ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHAD CROWE Goldschmidt’s Web of PowerGoldschmidt’s Web of Power Tom Imeson...
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Tom Imeson Lobbyist. Goldschmidt’s right-hand man. Former Hatfield aide and PacifiCorp exec. Was NG’s chief of staff as governor. Later NG’s business partner and liaison to Gov. Kulongoski. Tom Walsh Homebuilder. Ran for City Council with NG in 1969, pal ever since. Oversaw TriMet, a NG fiefdom, in the 1990s. One of NG’s partners in Texas Pacific’s PGE takeover. Ruth Ann Dodson Confidante and alter ego to NG throughout his career from City Hall to Washington, D.C., and Salem. Married to Mark. Mark Dodson CEO of NW Natural. Ran Board of Higher Ed for NG. Brought NG into Ater Wynne law firm. Owns vacation home with NG sidekick Tom Imeson. Married to Ruth Ann. John Carter Consultant. Former Bechtel senior exec from Pendleton. Bought Yamhill winery with NG. Works for NG’s former firm. On NW Natural’s board of directors. Ted Runstein Lawyer. Was Legal Aid lawyer with NG in the 1960s before joining politically powerful firm Kell Alterman. Represented NG in 1994 settlement with statutory rape victim. Homer Williams Pearl District developer is longtime buddy. NG honeymooned at his Caribbean resort, Jumby Bay. NG represented key landowners in South Waterfront, where Williams is doing massive development. Jerry Bidwell Stockbroker. NG calls him his “best friend.” They own downtown building together. Bidwell served on Oregon Investment Council with Diana Goldschmidt. Steve Goldschmidt Younger brother. Fired last month after stormy tenure as HR director of Portland Public Schools. Like NG, was student body prez at U of O. Diana Goldschmidt PacifiCorp executive married NG in 1994. Served as interim Portland schools super. Named to Oregon Investment Council by Gov. Kitzhaber. Forced to resign by Kulongoski last year. Irving Levin Credit-card tycoon. Met NG when looking to move business to Oregon. Later made NG one of the directors of his company Renaissance Bankcard Services. NG made millions when Levin sold the company. Debby Kennedy Marketer. Worked for NG at Nike. Followed him to Salem as tourism director. Ran communications at Port of Portland for Goldschmidt crony Mike Thorne; now director of Brand Oregon for Kulongoski. Alan Webber Journalist. Mayoral aide went on to edit Harvard Business Review and later founded wildly successful (for a while) Fast Company. Remains close to NG. Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Wealthy real-estate and art couple were longtime supporters. NG frequented their Gearhart beach house after 1990 divorce. Mark Hatfield Former Republican governor and senator, Hatfield worked hand- in-glove with NG. Top aide and fixer Gerry Frank remains strong NG supporter. Ted Kulongoski Governor. NG rescued onetime Democratic golden boy from political scrapheap in 1986. Kulongoski has made few moves since without NG’s approval. Appointed NG to Board of Higher Ed. Ron Saxton Ater Wynne lawyer. Hired Diana Gold- schmidt as interim school super when he was chair of school board. Later launched his 2002 Republican campaign for governor at NG’s home. Ater Wynne Politically connected law firm won Gold- schmidt sweepstakes in 1991 when NG needed an office. Partners Steve Wynne, Bill Campbell and Steve Stadum (now a bigwig at OHSU) handled the rainmaker. Gregg Kantor Rising star at NW Natural under Mark Dodson. Big wheel in Portland Business Alliance. Was press secretary for Gov. Goldschmidt. Bob Ames Former bank president served as NG assistant in Washington, D.C. Later was president of the Port Commission. Fred Miller Was top bureaucrat under Gov. Goldschmidt. Later senior veep at PGE. Split when NG and Texas Pacific announced bid for PGE. Tom Moyer Octogenarian developer hired NG to pitch his vision for the Park Blocks. Bernie Giusto Multnomah County sheriff. Was bodyguard and driver for Gov. Goldschmidt. Knew NG’s secret and knew his wife. Angus Duncan City Hall aide to Mayor Goldschmidt. Later led Northwest Power Planning Council. Ron Buel WW founder. Edited U of O Emerald when NG was student-body prez. Later became NG’s campaign manager and aide at City Hall before starting WW. Cory Streisinger Oregon Insurance Commissioner. Was NG’s top lawyer as guv. Later served same role for NG pal Mike Thorne at Port of Portland. Don Mazziotti Executive director at Portland Development Commission. Was director of planning in Goldschmidt’s City Hall. Peter Kohler OHSU president. Hired by Mark Dodson after NG cleaned house on Pill Hill. Replaced NG as chairman