HD-37: Sparks, lawsuits fly between Bruun and Eberle

Rep. Scott Brunn (R-West Linn) filed suit Friday against his campaign rival Michele Eberle (D-West Linn) and the Democratic political action committee FuturePAC for what he says are false mailers directed at him, according to a release from the campaign.

Bruun said the repeated mailers, approved by Eberle and sent by FuturePAC, have mischaracterized his views on abortion when it comes to rape, incest, and health of the mother.

“They are purposely attempting to mislead female voters, and they are fabricating sources to make people think these statements are true,” Bruun said. “I am hugely surprised and disappointed in her that she would allow such misrepresentations to be sent to voters on such a sensitive issue.”

FuturePAC spokesman Geoff Sugerman said Friday that it was Brunn who was fabricating.

“None of those pieces said a single thing about the mother’s life being in danger,” Sugerman said.

As for issues regarding rape and incest, Bruun has claimed that in a Willamette Week endorsement interview with Eberle on September 4, he said he clarified his position on abortion in the case of rape or incest.

But if that’s true, Sugarman wondered why the West Linn representative clearly did not check the boxes showing his support for abortion under those circumstances on his Project Vote Smart survey.

As for if the mailers would be retracted, Sugerman was adamant.

“She stands by what she says,” he said.