Page 4 May 9, 2018 Countdown to Vote C ontinueD froM p age 3 It’s shaping up to be a histor- ic midterm with a record number of candidates who are women and people of color running for the Portland City Council and Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. Loretta Smith and former state representative and activist Jo Ann Hardesty, both African Americans, and cur- rent City Hall employee Andrea Valderrama, who is of Peruvian descent, are among some of the leading candidates. As of Tuesday, 13 days since ballots were first mailed, the turn- out was 10 percent of Multnomah County’s 520,749 registered vot- ers, according to the county’s election division website. That’s about the same, percentage-wise, compared to the 2014 primary. For non-partisan contests like the city council and county com- missioner races, anyone who gets more than 50 percent of the vote wins automatically. Otherwise, the top two will face off in a No- vember General Election runoff. This year there are a whopping Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Ernest J. Hill, Jr. Agent 4946 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503 286 1103 Fax 503 286 1146 ernie.hill.h5mb@statefarm.com 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service R State Farm R 16 candidates running for Oregon governor, including incumbent Kate Brown. Brown ran just two years ago in a special election af- ter former Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned. A Portland Children’s Levy, which supports programs for children experiencing poverty, abuse and other conditions that put them at a disadvantage, will be up for renewal by voters this year. First passed in 2002, Mea- sure 26-197 is a property tax of about 40 cents per $1,000 valua- tion to raise approximately $118 million over the next five years to go into “proven and effective programs” to aid children. Campaign spokesperson Aisling Coghlan told the Portland Observer that in the previous 15 years, over $150 million has been invested in over 50 organizations from the levy. In Beaverton, voters will be asked to approve a property tax levy to pay for added teachers and limit class sizes. Voters can sign up to track their ballots to see that it is re- ceived and counted. They can 2018 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PACKETS Are available to: High School Grads, College Students And Adults Cont. Educ. PACKETS CAN BE REQUESTED ON-LINE @ Patriciaanntrice@gmail.com Or by phone ~ 503 283-6312 For more information contact Elizabeth F. Richard or Patricia A. Trice at 503 284-0535 Chicago-Style Steppin Fun, Healthy Social Dance for Couples and Singles. Weekly Classes www.groovinhighsteppers.com Denise Johnson 503-819-4576 Hernandez Williams 206-683-4101 Co-Founders and Instructers THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 3RD MIDNIGHT The Della Mae Johnson Scholarship Foundation 2216 NE Killingsworth Portland, OR 97211 (503) 284-0535 also receive a virtual “I Voted” sticker, which can be shared on social media. Visit Multnomah. ballottrax.net to sign up. Voters who have not received their ballot are advised to call 503-988-3720. Lost ballots can also be replaced. In Gresham, a new Voting Express Center is lo- cated inside the new Multnomah County East building on 600 N.E. Eighth St. In addition, 27 drop sites throughout the county, including all Multnomah county Libraries and eight 24-hour drop boxes can collect ballots up until 8pm on election night. More information can be found at bit.ly/MultCo- DropSites. Unofficial results of the elec- tion will be available starting at 8 p.m. on election night. As count- ing continues into the next day, the results will be updated, Mult- nomah County Elections Office Spokesperson Eric Sample told the Portland Observer. “Results are unofficial until we certify the election, which is 20 days after the election,” Sample said. Results can be viewed online at multco.us/elections/may-15- 2018-election-results.