Coalition for Safe, Healthy and Prosperous Communities
BERKOWITZ DAPL FUCKERY
Dark money group targets Oregon swing districts with new mailers, ads
- Julia Shumway - Oregon Capital Chronicle
- February 16, 2024
The Coalition for Safe, Healthy and Prosperous Communities send new ads to voters praising Republicans and criticizing Democrats. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle and submitted photo)
A dark money group founded by a national Republican political operative and oil industry lobbyists stepped up its efforts to influence Oregon voters this week, sending mailers and buying ad space in seven competitive state House districts.
Voters in the four Republican-held districts received glossy pieces of mail asking them to thank their representatives for sponsoring a bill to make drug possession a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail, while voters in three swing districts held by Democrats were told their representatives “failed to protect Oregonians.” Some voters saw television ads.
The ads and mailers were paid for by the Coalition for Safe, Healthy and Prosperous Communities, a dark money group that has been involved in Oregon politics since 2022. That summer, the Capital Chronicle detailed how the coalition managed to avoid campaign finance laws by carefully wording its missives: Groups that do issue advocacy, or spend to support a cause that isn’t directly tied to an election, don’t have to file as political action committees or report their campaign spending or fundraising.
Nearly two years later, details about the organization remain scarce, though voters throughout the state have continued to see mail, web ads and even billboards paid for by the secretive group. Documents the group filed with the Internal Revenue Service last fall show it spent nearly $550,000 in 2022, with no data yet available for 2023 or 2024.
The organization didn’t respond to an attempt to reach it through the “contact us” tab on its website and has no other available contact information.
The coalition paid for a billboard last fall above the Lucky Thai Elephant Restaurant in Newport, thanking Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, for “leading our district toward a brighter future.” Last April, constituents of Rep. Hoa Nguyen, D-Portland, received text messages claiming she sponsored a bill she didn’t actually sponsor that would have allowed cities to ban fossil fuels in new construction. Republican Rep. Cyrus Javadi’s constituents received mail last spring praising him for supporting police funding, and online ads urged voters to email Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, to demand to know why he wanted to “put tampons in boys’ bathrooms,” based on a bill he introduced that would loosen an existing state law requiring free tampons in student bathrooms.
Most of the bills the coalition targeted in the 2023 legislative session had missed key deadlines and were already dead by the time voters saw the ads. That, combined with the latest batch of ads targeting specific candidates in swing districts, raised suspicions among political observers that the group is skirting state campaign finance laws to hide its donors and influence elections.
Under state law, any political communication that supports or opposes a clearly identified candidate must disclose the name of the person or group that paid for it. Most ads or mailers also must disclose the top five contributors to the campaign, and anonymous donations of $1,000 or more can’t be used for communications supporting or opposing a candidate.
Failing to include that information can result in a fine of up to 150% of the cost of printing or broadcasting an ad if an Oregon voter files a written complaint and the secretary of state’s office investigates it. The agency has a backlog of hundreds of election complaints dating back years.
A spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office didn’t immediately respond to a phone call or email.
Documents show big spending with Republican groups
The Coalition for Safe, Healthy and Prosperous Communities hasn’t registered as a business in Oregon. The Internal Revenue Service approved it as a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exempt from paying taxes, in March 2022.
That type of nonprofit organization is allowed to advocate issues, but not for or against candidates. It doesn’t have to report its donors, but it does have to file annual Form 990 returns with the IRS each year. It filed two so far: a 2021 notice that the group had less than $50,000 and a 2022 return that shows it received close to $900,000 and spent nearly $550,000.
It didn’t disclose its donors, and it claimed it didn’t engage in “direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf or in opposition to candidates for public office” in 2022. It has no employees but has three unpaid directors. President Marc Himmelstein is a longtime lobbyist for the energy industry. Secretary Jeff Berkowitz was formerly the chief researcher for the Republican National Committee. And treasurer Alby Modiano was the president of the U.S. Oil and Gas Association from 1993 until at least 2018. None of the men have clear ties to Oregon.
Nonprofit organizations have to report the names of their five highest-paid contractors that receive more than $100,000 in a year, and the coalition’s form shows ties with prominent Republican firms.
