Election Final - finally

How much money 

does it take to be elected to the City Council in Lake Oswego? 

• Does money matter in an election?  Yes.  So does exposure and large organizations that sponsor one's candidacy.  
• Incumbency matters.  Familiarity and lack of conflict are on citizens' minds.  
• Evidently lack of city involvement is no impediment to being elected. Surprise.
• Another surprise - the low expense per vote for John LaMotte, a relative newcomer.
• Partisanship matters.  LaMotte, Gustafson and Kohlhoff came with a defined, well-heeled support group that was not concerned about brining party and political divisions into the races.  Domination was their goal - they achieved two out of three. With Joe Buck, there are now 3 committed progressives on the city council.  Can they set their agendas aside to represent all the citizens of the city? 
• Special interests also matter.  It doesn't hurt to have the Lake Corporation send letters endorsing a candidate - especially if he/she also lives on the lake and support the same causes- or have supporters with specific business interests.

What is a reasonable amount a candidate should have to collect and spend to enter and win an election in a city of 37,000 people?  Personally, I think anything over $20,000-$25,000 is too much.  

In this campaign, the extra money went into some pretty ugly mailers that we could all do without.  They set the stage for Kohlhoff's job to be more suspect than cooperative.  It is concerning that Studebaker relied so heavily on Elaine Franklin for campaign advice since she has, is and will likely continue to work for developers who have and may want to do business in Lake Oswego.

One way the candidates could save a bundle is to not use marketing firms and fancy photography services.  The end products were no different than those produced by semi-amateurs.  

This is a city election - keep it local - keep it real - keep it nonpartisan.

The Final Tally 

From the November 17, 2016 Lake Oswego Review

ELECTION RESULTS

(Results will be certified as final and official on Nov. 28; percentages below do not include write-in
votes.) 

Mayor 

Kent Studebaker....10,012 (48.7%) 

Jon Gustafson.........8,001 (38.9%)

Dave Berg................2,555 (12.4%)

City Council

John LaMotte.........11,692 (26.3%)

Theresa Kohlhoff....11,497 (25.9%)

Skip O’Neill............11,303 (25.4%)

Charles Collins........9,934 (22.4%) 

From Orestar - Secretary of State Elections Division (USC)

CAMPAIGN EXPENSES and COST PER VOTE

Mayor

Kent Studebaker............46,184              Per Vote...........4.61

Jon Gustafson................49,098.             Per Vote...........6.14

Dave Berg.......................8,392*.            Per Vote...........3.28

City Council

John LaMotte................ 9,415.               Per Vote...........0.80

Theresa Kohlhoff..........43,577.              Per Vote...........3.79

Skip O'Neill....................4,020.               Per Vote...........0.36

Charles Collins................9,663.              Per Vote...........0.97  

* Final expenses not yet posted - number here is total contributions.