Middaugh looks to follow Sten's lead
Jim Middaugh plans to use experience in Portland government to improve the city
By: Kyle Chown
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
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The City Council candidate, and previous chief of staff for City Commissioner Erik Sten, who left office last month, is looking to win the May 20 primary and fill his former boss' vacant seat.
Middaugh said he is unlike any other candidate running for City Council seat two, because he is a completely voter-owned candidate, which has allowed him to focus on the voters' and not the voters money.
"I'm done fundraising," Middaugh said. "Because I am completely voter owned, I spend that time knocking on doors and speaking to voters."
The City Campaign Finance Fund, also known as the Voter Owned Initiative, is a campaign finance reform measure that was pioneered by Sten. In order for a potential candidate to become a "certified candidate," they must receive a minimum of 1,000 $5 donations.
Middaugh has collected those $5 donations from over 1,700 potential voters.
"All the hard work my wife and I put into making sure all the numbers were correct and all the rules that were properly followed has been worth every stressful second," Middaugh said. "It's all worth it because we all deserve a Portland better than the Portland today."
Middaugh was born just outside of Denver, Colo. on July 3, 1962. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1984, he and a friend purchased a VW Bus and traveled the country, stopping in 34 states. According to Middaugh's campaign Web site, www.jimforportland.com, the same friend who accompanied him along the cross-country trip also wrote his campaign song, entitled "I love my Portland."
Middaugh has been involved within politics for over two decades. During the mid-1980s, Middaugh worked for Congressman Jim Weaver in Eugene and Congressman Peter DeFazio in Washington, D.C.
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