You probably voted for it in November. Parts of it might be unconstitutional. And soon, in a perhaps unprecedented move, a Multnomah County judge will have a say on whether a strong new campaign finance law ever sees the light of day.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last Thursday to send the county’s brand-new campaign finance policy, approved by 89 percent of voters last fall, for a court validation proceeding. That means that well before its September start date—before anyone has even formally complained about it—there will be a preemptive court battle to determine the law’s constitutionality.
Commissioners support the finance reforms, they said last week, but want more “clarity” before they are implemented on September 1.
That’s all but unheard of. Deputy County Attorney Jacquie Weber tells the Mercury it’s the first time in her 25 years at the county that a voter-approved law will need a judge’s permission to be put in place.