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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2001)
T esbian activist Jordana Sardo is a passionate, dedicated woman who has found herself in a ... . tedious court battle with the state of Oregon. She is attempting to land a sprit on the ballot as a Freedom Social Freedom Socialist Party ist Party candidate for state repre sentative in 2002. However, her fights to run lesbian candidate campaign is being thwarted hy a in 2 0 0 2 by Sarah Leimert 95-year-old law championed by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Meyers and basically working for the Secretary of State Bill Bradbury. same boss," she says. “It’s The Freedom Socialists, founded in 1965, have not...so much that they been stmggling for years to be listed on the ballot. are protecting the Socialist Until recently, the party was stopped by Oregon Party. What they claim to A 95-year-old law is keeping Jordana Sardo from launching her campaign Revised Statue 248.010 from running candidates be doing is protecting vot because its name contains the word “socialist.” Sardo would like to see a candidate elected ers who would be evidently confused by having a The law states that an existing party has to create a multi-issue movement. One of her Socialist Party candidate and a Freedom Socialist exclusive rights to the use of all words in its Party candidate. That’s assuming that the voting main criticisms of existing parties is that community is pretty stupid, which we think is very although they might be passionate about a sin name and prohibits another party with even one condescending.” word in common from qualifying for ballot gle topic, other important matters typically fall access. The Freedom Socialists had a brief victo According to Sardo, the Socialist Party gives by the wayside. “I think we need someone in ry in Febmary when the law was declared full support to the Freedom Socialist Party’s there who is going to be willing to really stand unconstitutional by Multnomah County Circuit up and fight for gay rights, equal rights, health efforts to be legitimized. Court Judge Robert Redding. care, child care, a civilian police review board— “They actually told us about the law,” she says. to really take an open, militant and multi-issue However, the state filed an appeal in March, “When we filed our lawsuit ... they signed on as effectively keeping the party off the ballot until the supporters. In their opinion, we need more social stand on these issues,” she says. According to Sardo, a unified front is the case is settled. Meanwhile, the Freedom Socialists ist candidates, and it’s not about one party being are gathering an impressive list of endorsements j better than the other. It’s about trying to get more only way to create change in a capitalist society socialists on the ballot.” that leaves many people behind. Her party and building a constituency in the community, and works with labor unions on improving worker leaders have no intention of giving up. Sardo distinguishes the Freedom Socialists Although the state claims the law exists to from the Socialists: “FSP is what we call a van rights and emphasizes leadership training for those most oppressed under capitalism. prevent voter confusion, Sardo believes it is guard party. It’s a leadership party, and it has as “One of the things that I want to do is merely another tool used to keep minor parties its program a socialist-feminist approach address the fact that the sexual minority com to...global liberation. We say that feminism and off the ballot. socialism are interconnected and that you can munity does not have any representatives in the “Minor parties pose a particular threat to the state Legislature who are willing to go up against not get one without the other.” twin parties or solo parties, and we think they are B a llo t B attle Injured? . sociate Broker M It* 1x0 M ie te t n e o ceC M te n Hala Gores, P.C. Attorney at Law Free C onsultation tWe E-m ail her at scleimert@earthlink.net. ~ 503 / WADDELL Financial Services' In vesting. With a plan!“ 295-1940 f nkTMt n i l l , S arah L eimert is a Portland free-lance uniter. Floreid Walker, Senior Financial Advisor, can tell you. In June 2001, Congress enacted sweeping new tax legislation. The changes can be overwhelming. For over a decade, Floreid has been successful in helping hun dreds of non-traditional couples, domestic partners and families understand complex tax and financial issues. From Long-Term Care and Disability Insurance to IRAs and College Planning, you’ll receive accurate answers to your tough questions. Call for an appointment today. ___ No Fee Unless You Recover 12th Floor 621 S W M orrison Portland 503-240-4462 or jsardo60@ hotm ail.com . LAWS AFFECT YOU? ,te O e t • Bicycle & Pedestrian J ordana S arto can be reached, at How DO THE NEW TAX ...C all m e Proudly serving our com m unity since 1989 in personal injury claims including: the big corporations that buy everybody off,” Sardo says. Ore gon needs someone “to go into that office knowing that what ever kind of reform that we are able to win as a community has to be a combina tion of state opera tions and building a movement.” As a lesbian, Sardo feels she is naturally inclined to represent those who have been for the Oregon Legislature discriminated against. To the outside observer, it might seem she is being kept off the ballot specifically for that reason. However, Sardo thinks the state is more opposed to a strong minor party entering the race, especially if it espouses socialism . Although she believes all discrimination is interconnected, she does not think she is being targeted specifically because she is a lesbian. Sardo places great faith in her community’s ability to think and vote for itself and hopes to present herself as an option for reform in 2002. Unfortunately, that goal might not be attained because of the court case, which could take many months to resolve. jH 2001 Chairman's Advisory Board Member For a personal financial plan, call: FLOREID WALKER Senior Financial Advisor Integrity, Experience pResults 503.238.6036 ext 109 500 N .E . Multnomah, Suite 278 Portland, O R 97232 www.waddell.com email: floreid32983@wradvisors.com Member SIPC
