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northwest
Opposition Records Go Public
Earlier this year, political activist and former
lobbyist Ellen Lowe filed a complaint with the
Oregon secretary of state’s office stating that the
anti-gay group Concerned Oregonians was mislead
ing potential donors by calling itself a political
action committee. The complaint is still in process.
Concerned Oregonians has since changed its tune
and filed as an official PAC.
In late October, the group officially registered
with the state elections division as opposing
Measure 49 (which is not gay-related). This
required Concerned Oregonians to make its finan
cial records public. The now official PAC’s com
plete campaign finance activity was posted Oct. 29
on the secretary of state's Web site.
Records show the group spent $3,550 to retain
the services of CH Consulting, a Minnesota-based
sales and marketing firm.
Glenn Zirkle has made by far the largest contri
bution to Concerned Oregonians at $10,000. He is
president of Portland-based WSCO Petroleum. He
graduated from Multnomah Bible College in 1979
and once told the alumni publication, “Every time
my life brushes up against someone else s, I have an
opportunity to leave the fragrance of Christ.”
The committee directors are listed as Jim
Stentz, Epic Aviation contract administrator, and
David Crowe, better known as the executive direc
tor for Restore America, one of the groups that
gathered signatures in a failed attempt to refer
Oregon’s new domestic partnership and non
discrimination laws to the 2008 ballot.
Crowe lists his Lake Oswego post office box as
HOUSE & GARDENS
WhereyouCANsaylDo”
his address under director for the
PAC, but when he reimburses him
self $2,667.86 for money he spent, he
lists a different address in Grimsley,
Tenn. In October, The New York
Times identified Crowe and his wife,
Merrily, as being “of Tennessee.”
When asked directly about the
discrepancy, Crowe told Just Out:
“An attempt has been made on my
life. In protection of my wife, chil
dren and grandchildren, we won’t tell
anyone where we live.”
Crowe’s most recent effort is
through a group called the Alliance
Defense Fund, which filed suit Dec. 3
against the Oregon secretary of state,
claiming the office “wrongfully inval
idated voters’ signatures" on the
attempted referenda.
Basic Rights Oregon executive This 2004 crowd shot demonstrates the popularity of Peacock
director John Hummel said in a state-
According to its three core organizers—
ment that he is confident the lawsuit will be dis
missed. “The secretary of state’s job is to ensure the
Kimberlee Van Patten, Maria Council and Kevin
Cook (aka Poison Waters)—interest exists. Money
uniform and efficient administration of elections,
and we’re confident that all of the proper rules and
doesn’t.
regulations were followed as usual.” ■
“All the reasons we stopped doing it still exist,
except we’ve had a chance to rest. In 2004, we’d
Rebirth of the Peacock
been doing it for 10 years. We were all fairly
There’s chatter among the drag community.
exhausted,” said Van Patten. “All the other rea
Rumors are trickling through the court. The bears
sons—that it’s all very expensive to put on, that we
got wind of it. Activists feel the tingle.
have to make it not only the best party in the city
Peacock in the Park is back.
but a fund-raiser as well—those challenges still
Or is it?
exist.”
in the Park.
The main organizers have added the energy of
a new board in hopes of revitalizing Peacock in the
Park. They have also secured the day and location,
June 29, 2008, at Washington Park Amphitheater.
Peacock in the Park, the brainchild of the late
Rose Empress XXIX Lady Elaine Peacock, was a par
ty that raised money for the Audria M. Edwards
Scholarship Fund. The organization has awarded
more than $156,200 in grants to the queer commu
nity and its children.
Continued on Page 10
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