1
MAY 2. 2008
vote out
* 2008 *
Hot on the Trail with...
Nick Fish and Jim Middaugh
Head, drugs and rock 'n' roll
by Stephen Marc Beaudoin
Applause, applause: Fish (left) and Middaugh get friendly
April 28 at Candidates Gone Wild.
ne writes beat poetry; the other juggles
O
signs into car trunks from supporters on the go.
defining what ‘head’ meant.” They laugh.
“I’m running against a person named Nick
knives. One speaks in short, staccato
He was also ruminating with a collection of aides
Later that night, Middaugh is tipping back a
Fish,” Middaugh says, and the crowd hisses. “You
phrases; the other is prone to melliflu
on his previous day’s performance in a Portland
Heineken in the grassy back yard of a supporter’s
guys need influence in City Hall,” he pauses. “It’s
ous and winding flights of speech. And
City Club debate.
North Portland home, making his rounds to the 30
interesting to be a candidate. You’re all looking at
Promise King, a former Portland Tribune colum
or so guests, none of which looks to be older than,
me. I’m not used to that.”
blind when he removes his glasses; and the nist
other,
and City Hall staffer and now an aide to Fish,
oh, about 35. Many are much younger. Most are
There’s a scattering of applause as Middaugh
makes a face when asked about how the debate
there nor because of Middaugh, per se, but because
wraps, then everyone heads inside and downstairs
Meet Nick Fish and Jim Middaugh, the two
went down, calling Middaugh’s tactics—including
of an important behind-the-scenes player in Port
to a Christmas-light-bedecked basement, where
major contenders in the race for Portland city
pointed questions on Fish’s pool of campaign con
land politics: former Portland Mercury news editor
Moore’s poli-pop band, Delightful Young Man,
commissioner seat two. After the seat was abrupt
tributors—Clintonian in their thrust. “Bang bang
Scott Moore, who’s arranged thé party.
holds court with a too-cool-for-school perfor
ly vacated by popular homeless and housing advo
bang!” he says, imitating the machine-gun rattle of
An hour into the event, Moore hops on a metal
mance of original tunes like “The Monster in the
cate Erik Sten, Middaugh and Fish are in a hotly
.Middaugh’s queries. Fish simply says, “People are
chair and clinks his keys on a beer bottle to call the
White House,” with these lyrics: “The president
crowd to attention. “Jim is running to replace Erik
is hungry, he’s eating the Cabinet/He’s cracking
one has vision so poor he’s practically
20/20 vision and proud, does just fine without.
looking for a fight” that isn’t there.
contested special election race to fill it.
And the two candidates couldn’t be more op
A baggy-jeaned early 20-something enters,
and to carry on his legacies,” Moore says by way of
open skulls, snacking on the brain trust/Noth-
posite, in most respects. Just ask them yourself: For
laptop in tow: He’s John Savage, one of Fish’s
introduction. Before he cedes the floor to the candi
ing tastes better than government!” Middaugh
instance, what’s the biggest difference in campaign
field managers. He grabs a fistful of candy and
date, he offers another reminder: “Once we’re done,
bounces his head to the beat for a few tunes before
style between them? Fish on Middaugh: “Jim goes
high-fives King.
there’ll be some rock ’n’ roll in the basement.”
announcing he’s heading off to yet another musi
cal engagement: his daughter’s school production
“Are you wearing that belt?” Fish asks, casting
Middaugh, who chooses to stay on the grass,
a glance at a prominent metal belt buckle shaped
offers “a quick primer on Portland politics” to the
More telling distinctions between them can be
like a human face. “Oh yeah,” Savage says. “Show
semicircled assemblage and hits his usual stump
“Jim Middaugh everybody!” trumpets the DYM
drawn from their style on the campaign trail. On
him,” Fish says, indicating me. “Tell him what
ing points. “We want to clean up the Willamette
lead singer, to raucous applause. Middaugh waves
a recent Saturday morning at Fish HQ, a former
Barney said.” U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.,
River and make it fishable and swimmable,” he says.
and mounts the stairs, then turns back with a warn
carpet sales storefront at Northeast 37th Avenue
had just been in town the previous week, stump
“Swimmable?” asks an attendee behind me under his
ing: “Stay out of trouble.” The crowd laughs, Mid
and Sandy Boulevard, Fish started up a pot of cof
ing for the candidate. Savage smiles: “Barney
breath. “Huh.” Then he hops on his cell phone to
fee, downed handfuls of M&M’s and piled lawn
made a comment about, like, whether I was re
fire off a text message.
daugh leaves. There’s a pause. “Ah,” the bandleader
offers with a smile. “Now we can do drugs.” ©
right to the checklist of things he’s done.” Mid
daugh on Fish: “Nick doesn’t answer questions.”
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