The group paid more than $200,000 to Salt Lake City-based Arena LLC for advertising. The mail and digital ad company works with the Republican National Committee and U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, along with hundreds of other Republican campaigns. The Oregon Right to Life PAC, Republican state Reps. Kevin Mannix, Javadi and Tracy Cramer, as well as state Sen. Suzanne Weber, used the company for their 2022 campaigns, paying nearly $400,000 combined, according to state campaign finance records.
The coalition also spent close to $175,000 on consulting from Colorado-based Ascent Media, a firm founded by the former Republican leader in the Colorado Senate. That company worked to elect Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan in 2022, and state campaign finance records show a Republican candidate from southern Oregon paid it more than $565,000 in his failed attempt to replace Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland.
None of the coalition’s spending is visible on ORESTAR, the state’s campaign finance system.
Traci Bean, a Democratic voter in Javadi’s district, started hunting for information when she received mail praising Javadi last year. She’s more familiar with the state’s campaign finance system than many voters, having served as a treasurer for two different political action committees, but she couldn’t find anything on ORESTAR or when she tried to contact the coalition directly. When she got in touch with Javadi’s office, his staff told her they didn’t know anything about it.
“I am disturbed every time I run into these black holes where you can’t find anything,” Bean said. “Because as a voter and as a citizen, I want to be informed.”
Cole Avery, executive director of the House Republican Caucus’s Evergreen Political Action Committee, said Republican lawmakers didn’t know about the ads.
“To my knowledge, our candidates have had no coordination with this organization and had no knowledge of the mailers,” Avery said. “The law allows for advocacy in the political space. Whether or not this organization’s advocacy is in compliance with the law is a question for the organization.”
Ads target swing districts
The latest round of mailers and ads are targeted at seven competitive House districts, four represented by Republicans and three by Democrats. All are held by representatives elected in 2022 for the first time or after a break in legislative service, and they’re all top priorities for both parties as Democrats seek to protect and expand their majority in the House and Republicans try to make inroads. Democrats now hold 35 districts; Republicans, 25.
Mannix and Cramer flipped two Marion County legislative districts formerly represented by Democrats, who outnumber Republicans in both districts. Their opponents’ personal issues – Mannix’s opponent spent time in prison for selling marijuana and Cramer’s opponent visited a spa where he later reported experiencing unwanted sexual advances – and low turnout among Democratic-leaning voters contributed to their victories.
Democrats also outnumber Republicans in Javadi’s coastal district, where Democrat Logan Laity is looking for a rematch after losing by fewer than 850 votes in a 2022 contest that saw nearly 35,000 votes cast. And Republican Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, won his district in the Columbia River Gorge by just more than 1,600 votes after narrowly losing in a similar district in 2018 and 2020.
The coalition’s mailers and 15-second ads praise the four Republicans for sponsoring House Bill 4036, which would create penalties for drug possession as part of the Republican response to the state’s addiction crisis. They include phone numbers that provide a patch-through line to the legislators’ offices.
The ads targeting Democratic Reps. Annessa Hartman, Emerson Levy and Hoa Nguyen, meanwhile, ask where the representatives are as Oregonians die from dangerous drugs. They also include a number.
Hartman, Levy and Nguyen all narrowly won their races in 2022 in districts based in Oregon City, Bend and southeast Portland, respectively.
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter.
STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: info@salemreporter.com.
Julia Shumway - Oregon Capital Chronicle
Julia Shumway is editor of Oregon Capital Chronicle and has reported on government and politics in Iowa and Nebraska, spent time at the Bend Bulletin and most recently was a legislative reporter for the Arizona Capitol Times in Phoenix. An award-winning journalist, Julia most recently reported on the tangled efforts to audit the presidential results in Arizona.
PP
Coalition For Safe Healthy And Prosperous Communities Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
2024
Extracted Financial Data
Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$200,009
Expenses
$431,545
Net Income
-$231,536
Net Assets
$24,525
| Notable Sources of Revenue | Percent of Total Revenue | |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions | $200,000 |
2022
Revenue
$890,069
Expenses
$540,295
Net Income
$349,774
Net Assets
$374,764
il is not delivered to street address)
25 NW 23RD PLACE STE 6 BOX 426 PORTLAND
MARION POLK FIRST ACTION
PO BOX 7791
SALEM,OR 97303
EIN 87-2671438
| Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Secretary | Lois Anderson |
| Secretary | Phillip Gerstner |
| Board Member | Bill Riecke |
170K
OFF BS
Marion+Polk First is made up of a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and Political Action Committee that together work to advance our mission.