of Oregon Electric. Doug Capps Consultant. Chief of staff to Mayor NG. Later a top official at TriMet and school- board member. Gerard Drummond Chairman, Oregon Investment Council. Former PacifiCorp exec appointed to OIC by Gov. NG. Relationship cooled over Drummond’s criticism of Diana Goldschmidt. Len Bergstein Master spin doctor. Worked for NG in City Hall and Salem. Next-door neighbor until last summer. Relationship cooled in recent years. Dennis Lindsay High-powered lawyer and longtime NG advisor. Brian Gard Spinmeister who worked closely with NG to protect SAIF. Summoned Oregonian brass to his office for Goldschmidt’s “confession” in May 2004. Phil Knight Nike founder hired fellow U of O alum NG to head Nike’s international sales. Provided NG first real wealth. Big campaign contributor and big client. Aaron Jones Arch-conservative Eugene lumberman hired NG to swap timberlands for federal holdings. Peter Stott Former Crown Pacific lumber CEO got startup cash from NG client Bechtel. Kept NG on retainer. Also a client of Brian Gard. Jeff Grayson Disgraced pension fund manager was Portland’s moneyman in ‘80s and ‘90s. Goldschmidt, a pal, was one of only two Democrats whose picture adorned the wall of fame in Grayson’s office (Sen. Ron Wyden was the other). David Bragdon Metro Council prez. Was intern to NG at City Hall, followed him to D.C. Worked on NG campaign for guv. Also worked at Nike and for NG pal Mike Thorne at the Port. Glenn Jackson Preceded NG as Oregon’s most powerful figure. Former longtime Pacific Power chairman and state trans- portation czar was NG’s role model. Vera Katz Three-term Portland mayor got her political start volunteering for NG’s mayoral campaign. Was Speaker of the House when NG was guv. Betsy Welch City Hall aide later named to TriMet board and Multnomah County judge- ship by NG. Mike and Jill Thorne She: aide to Gov. Goldschmidt. He: Pendleton wheat farmer and longtime pal; Oregon Senate leader while NG was guv; later Port of Portland executive director. ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHAD CROWE
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Goldschmidt’s Web of Power
Tom ImesonLobbyist. Goldschmidt’s right-hand man. Former Hatfi eld aide and Pacifi Corp exec. Was NG’s chief of staff as governor. Later NG’s business partner and liaison to Gov. Kulongoski.
Tom WalshHomebuilder. Ran for City
Council with NG in 1969, pal ever since. Oversaw TriMet, a NG fi efdom, in the 1990s. One of NG’s partners in Texas Pacifi c’s PGE takeover.
Ruth Ann Dodson
Confi dante and alter ego to NG throughout his career from
City Hall to Washington, D.C., and Salem. Married to Mark.
Mark DodsonCEO of NW Natural. Ran Board of Higher Ed for NG. Brought NG into Ater Wynne law fi rm. Owns vacation home with NG sidekick Tom Imeson. Married to Ruth Ann.
John CarterConsultant. Former Bechtel senior exec from Pendleton. Bought Yamhill winery with NG. Works for NG’s former fi rm. On
NW Natural’s board of directors.
Ted RunsteinLawyer. Was Legal Aid lawyer
with NG in the 1960s before joining politically powerful fi rm Kell
Alterman. Represented NG in 1994 settlement with statutory rape victim.
Homer WilliamsPearl District developer is longtime buddy. NG honeymooned at his Caribbean resort, Jumby Bay. NG represented key landowners in South Waterfront, where Williams is doing massive development.
Jerry Bidwell
Stockbroker. NG calls him his “best friend.” They own
downtown building together. Bidwell served on Oregon
Investment Council with Diana Goldschmidt.
Steve GoldschmidtYounger brother. Fired last month after stormy tenure as HR director of Portland Public Schools. Like NG, was student body prez at U of O.
Diana GoldschmidtPacifi Corp executive married NG in 1994. Served as interim Portland schools super. Named to Oregon Investment Council by Gov. Kitzhaber. Forced to resign by Kulongoski last year.
Irving LevinCredit-card tycoon. Met NG when looking to move business to Oregon. Later made NG one of the directors of his company Renaissance Bankcard Services. NG made millions when Levin sold the company.
Debby KennedyMarketer. Worked for NG at Nike. Followed him to Salem as tourism director. Ran communications at Port of Portland for Goldschmidt crony Mike Thorne; now director of Brand Oregon for Kulongoski.
Alan WebberJournalist. Mayoral aide
went on to edit Harvard Business Review
and later founded wildly successful
(for a while) Fast Company. Remains close to NG.
Harold and Arlene
SchnitzerWealthy real-estate
and art couple were longtime supporters.
NG frequented their Gearhart beach house
after 1990 divorce.
