a bit about portland politics

when i moved back to the portland area after living in boston for a couple years, i lived in the suburb of tigard. tigard is in washington county. even in the short time that i've been familiar with the area i've seen acres of feilds and forested areas replaced with housing developments. washington county is now the most important voting area in oregon. it tends to tip the scales between the urban and coastal liberals, and more conservative rural (eastern oregon) voters. in 1988 my dad ran for mayor (that's hillarious, btw). it was just interesting to see that washington county cast under 200 votes on the position. (and that my dad wasn't in last place! in fact, he beat at least 5 other people on the ballot. shite. i think it's harder to get your name on the ballot now, though.) and i bet now these suburbs in wa. co. basically decide who wins. (unless voting is limited to multomah county now. i don't keep up.)