Tthe Oregon Working Families candidate for House District 54 has decided to end her run for the seat.
According to a press release from the Oregon Working Families party, the party fully supports Amanda La Bell’s decision to end her campaign.
“As a party, we believe that when a candidate no longer has the trust of their community, they should withdraw their candidacy,” the party wrote in the release. “It is this belief that compelled us to enter the race for House District 54, and it is this same belief that compels us to support Amanda in stepping out.”
With La Bell out of the race, it leaves voters in the district—which includes most of Bend—two candidates: Democrat Dr. Nathan Boddie, who’s been embroiled in his own controvery, and Republican Cheri Helt.
La Bell got into the race after House Democrats withdrew their support for Boddie this summer—citing instances of “inappropriate behavior”—and after a local woman accused Boddie of groping her. Boddie did not withdraw from the race, so La Bell entered her bid to run on the Working Families ticket.
Top state Democrats—who originally backed Boddie—gave their backing to La Bell, until Tuesday, when reports surfaced that she falsified information on her voter’s pamphlet.
“Before nominating Amanda, we subjected her to the full vetting process that all candidates receive before they are nominated,” OWFP said in its release. “Unfortunately, she was not fully forthcoming in this process and neglected to share the information that was released to the public this week.”
“We are sorry that Bend voters will no longer have an opportunity to vote for a State Representative who can effectively fight for issues impacting Oregon’s working families,” OWFP continued. “We are so grateful to the Bend residents who trusted us with this effort, and above all, we are unwavering in our commitment to fighting hand-in-hand with the community for a Bend that works for all of us.”
This article appears in Sep 12-19, 2018.
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It was my privilege to participate in Amanda La Bell’s initial campaign canvass.
That afternoon I knocked on forty four doors in a lovely SE Bend neighborhood. One of the neighbors I encountered knew Amanda from the world of non-profits in Bend that provide care and assistance to families in need. She told me, of course, she would vote for Amanda and agreed to display a lawn sign.
Amanda La Bell is a working mom with strong, beneficent ties to our community who jumped into the roiling fray of the HD 54 race to provide us with a choice.
And she did stumble.
But, the price for her courage and civic-mindedness? The local daily newspaper, in what feels very much like a smear campaign, spreads the story region-wide. Others jump in to “investigate” her. And now we hear she faces felony charges.
C’mon, isn’t this laying it on a little thick?
Or, is the Bulletin helpfully providing the blueprint for the attack ads to come that will be funded by powerful special interests and aimed at progressive women running for local office?
Though she has suspended her campaign, Amanda can, at least, count on my vote on Nov. 6.
Like many of us, Amanda La Bell has found a redemptive life in Bend. I do hope she stays and continues her life of good works.