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THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, dEcEmbER 15, 2020
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
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circulation manager
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GUEST COLUMN
How to evaluate your legislator
H
ow good is your legislator?
It’s difficult to know.
Two key metrics play into
that evaluation, and neither occurs in the
public eye: 1) How effective the legis-
lator is in influencing other lawmakers
on bills and public policy, and 2) How
effective the legislator and staff are with
constituent service, such as helping
solve problems with state agencies.
Today seems an appropriate time to
raise this topic, as law-
makers gather by phone
and videoconference for
committee meetings,
prepare for a potential
special session and head
toward the start of the
2021 Legislature, when
DICK
a number of new law-
HUGHES
makers will take office.
Having been around
the Oregon State Capitol for several
decades, I offer these suggestions for
how NOT to evaluate legislators, or
members of Oregon’s congressional del-
egation, either:
• By what they say in their newslet-
ters, press releases and public appear-
ances. Lawmakers sometimes claim key
roles in legislation despite having had
little effect on the actual product and the
outcome, other than voting. Yes, that is
akin to team projects in the workplace
or in school.
• Their promises to do whatever they
can on a piece of legislation or policy.
While their vow may be well-intended,
their success depends on their political
and personal clout.
• Their floor speeches. Their words
may be inspiring, they may please spe-
cific constituencies and interest groups,
they may produce great campaign mate-
rial, but they rarely change minds.
• How many bills they introduce. The
majority of bills don’t make it through
the Legislature. Many are introduced
solely to please a constituency, and the
sponsoring legislators know the bills
have no chance. Sometimes, however,
bills are introduced as a means of gain-
ing traction with an issue over time.
Lawmakers may consider limiting
bill introductions for the 2021 session,
as state House Speaker Tina Kotek,
D-Portland, has suggested previously.
• Whether they vote the way you
like. Some legislation and some issues
are clear-cut. But most are a compli-
cated mix of imperfections. A thought-
ful legislator must decide whether the
Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau
It can be difficult to measure influence and effectiveness in Salem.
good outweighs the bad.
Here are suggestions for HOW to
evaluate lawmakers:
• Whether they keep their word.
• How well they work with their city,
county and school officials to address
local issues that require changes in state
law or intervention with state agencies.
• How they treat others, especially in
public hearings.
• Whether they recognize their mis-
takes, publicly admit them and learn
from them.
• Whether they have the fortitude to
act independently instead of blindly fol-
lowing a party line.
• Whether they look for common
ground or make themselves irrelevant.
• Whether they dig into specific
issues where they can have an impact,
instead of trying to be all things to all
constituents.
• What legislative staff and col-
leagues, from both major parties, say
about them when speaking candidly.
• What motivates them.
• What you hear from others about
their constituent service.
Character, competence, experience
and potential are key criteria in such
evaluations. Humility is an asset. Ideol-
ogy is far down the list.
Here are two examples of lawmak-
ers — one federal and one state — who
similarly altered my understanding of
political effectiveness.
The first is former 5th District Con-
gresswoman Darlene Hooley of West
Linn, a Democrat. For years, she
seemed known for being invisible on
major congressional issues. But she and
her staff provided excellent constituent
service. Over time, I realized Hooley
didn’t need the limelight that others
sought. Instead, she concentrated on
issues where she could affect meaning-
ful change, including identity theft and
data privacy.
Second is the late state Rep. Vic Gil-
liam, R-Silverton. Beneath his actor
good looks, sonorous voice and quick
wit was a man of deep conviction and
compassion, a politician who genuinely
wrestled with political decisions. I ini-
tially underestimated him. Like Hooley,
he had the capacity to zero in on issues
overlooked by others, such as elder
abuse, and make progress by working
across party lines. I admired Gilliam for
admitting when he’d been wrong, such
as when he criticized Senate President
Peter Courtney on the House floor.
Gilliam, who had ALS, also known
as Lou Gehrig’s disease, died in June.
He was beloved and respected by his
House colleagues, regardless of their
political party.
dick Hughes has been covering the
Oregon political scene since 1976.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Noteworthy
I
am writing with reference to the Dec.
8 article, “Local developer buys Asto-
ria Building, plans rooftop deck.” Several
things struck me as noteworthy.
The developer plans a rooftop deck,
which will no doubt be expensive, in a
city that experiences, on average 190 to
220 days of precipitation per year, along
with steady winds year-round.
The developer plans to raise rents
across the board at a time when many res-
idents of Clatsop County are mired in a
pandemic, effectively unemployed and
barely hanging on economically.
Both of these facts seem, at best,
insensitive to the actual life we experi-
ence here in Astoria. It seems to me that
if the developer has discretionary funds
at his disposal, instead of building a roof-
top deck, he might consider turning some
of his portfolio of residential apartments
into low-income units, using that extra
money, perhaps, to subsidize the neediest
amongst us.
BARRY PLOTKIN
Astoria
Gobsmacked
I
am appalled at the appearance of col-
lusion I witnessed during the Clatsop
County Board of Commissioners meeting
I attended on Dec. 9.
Coming on the heels of such generous
kudos to Commissioners Kathleen Sulli-
van and Sarah Nebeker for their previous
years of leadership, I was gobsmacked to
watch three commissioners ram through
a proclamation that had not been pro-
cessed through the collaborative practices
the board has routinely utilized — a move
contrary to leadership principles.
In fact, one of the commissioners was
made aware of the document only after
the chairwoman had already placed it on
the meeting agenda.
Despite protestations that the subject of
climate change is not political, the actions
taken by three commissioners made the
subject and the document political. The
lack of process indicated that the outgoing
commissioners do not trust their replace-
ments, chosen by the voters, to do what
they think is in the best interests of county
residents.
Chairwoman Sullivan was correct
when she said that the work and collabo-
ration should have been done much ear-
lier; but, she was very wrong to indicate
that the process is expendable.
I want to remind county commis-
sioners that their positions are nonparti-
san and expect them to act accordingly. I
look forward to our continuing commis-
sioners and newly elected commissioners
working in a collaborative fashion, with
accountability and transparency, for the
good of county residents.
TITA MONTERO
Seaside
Difficult time
I
am writing in reference to The Astori-
an’s front-page article on Dec. 8 about
the Gearhart administrator entering alco-
hol treatment.
During this difficult time of high stress
and pandemic surge, many suffer from
substance abuse as a way to cope with
depression and anxiety. It is important
we remember not to add to this burden
by publicly or privately shaming citizens
who choose to enter treatment.
May we be supportive of Chad Sweet
getting the help he needs, and remain
hopeful of a good outcome. This can
serve as an inspiration for others to do the
same.
DELORES SULLIVAN
Gearhart