energy, electric power, fuels and fuel feedstocks for the people of Oregon, their businesses and agriculture. This shall be done by a three member non-partisan elected Commission prescribed by Article XI-D of the Oregon Constitution..."

Initiative Petition 9

Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale
Chief Petitioners: Douglas Paul Stanford, William Normal Appel, Phillip Ray Allen
This initiative allows commercial marijuana cultivation and sale to adults through state-licensed stores as well as unlicensed personal cultivation and use by adults.

Other petitions

You may see other state petitions on the street too - those are in the Sponsorship state wherein the chief petitioners seek 1,000 valid signatures before they are allowed to get a ballot title. There are quite a few filed which you can find here (pdf).

There are sponsorship petitions circulating on a variety of subjects right now, including elimination of inheritance taxes, requiring voter approval of gas taxes, restricting the use of studded tires, and eliminating liability in the defense of property ("Castle Doctrine").

You can help us keep track of what's on the streets!

Did you run into a petition circulator? We'd love to hear about it! Never interfere with a circulator's work, but please do make careful note of what they were carrying, where they were, and what they said. Call Liz at (503) 239-8029 to share your observations.

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