Ted's good buddy
In case you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to take a look at the Salem Statesman-Journal's exposé of influence-peddling by disgraced former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, and his domination of the agenda of current Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Among the findings in the newspaper's investigation:
- Kulongoski met with Goldschmidt and [his partner Tom] Imeson two dozen times in various venues and combinations during the 16-month period [from Kulongoski's January 2003 inauguration to May 2004, when Goldschmidt withdrew from public life]. That's more than he met with anyone else [including the Secretary of State or the Attorney General] except top legislative leaders and his staff.- After Imeson directed Kulongoski's transition team -- a volunteer group that helped choose personnel and frame policies for the new governor -- he continued submitting names and feedback about potential Kulongoski staff members and executive appointments. With input from Goldschmidt, Imeson recruited or gave feedback about candidates for the Public Employees Retirement Board, State Board of Higher Education, Oregon Health and Science University Board, Board of Forestry, Port of Portland Commission, Northwest Power and Conservation Council and Public Utility Commission.
- Imeson doggedly pursued efforts to get client HealthWatch Technologies a state contract to track Medicaid overpayments. State managers were ordered to alter the selection process because of his pressure.
- Goldschmidt's firm set up two meetings among the governor, his staff and Bechtel and Parsons Brinckerhoff, two construction companies angling to build a major Columbia River bridge connecting Portland and Vancouver.
- Goldschmidt and Imeson lobbied Kulongoski on behalf of Weyerhaeuser after a federal jury found that the timber giant was monopolizing the alder log industry. After the consultants prepared talking points and arranged meetings with Weyerhaeuser officials, the governor voted the company's way in a State Land Board proceeding.
As the Portland Tribune pointed out in reporting on the Salem paper's series, the latter also revealed:
After Texas Pacific recruited Goldschmidt to head up its effort to buy PGE, [Imeson] arranged a dinner between Kulongoski and the firm's partners the night the deal was publicly announced.
Goldschmidt got the apparent boot from his back-room throne after his sex with a 14-year-old came to light. But the influence-mongering is just as immoral -- as if the whole state were his 14-year-old girl, ripe for the taking. And Ted was the state's caretaker while a lot of it was going on.
For a while there was some talk about the U.S. attorney, Karin Immergut, taking a look at some aspects of this. You wonder where she's looking.
Posted at 4:50 PM
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Comments (7)
I really admire the fact that you and the Ptld Trib and WW and now, the SJ, are keeping on this story.
You may have seen the Wall Street Journal puff piece on TPG on Dec. 28? As a long-time reporter, I recognize what looks like the work of expert PR people in that piece. The author skated right over the PGE matter, yet made TPG's execs look like wonderful, warm, intelligent family men who just wanted to make companies operate better. Hmmmmm....
About a year ago, I was researching TPG/PGE for a news story I had to write about a PGE/PUD election in our county and found your excellent site, so I know you have some good info.
Since you are so much more qualified than I am, the WSJ is more likely to respond to you. Could you let them know there is much more to the TPG story than the article covered? Author was Henny Sender. Dateline was New York. Section was "Deals & Deal Makers."
Posted by Mac | December 30, 2004 8:33 PM
This story isn't so much about TPG as it is about Goldschmidt. If you want Eric the boy blunder running PGE, good luck.
Sorry, I've lived here my life and this state is such a pop stand that Greasy Neil can be pulling strings like this. Of course, if you are the right developer, I guess you can put your hand up the mayor's back, so my disillusionment with government is pretty much total.
Posted by Steve | December 30, 2004 8:39 PM
My only question at this point is which Democrat will run against Ted in the next primary. The only one proven to be clean enough so far is Vicki Walker.
Posted by hilsy | December 30, 2004 9:20 PM
This story isn't so much about TPG as it is about Goldschmidt. If you want Eric the boy blunder running PGE, good luck.
Sorry, I've lived here my life and this state is such a pop stand that Greasy Neil can be pulling strings like this. Of course, if you are the right developer, I guess you can put your hand up the mayor's back, so my disillusionment with government is pretty much total.
Can someone help me up, please?
Never mind. It's too much fun down on the ground rolling around laughing my ass off.
:)
Separately, as to media puff, anyone see David Broder's column on Vera Katz last week. Hooboy. She's a woman, did everybody know that? Jack must have found it unworthy of mention. It was unworthy of a printed inch.
Posted by Sally | December 30, 2004 9:30 PM
After much encouragement (albeit mostly from the corporate community) John Kitzhaber anounced he would run against a floundering incumbent first term Democratic governor. Barbara Roberts soon decided not to seek re-election. Let's draft Peter DeFazio to run and hope Ted Kulongoski follows Roberts' example. DeFazio, my favorite Oregon Democrat, came soooo close to running in 2002.
It's Erik (with a 'k'). Being an Eric (with a 'c') I'm a bit sensitive to this. Water Bureau blunder and all, I hope Erik Sten becomes mayor sometime. And I would rather have Tom Potter, Sten or whomever is Portland's mayor run PGE than than TPG.
Happy New Years Fellow Blog Readers and Posters!
Posted by Eric Berg | December 31, 2004 12:43 PM
Sorry, since we are talking about being buddies with the right person counting for a lot, I forgot to mention BDS. Mr. Leonard apparently feels his 26-year old Chief of Staff, Mr Kovatch, is now qualified enough to run BDS.
I guess telling your boss the rest of City Council is a bunch of lazy f***ers does pay off.
Posted by Steve | January 1, 2005 10:19 AM
Sorry, Mr. Berg, but Erik-with-a-k's blunder cost "us" together and individually a lot of money. My old neighbor, who'd lived in her house 40 years, never did understand how she ended up with a water bill in excess of a grand.
I don't know how she ever got out of or through it. What I do know is that Erik-with-a-k never apologized, never took responsibility, was never held to account in the media, was slipped out a side door. He was too young and it doesn't matter to these people; it is not their money and they do not meet the ones whose it is.
I have special dislike and disrespect for Mr. Sten and I hope he never becomes mayor though you are probably right --he will.
I usually only snark at him but this is by way of a trifle more explanation. And I think there are a lot of little people who felt or feel as I do.
Posted by Sally | January 1, 2005 11:31 AM