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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2016)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016 Trump wins Electoral College, Oregon objects By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Oregon’s seven Electoral College mem- bers cast their votes Monday morning at the Oregon State Capitol for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Frank J. Dixon, an elec- tor and chairman of the Dem- ocratic Party of Oregon, said during Monday’s vote on the Oregon Senate floor that he spoke for all the electors when he voiced objection to the electoral process. “I just want to, on behalf of the entire elector group here today, object to this pro- cess to preserve the record to allow further inquiry of the electoral process given the interference by the Russian government in our election process,” Dixon said. Amid cheering from the gallery, Atkins called public attendees to order. Dixon then added: “And to preserve for the record our objection, this process does not honor the principle of one person, one vote.” Anna Reed/Statesman-Journal Electoral college members and Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, third from front left, stand for a photo at the state Capitol in Salem Monday. All seven of Oregon’s presidential electoral votes went to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The Constitution Under the U.S. Constitu- tion, the winner of the presi- dential election is the candi- date who wins the majority of electoral votes, not the winner of the popular vote. Each state has a number of electors that corresponds to the number of members in its Congressional delega- tion, and it is those electors who are chosen by the pop- ular vote. Generally, the winner of the popular vote in any state is awarded all of the state’s electors. All of Oregon’s seven votes went to Clinton. Groups gathered in state capitols across the coun- try Monday to urge Republi- can Party electors to not cast votes for Donald J. Trump, who finished with 304 votes to Clinton’s 227, but lost the popular vote Nov. 8 by about 2 million votes. That effort Photos by Claire Withycombe/EO Media Group LEFT: Protesters rallied at the Oregon State Capitol against the casting of electoral votes Monday for Donald Trump, the winner of the majority of electoral votes nationwide on Nov. 8. Oregon’s seven electoral votes were cast for Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote in Oregon. Leon Coleman, 86, of Beaverton, one of the state’s electors, holds up his oath of office certificate after Monday’s electoral college vote in the Oregon Capitol. was largely unsuccessful, with only two Texas electors bolting Trump. Four electors in Washington and four in the District of Columbia pledged to Clinton voted instead for other candidates. Democrats and others on the left have since criticized the Electoral College sys- tem, saying it undermines the principle of one vote for each individual and that the sys- tem, laid out by the U.S. Con- stitution, is antiquated. ‘Historic’ In remarks before votes were cast, Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins said this year’s election was “historic” and that the election process came under “unprecedented challenge and criticism.” “This has continued into the post-election period,” Atkins said. “The nation has been roiled by a significantly greater debate than usual over the appropriateness of the Electoral College process in our modern age and over the obligations of those chosen as electors.” Atkins voiced confidence in the state’s voting system and Oregon’s election results. Dixon said after the cer- emony that he and the party intended to “get their foot in the door” to preserve the possibility of further inquiry when it came to possible Rus- sian interference in the elec- tion, and to take a closer look at “legal issues involved” in the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause. “I’m not a Constitu- tional scholar,” Dixon said. “I don’t know what the out- come would be of any legal challenge, but it’s simply, if we can preserve the record rather than remaining silent, and just say, state our objec- tion, it may be a way to allow further inquiry … it’s nothing more than that at this stage.” Despite Trump’s likely victory and the Democratic Party of Oregon’s objections, Dixon said that he hoped that he and his fellow electors were “preserving democracy” by participating in the Elec- toral College process. “… We’re, hopefully, pre- serving democracy by fol- lowing in the requirements of the Constitution, what we pledged to do,” Dixon said. “I think there’s a purpose in and of itself, to participate.” Protesters stood outside the Oregon Capitol before the ceremony holding signs and singing songs. Martha Perkins, who came up to Salem for the protest from Corvallis, said she was aware that Oregon’s elec- tors pledged to vote for Hil- lary Clinton, but that she was there at the Capitol as an act of “national solidarity.” Warrenton: ‘It’s kind of heartbreaking’ Raid: More charges could be coming as investigation goes on Continued from Page 1A Mike Moha, financial man- ager for Warrenton-Ham- mond School District, esti- mated at least $15,000 was gathered between toys and cash donations. Donations streamed in from individuals, businesses, churches, nonprofits, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and others. One notable was Lily Duncan, a 10-year-old from a local U.S. Coast Guard family who held a hot chocolate and cookie stand fundraiser for Warrenton’s toy drive instead of her birthday party. Morrow said Astoria Wish- ing Tree’s Coordinator Bar- bara Roberts taught her how to manage such a toy drive, while donating two pallets of books. Of the 120 families seek- ing gifts for Christmas, Morrow said 80 were taken. With piles of leftover donated toys at War- renton Grade School and more than $3,500 in cash donations, Morrow said the group will shop for the rest. Morrow said the leftover toys will be avail- able for teachers needing class- room prizes, and for future toy drives. Christmas of necessity Jenna Allen, a teacher at the grade school, was among the donors surprised by some fami- lies asking for toiletries, food or other basic living needs. “It’s kind of heartbreak- ing when that’s their Christmas list,” she said. “There’s no toys, just necessities.” Allen’s class adopted a fam- ily for the toy drive. Her own family adopted a couple more. Staci Miethe, manager of the Seaside Outlet Center and coach of the Warrenton High School softball team, brought several of her players to wrap presents. Miethe has been adopting families for Christmas for at least 15 years. “In recent years, more peo- ple have been willing to step up and ask for help,” Miethe said. The Seaside Outlet Cen- Continued from Page 1A Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Debbie Morrow, head of nonprofit Warrenton-Hammond Healthy Kids Inc., said the left- over gift donations will be used by teachers as classroom prizes and for future toy drives. ‘We had one family ask us not to buy them clothes, because they were living in a car.’ Staci Miethe manager of the Seaside Outlet Center and coach of the Warrenton High School softball team ter also adopts families. Miethe said some families ask for con- sumables such as gift cards instead of objects. “We had one family ask us not to buy them clothes, because they were liv- ing in a car.” Asked why she’s been adopt- ing families for so long, Miethe said she wants to help kids hold onto the magical aspects of Christmas through the kindness of others. “My hope is that they believe a little longer.” T HE D AILY A STORIAN WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY DECEMBER 26 TH They also found a num- ber of items reported stolen in local thefts and burglaries. The items have been returned to their owners or are in the pro- cess of being returned, accord- ing to the Sheriff’s Office. In a statement Monday, the Sheriff’s Office announced it had arrested five people in connection with the search warrants: Conrad “Gus” Wei- rup, 37, for second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and for frequenting a place where drugs are used or sold; Cla- rissa Moore, 28, on a post- prison violation warrant and for frequenting a place where drugs are used or sold; Daniel Greenfield, 28, for second-de- gree robbery, third-degree assault and for frequenting a place where drugs are used or sold; Dakota Weirup, 29, for possession of a controlled substance and for frequenting a place where drugs are used or sold; and Duane “DJ” Jer- emiah Scovill, 42, for sec- ond-degree robbery, third-de- gree assault, coercion and on a first-degree theft arrest warrant. More charges could be added as the investigation continues. OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! P O P- U P FARMER’S MARKET Buy directly fr om local farmers for your holiday meals and gift s! Fresh produce, seafood, cheese, meats, $ 10 SNAP match, and more! WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21 ST 2:30-5:30 PM Your newspaper will be delivered as usual N ORTH C OAST F OOD W EB 577 18 TH S TREET Happy Holidays! N ORTH C OAST F OOD W EB . ORG 503.465.0921