Marion+Polk First
A 501(c)(3) that is focused on educating our community on the issues that matter.
Marion+Polk First Action
A 501(c)(4) that engages our community to advocate for change at the city, county, school board, and legislative levels.
Marion+Polk First PAC
A state PAC that advocating for our communities by supporting center-right candidates and causes.
Donations to MPFP may qualify for the Oregon Political Tax Credit. If you file taxes in Oregon and make less than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a joint-filing couple you will receive a $50 credit per person on your taxes for gifts to Marion+Polk First PAC!
Click here to make your Political Tax Credit donation now!
NO PPL LISTED
Marion+Polk First is a coalition of individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits that all want to advance our mission in Marion and Polk Counties. Our board includes representatives of these various interests and individuals who are committed to fighting back against efforts to adopt an extreme liberal, Portland-centric agenda in Marion and Polk Counties.
paid for by Marion Polk First PAC. Our largest donors are Marion+Polk First Action; Commercial Properties Resources, Inc; Businesses for Community; Kerley Ranches, LLC; Andrew Miller
email info@marionpolkfirst.com or call 971-345-6369.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7791
Salem, OR 97303
Marion + Polk First is a center-right political coalition in Oregon. The organization consists of a 501(c)(3) for community education, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, and a registered Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports conservative and moderate candidates. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Entities & Roles
- Marion + Polk First Action: A 501(c)(4) nonprofit that lobbies on school board, city council, and legislative issues. [1, 2]
- Marion + Polk First PAC: The affiliated political committee that raises funds to back center-right candidates and causes in Marion and Polk counties. [1, 2]
- Bill Riecke: A prominent figure associated with the local political sphere, frequently listed as a notable donor to center-right campaigns and the PAC. [1]
Financial and Community Impact
- Campaign Spending: The PAC has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence local elections (such as the Salem City Council). [1, 2]
- Public Perception: On local forums like Reddit, local users express mixed opinions on the group, with some criticizing its conservative leanings and others supporting its community platform. [1, 2]
- Tax Credits: Donations to the PAC are eligible for the Oregon Political Tax Credit, offering credits for individuals and joint filers under specific income thresholds. [1]
Which campaign raised the most in Salem mayor, city council races?
...Who are the biggest donors to Salem City Council races in May 2026 election?
Marion+Polk First PAC has emerged in recent years as one of the biggest contributors in local races.
The group has a history of backing conservative school board candidates and says it advocates for the community by "supporting center-right candidates and causes."
With $100,244 in cash and in-kind contributions, it is the top donor in Salem this election.
The PAC is behind mailers and television ads that depict Nishioka, Vang, Nordyke and Varney in a police booking line-up and criticize them for their votes in late 2025 to appoint Kyle Hedquist, who was convicted of murder, to the Community Police Review Board. Hedquist had served on the board since 2024. Council later voted to remove Hedquist.
"Vote against Vanessa Nordyke," the ad says. "She's dangerous for Salem."
"We focus on local elections and endorse candidates of all parties, unlike Progressive Salem PAC, which is dedicated to electing Democrats, many of whom have extreme, out-of-touch agendas and records," Marion+Polk First PAC spokesman David Kilada said.
The PAC endorsed Democrat Jennifer Parker for the Salem-Keizer School Board as well as Democrat Celine Coleman for her 2024 Salem City Council race. Current Councilor Shane Matthews, who had the PAC's endorsement, is unaffiliated, as is Martinez.
Kilada said the PAC endorses candidates who hold common-sense positions on issues, such as accountability in solving the homelessness crisis and supporting and funding local police, rather than putting convicted murderers in oversight positions.
The PAC lists its biggest donors as Marion+Polk First Action, Commercial Properties Resources, Businesses for Community, Kerley Ranches and Andrew Miller.
The PAC has given $12,767 to Hoy, $28,526 to Martinez, $7,041 to Gwyn, $29,877 to Vega and $22,033 to Cummings.
The PAC accounts for a majority of contributions for the council races it backs.
Other top donors to 2026 races include Tokarski and Mountain West Investment, $14,500 from the Salem Fire PAC, $13,000 from N. Levin Industrial Real Estate and Nate Levin, $12,500 from Businesses for Community and $12,000 from the Oregon Realtors PAC.