Mark Hatfi eld Former Republican governor and senator, Hatfi eld worked hand-in-glove with NG. Top aide and fi xer Gerry Frank remains strong NG supporter.
Ted KulongoskiGovernor. NG rescued onetime Democratic golden boy from political scrapheap in 1986. Kulongoski has made few moves since
without NG’s approval. Appointed NG to Board of Higher Ed.
Ron SaxtonAter Wynne lawyer. Hired Diana Gold-schmidt as interim school super when he was chair of school board. Later launched his 2002 Republican campaign for governor at NG’s home.
Ater Wynne
Politically connected law fi rm won Gold-
schmidt sweepstakes in 1991 when NG needed
an offi ce. Partners Steve Wynne, Bill Campbell and Steve Stadum (now a bigwig at OHSU) handled the rainmaker.
GreggKantor
Rising star at NW Natural under Mark Dodson.
Big wheel in Portland Business Alliance. Was press secretary for Gov.
Goldschmidt.
Bob Ames
Former bank president served as NG assistant
in Washington, D.C. Later was president of the Port Commission.
Fred MillerWas top bureaucrat under Gov. Goldschmidt. Later senior veep at PGE. Split when NG and Texas Pacifi c
announced bid for PGE.
Tom MoyerOctogenarian developer hired NG
to pitch his vision for the Park Blocks.
Bernie GiustoMultnomah County sheriff. Was bodyguard and driver for Gov. Goldschmidt. Knew NG’s secret and knew his wife.
Angus Duncan
City Hall aide to Mayor
Goldschmidt. Later led
Northwest Power Planning Council.
Ron BuelWW founder. Edited U of O Emerald when NG was student-body prez. Later became NG’s campaign manager and aide at City Hall before starting WW.
Cory StreisingerOregon Insurance Commissioner. Was NG’s top
lawyer as guv. Later served same role for NG pal Mike Thorne at Port of Portland.
Don MazziottiExecutive director at Portland Development Commission. Was director of planning in Goldschmidt’s City Hall.
Peter KohlerOHSU president. Hired
by Mark Dodson after NG cleaned house on
Pill Hill. Replaced NG as chairman of Oregon Electric.
Doug CappsConsultant. Chief of staff to Mayor NG. Later a top offi cial at TriMet and school-
board member.
Gerard Drummond
Chairman, Oregon Investment Council. Former Pacifi Corp exec
appointed to OIC by Gov. NG. Relationship cooled over Drummond’s
criticism of Diana Goldschmidt.
Len BergsteinMaster spin doctor. Worked for NG in
City Hall and Salem. Next-door neighbor until last summer.
Relationship cooled in recent years.
Dennis LindsayHigh-powered lawyer and longtime NG advisor.
Brian GardSpinmeister who worked closely with NG to protect SAIF. Summoned Oregonian brass to his offi ce for Goldschmidt’s “confession” in May 2004.
Phil KnightNike founder hired fellow U of O alum NG to head Nike’s international sales. Provided NG fi rst real wealth. Big campaign contributor and big client.
Aaron JonesArch-conservative Eugene lumberman hired NG to swap timberlands for federal holdings.
Peter StottFormer Crown Pacifi c lumber CEO
got startup cash from NG client Bechtel. Kept NG on retainer. Also a
client of Brian Gard.
Jeff Grayson
Disgraced pension fund manager was
Portland’s moneyman in ‘80s and ‘90s. Goldschmidt,
a pal, was one of only two Democrats whose picture
adorned the wall of fame in Grayson’s offi ce (Sen. Ron
Wyden was the other).
David Bragdon
Metro Council prez. Was intern to NG at City Hall, followed him to D.C. Worked on NG campaign for guv. Also worked at Nike and for NG pal Mike Thorne at the Port.
Glenn JacksonPreceded NG as Oregon’s most powerful fi gure. Former longtime Pacifi c Power chairman and state trans-portation czar was NG’s role model.
Vera KatzThree-term
Portland mayor got
her political start volunteering for NG’s mayoral
campaign. Was Speaker of the
House when NG was guv.
BetsyWelchCity Hall aide later named to TriMet board and Multnomah County judge-ship by NG.
Mike and Jill Thorne She: aide to Gov. Goldschmidt. He: Pendleton
wheat farmer and longtime pal; Oregon Senate leader while NG was guv; later Port of Portland executive director.
criticism of Diana Goldschmidt.
Len BergsteinMaster spin doctor. Worked for NG in
City Hall and Salem. Next-door neighbor until last summer.
Relationship cooled in recent years.
Spinmeister who worked closely with NG to brass to his
offi ce for Goldschmidt’s “confession” in May 2004.
I L L U S T R A T I O N S B Y C H A D C R O W E
