Erik Sten

The Oregonian recently reported on whether Portland city council candidate Jim Middaugh had an unfair advantage by learning of Erik Sten’s eventual retirement more than a month prior to Sten’s formal announcement. This story wreaks of political opportunism to taint a candidate who did nothing more than work for the very man he wants to succeed.

The Willamette Week broke the story today that Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten will resign his seat in April, with two years remaining in his term. The announcement comes as an enormous surprise, especially since Sten says at this point, that he has not lined up a new job. Replacement candidates will now scramble to throw their hats in the ring in hopes of garnering a simple majority of votes in the May primary. If no candidate manages to get a majority, a special election runoff will be held.