When I ran two years ago, I learned many things. In the interval between May 17th, 2006, and October 3rd, 2007, I made a small number of core decisions for any future campaign:

1. Don't run against an incumbent. There are too many built-in advantages for incumbents, which is one reason I don't use the term "Voter Owned Elections". We have Public Campaign Financing, which is necessary but not sufficient as a first step towards Voter Owned Elections.

2. No negative campaigning. Staying completely positive was a key success of my first campaign. I believe candidates using Public Campaign Finance Fund money must hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

3. No robo-calls. I didn't do them in the first run, and I never will. Public money empowers me to talk with the people of Portland, rather than machines leaving messages on machines.

4. Don't run without an experienced campaign team working with me. Having key partners who know Portland and understand the importance of professional campaign support is vital to winning.

5. Never participate in Candidates Gone Wild again.

Candidates Gone Wild (CGW) is a joint production of Willamette Week newspaper and The Bus Project, a non-profit working to increase voter participation especially by young people. This year's web site says, "Since 2002 Portlanders have looked forward to this irreverent approach to local candidates and campaigns" and "'Debate the issues, get to know your candidates, drink a lot of beer. That's our mission statement,' says Mark Zusman, editor of Willamette Week". Mark told me the event is intended to show voters the human side of candidates, instead of seeing us behind microphones on stage at forum events. And to appeal to younger voters who might not attend more formal debates.

When I performed in Candidates Gone Wild in 2006, each candidate was asked one real policy question, giving me precisely two minutes to talk about serious issues facing Portland. The rest of the time seemed to me to be aimed at making the audience laugh at candidates, rather than with us. I don't mind people laughing at me -- a key survival strategy for the past twelve years of parenting teenagers has been to not take myself too seriously. But some of the content seemed cruel, not funny. Cut-and-paste video films, substituting different questions, gave false impressions (it's hard enough for candidates to give straight answers to complex questions, and to convey who we are and what we mean, without editors distorting our words on purpose). Requiring a "talent" performance with no dress rehearsal or assistance with microphones, music, and lighting would hinder even professional artists. At the time, I felt honored that as the only Public Campaign Finance Fund candidate, I was the only challenger invited on stage with the incumbent. Later, I realized my co-stars also running for the seat would have added to the entertainment, and wished they had been included. I heard suggestions from observers that the evening seemed to be structured to make Willamette Week's endorsees look good. The word "sexist" came up in more than one conversation.

In short, it was Not Fun, and left me with the firm resolve to decline future invitations to participate in CGW, should I ever run again.

I remain committed to the first four resolutions I listed. On Candidates Gone Wild, I've changed my mind. I met with the organizers last week, to tell them why I was declining their invitation. And I heard enough sincerity, and specific plans to improve the format in response to my concerns, to convince me that creating a negative or biased environment was never the intent. The organizers accepted my urging and that of at least two other Public Campaign Finance Fund candidates, to invite all six contenders in our race. They acknowledged my feedback graciously and constructively. So, I will give the event another chance.

Here's why I hope it will be better:

* The program has been changed to allow all Public Campaign Finance Fund candidates to participate, with a firm resolve to provide equal opportunities/challenges in the show.

* Information will be provided to campaigns before the event, on the order of skits and the rules for each.

* We will be offered time to rehearse our "talents" in the theatre, the day before, to plan stage management, sound, and lights.

* Organizers will be clear that the intent is to have good-hearted fun, rather than to humiliate and mock.

* I am assured there will be no cut-and-paste videos of candidates in my race, and no home invasions.

* More transparency will be evident, to assure participants and the audience that there is no bias in questions, order of performance, and team assignments.

* Candidates must have a second person on stage with them for the "talent" potion, which allows for live music and potentially a more entertaining performance.

* Campaigns will be asked for evaluations after the event, to provide subjective feedback on logistics and tone.

With these assurances, I find to my astonishment that I am looking forward to participating in Candidates Gone Wild on April 28. Steve (my husband) and I had fun the past two evenings working on our "talent" - we think we've found a song that he can play, I can sing, and you may find entertaining. Ticket purchase information here - sadly, no on-line option, just two locations, one in NW, the other inner SE.

April 28, 2008 is my 50th birthday. Please come to support me - hopefully we will ALL have a good time.