History Independent Party of Oregon

1 history

1.1 2007
1.2 2008
1.3 2009
1.4 2010
1.5 2011

history

ben westlund

the independent party formed voter petition in 2006, after house bill 2614, law made more difficult non-affiliated candidates run public office in oregon, enacted in 2005 oregon state legislature. same legislature disallowed non-affiliated candidates being labeled independent on ballots, freeing name use independent party. ipo co-chair dan meek 1 of 2 people publicly testify in oregon legislature against both bills. meek , party secretary sal peralta lobbied in favor of repealing hb 2614, repealed @ end of 2009 legislative session.

prominent party members include portland attorneys linda williams , dan meek, former eugene mayor jim torrey, , former state representatives tony van vliet , bob pickard.

2007

the ipo certified state elections officials on january 24, 2007. ipo criticized former oregon secretary of state bill bradbury refusing print new voter registration cards include party choice. representative of bradbury s stated decision based on cost of printing new registration cards, rather intent harm party.

2008

the ipo ran 8 of own candidates , cross-nominated 4 major party candidates in 2008 election, including democrats jeff merkley , ben westlund, , vicki berger, republican. merkley nominated party after john frohnmayer, former chair of national endowment arts, withdrew independent candidacy. joel haugen, republican won republican primary in first congressional district more 70% of vote cross-nominated independent party. party asked secretary of state enforce existing oregon law (ors 254.135) , allow haugen appear on ballot republican, independent. secretary of state refused. after independent party, joined working families party, lost circuit court decision have allowed haugen appear on ballot republican, independent, haugen decided abandon republican nomination appear on ballot independent only. startling result there no republican candidate on ballot 1st congressional district of oregon. parties withdrew appeal of secretary of state s decision, after oregon legislature passed sb 326, repealed earlier restrictions on non-affiliated candidates , allowed fusion lite voting

the party recognized waldport mayor herman welch first independent party member hold public office. other independents hold local office robert brundage of sublimity, soso nedjeljko of butte falls, , wayne rofinot of warren.

2009

the ipo played significant role in passing legislation allow form of fusion voting, reform allows candidates list multiple party nominations on oregon ballot, , helped repeal 2006 statute made more difficult non-affiliated candidates run public office.

2010

the ipo became first political party in united states conduct binding statewide primary election entirely on internet. 86 candidates participated in election. former governor john kitzhaber, democrat, won party s nomination in three-person race. 30 republicans, 28 democrats, 3 independents, , libertarian nominated party. election largest nominating process ever held oregon minor political party.

2011

the oregon legislature drew condemnation 5 oregon newspaper editorial boards , 2 former secretaries of state considering legislation have forced independent party of oregon change name end of year or disbanded.