The Brat Pack needs a timeout

Portland's new city charter has turned out to be a bust in just about every regard, but the worst aspect is the structure of the city council, and the way the members are elected. Just how bad a slate of councilors this system can produce was on full display yesterday, when three of the 12 members of the club demonstrated that their personal development has not progressed beyond the second grade.

When [Angelita Morillo's] amendment came up for a vote, it was deadlocked in a six-to-six tie, and Mayor Keith Wilson had to cast the tie-breaking vote. He voted against Morillo's plan, and that's when things took somewhat of an unusual turn.

"I think it's really wild that we as a council couldn't close the deal over 500ths of a percent of our total budget and that we have to call, I don't know, the 'daddy' of the city of Portland to come help break a tiebreaker for us because, for some reason, the city council can't get together to get it done," Morillo said on the dais, referring to Wilson's tie-breaker.

Councilor Loretta Smith interrupted and called for a point of order from Council President Jamie Dunphy, saying Morillo was impugning her colleagues. Smith asked Morillo, "Who are you calling 'daddy'?"

Morillo responded, "He's your daddy, not mine."

"I got a daddy," Smith replied.

Dunphy tried to restore order and allow Morillo to finish speaking, but Smith interjected again, prompting [Candace] Avalos to intervene by leaning over and switching off Smith's microphone.

This isn't the first time that Morillo, political spawn of Jo Ann Hardesty, has unleashed uncivil comments, derailing the proceedings with her anger. And I hope Smith doesn't get too riled up, because she's the one who suggested that the council should have loaded firearms handy on the dais. Meanwhile, Avalos, the architect of this circus tent from her days on the disastrous charter commission, was probably anxious to catch a flight for yet another junket on the taxpayers' dime. 

Okay, there are jerky people in this world, including in Portland (maybe especially in Portland), and they are entitled to representation. But do people this ridiculous really make up a quarter of the city's population? Because they're making up a quarter of the city council. 

Come on, voters. You can do way better than this if you'll just work at it a little.