OLCV e-bulletin: Congratulations Oregon!

Oregon Wins! A Great Election for Oregon’s Environment

This election, we celebrated big wins for Oregon’s environment. Together, we watched a number of OLCV's targeted candidates in tough races across the state end up with that elusive check mark by their name.

A surprising number of our targeted races weren’t decided on Tuesday night. Many races weren't decided until Thursday or Friday. Unfortunately, a few moved from the win to the loss column once the late ballots were counted.
Overall, 79 of the 100 candidates we endorsed in the general election won. In the primary and general elections, 16 out of the 27 races we targeted with volunteers, financial resources, and strategic assistance were sussecful. Here are some highlights:

• With the support of our incredible members, OLCV invested almost $190,000 primarily on 19 legislative and local candidates across Oregon in the general election.
• OLCV’s massive field operation called over 85,000 voters and knocked on over 20,000 doors.
• We filled over 750 volunteer shifts during an election season where volunteers were pulled in many important directions.
• The Oregon House will be decidedly more pro-environment next session with the huge victories of six OLCV targeted legislative candidates.

Who were these winning candidates? Find out and read more on the highlights of this year's election.

LCV and OLCV Celebrate Merkley Victory in Oregon

The League of Conservation Voters made electing Jeff Merkley to the U.S. Senate one of their top priorities in 2008.

LCV, which works to turn environmental values into national priorities, served as an independent voice in support of Jeff Merkley’s candidacy and energy policies throughout the race, promoting his long-term leadership on energy and environmental issues.

LCV's outreach programs contacted voters in Oregon 111,937 times in support of both Obama and Merkley, while LCV’s television ad, “One, Two, Three,” aired more than 1,150 times statewide. You can still view the ad if you missed it on TV.

In total, LCV spent approximately $350,000 in support of Obama and Merkley in Oregon. And thanks to the interest and involvement of thousands of Oregonians, it paid off.

Read LCV's press release.

Thank you!

We at OLCV would like to thank you, and the hundreds of others like you, for reaching out to your neighbors, sending an email to your friends, and calling or canvassing voters to urge them to vote for pro-environment candidates.

You made a difference! Thanks to your efforts we're not only sending environmental champion Jeff Merkley to the US Senate, we've substantially increased the pro-environment majority in the Oregon House.

As you know, electing good people to office is only the first step in passing good laws that protect our air, water, and land. OLCV is preparing now for the 2009 Legislative session and is ready to work to protect our natural legacy for our children and grandchildren.

Check out the Oregon Conservation Networks's Priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session.

Watch this space for information about a volunteer appreciation event in January.

OLCV job opportunities

OLCV is hiring!

We have several positions open. Visit our website to learn more.

November Trivia Question

Queston: At the start of 2009, Oregon will add water bottles to the state recycling program, adding a five-cent deposit to the price. According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, roughly how many water bottles will this legislation keep out of our landfills?
Click here to submit your answer!

Look for November's winner in next month's e-bulletin.
Congratulations to Sasha Pollack! She was the first reader to submit the correct answer to last month's trivia question.

Question: September 29th was the deadline for supporters of Oregon marine reserves to turn in their proposals to the state. There was only one proposed reserve site initiated by commercial fishermen, the people who would be most directly affected by a marine reserve designation, in a prime fishing area. Where is it?
Answer: Port Orford

Marine reserves are a tool to protect and restore entire ocean ecosystems. They can help ensure the health of Oregon's ocean for current and future generations. Preserving Oregon’s Coastal Legacy is a 2009 legislative priority for the Oregon Conservation Network.