FuturePAC, a campaign committee for Democrats in the Oregon House, has withdrawn support for Nathan Boddie, the Bend city councilor who’s running on the Democratic ticket for Bend’s House District 54.
In a statement released Tuesday, FuturePAC said the decision comes in response to “serious allegations of inappropriate behavior.” Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek stated in the release: “Based on FuturePAC’s investigation, I believe these allegations are credible, and we are very disappointed in Dr. Boddie.” The release obtained by the Source Tuesday did not specify the specific nature of the allegations made against him.
Other local news outlets reported on the nature of those claims early Tuesday, reporting from activity on Twitter and a previous version of a release, allegedly from FuturePAC, that listed the claims against Boddie in more detail. The Source was unable to substantiate those reports.
On Monday evening, Boddie issued a statement, saying, “For decades, I’ve dedicated my life to progressive ideals and helping those least able to look after themselves. There has been a recent attack on my character that is disheartening, untrue, and shakes me to my core.”
Boddie said he’d continue in his race, adding “I have spent my medical and political career helping increase access to care for women and LGBTQ patients and anyone who needs medical treatment. My colleagues across the aisle, or whoever is responsible for this, should be ashamed for taking the low road.” Boddie was not available for follow-up before press time, but his campaign staff said he had not yet been informed of the exact nature of the accusations as of Tuesday afternoon, adding that it appeared there had been two versions of the FuturePAC release.
According to the Tuesday FuturePAC release, other PACs, as well as the Bend Firefighters Local 227 have withdrawn support for Boddie. The Deschutes Democrats, meanwhile, stated on their Facebook page Monday: “Unless and until we have more to go on than a press release from a PAC, we will continue to support Dr. Nathan Boddie, and we hope you will, too.”
This article appears in Jun 20-27, 2018.
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A long time ago the famed humorist Will Rogers quipped “I am not a member of any organized party I am a Democrat.”
I would be very grateful to the Source or any other investigative journalist to do some research on who, exactly, the FuturePAC is and whose interests it is representing.
The allegations against Dr. Boddie seem absurd on the face of it. Dr. Boddie was a keynote speaker at our recent PRIDE event and yet he’s accused of homosexual slurs? Something’s not adding up here. FuturePAC’s credibility is on the line here, and not Dr. Boddie’s as far as I’m concerned.
There is a rot in the Democratic Party that became obvious when PACs and insiders in the Democratic Party sabotaged the exceptionally powerful Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016 in favor of the inside candidate. I see this current controversy largely in the same light. It seems that insiders would rather lose a general election than have to deal with a candidate they cannot fully control. At least that seems a plausible explanation for the current mess the Democrats have created for themselves in District 54. Some investigative journalism is called for here. Mere reporting of the contents of press releases won’t suffice.
Nathan should be supported until we see something that rises to the level that we can not. Whispers and twitter doesn’t cut it for me. Bend, I’d also love to put in a plug for Eileen Kiely who actually will represent part of northern and southern Bend. Nathan isn’t the only one with a chance at the House. Look Eileen up and give her your support.