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Carter withdraws from Multnomah County race

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Mar 10, 2010 (2 Reader comments)

Tribune File Photo

Former state Sen. Margaret Carter said Wednesday afternoon that she was withdrawing from the Multnomah County chair position race.

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Former state Sen. Margaret Carter withdrew from the race for Multnomah County chair Wednesday afternoon, leaving County Commissioner Jeff Cogen in strong position to replace Ted Wheeler as the county’s chief executive.

Carter told reporters that she decided to remain as deputy director of the Oregon Department of Human Services so she can have an impact on statewide social service and health programs.

“That was at the forefront of my thinking,” Carter said.

With hours to make a decision on Tuesday’s filing deadline for the May primary election, Carter said she hastily filed to run for the post. That came after Wheeler was appointed early that morning as interim state treasurer and withdrew his re-election bid.

“That seemed like a natural step for me,” Carter said, because the county manages human services, her longtime passion while serving in the Oregon Legislature. However, after sleeping on it, Carter decided she wanted to stay at her current job, which she began last year.

Cogen faces Mike Darger and Wes Soderback, two little-known candidates. Darger, an activist with Americans for Prosperity, lives in Gresham and works in the insurance field. Soderback lives in Portland and is retired.

If one candidate captures a majority at the May 18 primary, he will become the next county chairman.

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Reader comments

Re: Carter withdraws from Multnomah County race

Margaret Carter deserves much respect for the way she succeeded after such a tough start in life. However, at this point in her career, she is simply scsmming the system of Oregon government. The way she created her current $125k/bennies job in DHS is deplorable. In her Senate role, she created the position, then made certain that she was the only candidate. Her goal is to achieve the magic PERS jackpot ... so just like Jane Cease and John Minnis, Carter can work at her new job for 3 years, and somehow qualify for a huge retirement payout. In her statement today when pulling out of the County gig, she said " now is just not the time ... I couldn't do my job and run a campaign" ... notice, she fully expected to stay on the payroll while running for office, then of course returning to her desk if she lost ... she really believes that the taxpayers owe her a flush living and retirement, even though she clearly did not earn it by the existing standards ... I know she is getting old and is probably worried about retirement ... but so are millions of other citizens ... tweaking the system like this has become far too common, and it is crushing the people of Oregon with higher taxes to pay for unethical behavior ...