For Release
May 24, 2010

Today a Democratic Party operative, Michele Rossolo, executive director of the campaign for the House Democrats in Oregon, falsely accused the Independent Party of Oregon (IPO) of selling nominations: "I think our candidates are generally turned off by the idea that to get the nomination, you had to give us money." These operatives have also misrepresented the IPO in communications with Oregon state government officials.

"This is false," said IPO Chair Linda Williams. "In fact, the Independent Party has been seeking funds from all lawful sources in order to conduct its own primary election by mail and internet this July. Whether or not any potential candidate contributes funds has nothing to do with whether the candidate can participate in the election. But if the Party cannot raise sufficient funds to conduct the election (which will require a mailing to all 54,500 members), then it will choose its nominees for the November 2010 general election in the same manner as other minor parties in Oregon--caucus or convention."

No government pays for any of the cost of a primary election conducted by a minor party, such as the IPO. The primaries of the major parties (Democrats and Republicans) are fully paid for by the taxpayers of Oregon, a subsidy amounting to millions of dollars in every election year.

"Some Democratic Party operatives are trying to stop us from having an election involving our 54,000+ members," said Williams, "even though we have already allowed more than 2 dozen nominees of the Democratic Party (for Governor and seats in the Oregon Legislature) the opportunity to run in our elections, when they have requested to do so."