Election Night Recap 2014

ELECTION NIGHT RECAP, NOVEMBER 2014

     I made the journey into Roseburg today. First, my chemotherapy session lasted 11:30a.m.-3:30p.m. After some casual grocery shopping, I ventured to downtown Roseburg where most election night festivities were taking place.

A VISIT TO THE COURTHOUSE

     Much has changed since I covered election night stories as a television news reporter for 20 years. In the past, two rooms (#310) of the courthouse were the designated "media/candidates" room. For one thing, much space was needed for reporters to interview candidates who trickled in and out during the night. Also, KPIC-TV did live reports from room 310 in the courthouse, and several staff members were on hand transcribing hard copies of the election returns into the television station's computer system.
     Tonight, I found the media/candidates room in the basement just down the hallway from the elections office. It was in room #111: the cramped courthouse break room with a couple of tables and vending machines. The size of the room didn't matter. I learned later this evening that room #111 was void of people after 9:00p.m. Apparently, because people now glean their election results off the internet, there's no need for the media and candidates to linger around, waiting for hard copies of election returns.

VICTORY CELEBRATION WITH COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE GARY LEIF

     It wasn't a victory party in the traditional sense, as Gary Leif came in second in a six-candidate race. However, as Leif told a KQEN-AM radio reporter after the second election returns had come in around 9:15p.m., everyone's a winner in the election. A number of prominent people stopped by Little Brothers Pub, on Main street a block from the courthouse, to wish Gary Leif well and compliment him on a positive, well-run campaign. Several dozen Leif campaign supporters had congregated there to see the election returns come in.
     I stayed for a little more than an hour at the Pub, waiting for the second election returns to come in. The silent television set in the Pub was tuned in to KVAL-TV. Early on, the crawler at the bottom of the screen indicated that Oregon Ballot Measure 92, the one the requires labeling for growth modifying organisms (GMOs), was winning by a 58-42 margin. Later on, the crawler showed Measure 92 going down to defeat by a 52-48 margin.
     I couldn't believe that there had been such a significant change (10 percent) between the first and second election returns. Historically, election results never waver more than a 2-5 percent change in election returns. I speculate that what actually occurred, was probably that KVAL-TV reported only the Lane County election results (a progressive populace that would typically support Measure 92) in the first returns....while the statewide returns for Measure 92 were reported in the second election returns.
     I must admit that being around election night festivities tonight, re-ignited a passion for me in public service. I don't mean to sound morbid, but there's a fair chance that I'll be dead from stage four cancer, before I have the opportunity to run again for public office. But I also believe in miracles and don't rule out anything of what the future holds.