We love lists, and this one was irresistable: The 50 most influential political people in Oregon, leaving aside the actual officeholders and candidates.
Topping out: The governor's chief of staff and the staff chief for the senior senator - sensible enough. Of the former, Chip Terhune: "If you want the attention of the governor, Terhune is the only in." Of the latter, Josh Kardon: "When it comes to Oregon political strategy, no one does it better. That might explain why U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign tapped Kardon to head up her Oregon team – even though he didn’t have much to work with."
Elsewhere, labor accounts for a bunch of top names, and top staff people, along with pollsters and campaign operatives, account for another large group. Oregon's richest man, Phil Knight, checks in at #19. It's a good read.