Anti-Jordan Cove Measure Fails in Coos Bay…with help from Unions and Democratic Political Consultants.
Political consultants aligned with Portland based Democrats and several labor unions joined with Jordan Cove Energy to stop Measure 6–162, the Sustainable Energy and Citizens Rights ballot initiative in Coos Bay.The defeat of the measure in the May 2017 local election kept the Jordan Cove Propane Terminal and Pacific Connector pipeline projects alive.
Measure 6–162 never mentioned Jordan Cove LNG Terminal but stopping the project from moving forward was the goal. The measure failed with only 25% of the vote after being heavily outspent by the “Save Coos Jobs Committee”. Save Coos Jobs was funded primarily by Jordan Cove Energy and several union. Jordan Cove Energy provided $550,00 is cash and another $26,000 of in-kind donations.
Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Iron Workers Union of Operating Engineers and Oregon and Southern Idaho Laborers-Employers Training Trust donated $5,000 to defeat the measure.
ProspectPDX was paid around $110,000 to help Jordan Cove Energy defeat the “Right to a Sustainable Energy Future” measure.
If you want to defeat anti-fossil fuel policy in Oregon, Portland is home to several Democratic Party aligned political consultants that are more than happy to help. Many of these political consultants have close ties to top Oregon Democrats.
To defeat this anti-fossil fuel measure, Jordan Cove Energy/Save Coos Jobs turned to PDX area PR “creative communications” firm Prospect PDX. The firm is owned by well known political communication consultant Stacy Dycus. Dycus has worked for many well known Democrats in Oregon, either as consultant or under her ProspectPDX business. Here is the campaign finance documentation, altogether ProspectPDX was paid around $110,000 to help Jordan Cove Energy defeat the “Right to a Sustainable Energy Future” measure.
Dycus and ProspectPDX have worked for former Portland City Councilor Steve Novick, Democratic State Legislator Tobias Read, former mayoral candidates Jules Bailey and Jefferson Smith. The firm’s photography portfolio features images of Portland activist Cameron Whitten, former PDX Mayor Charlie Hales and former Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian (D). In 2012 Dycus was accused by a fellow political consultant of misleading clients in order to scam more money out them. Dycus was the campaign manager for the failed ballot measure to build casinos in Portland. ( see a list of their clients )
One of the highlights of the measure was a community’s “Right to a Sustainable Energy Future.”
Apparently Dycus is generous though…as her former employer Direct Action Partners made about $150,00. Direct Action Partners is a signature gathering and political field operations company located in Portland. They have previously done business with the Democratic Party of Oregon as well.
The third consultant to help Jordan Cove Energy defeat the sustainable energy measure was Patinkin Research Strategies LLC. Founded by Ben Patinkin, a graduate of Lewis & Clark College, the research firm raked in $22,000. According to this bio Ben “has over a decade of experience providing research and strategic consulting for Democratic candidates, labor unions, conservation groups, issue advocacy campaigns and corporations”
Another Portland Democratic Consultant who cashed in thanks to fossil fuel was Media Analysis Inc. Media Analysis Inc took in nearly $160,000 dollars for their work defeating the anti-fossil fuel measure. The company has done over a $1 million is work for Future PAC, the main fundraising committee for Democrats in the Oregon House. Future PAC is controlled by Speaker of the House Tina Kotek (D — Portland) and Rep. Jennifer Williamson (D — Portland). The company also did work for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in 2016. See the campaign finance docs here.
