← All firms The hired hands · #12 by business-side money

Morel Ink

Paid $34K by Portland’s business-backed and conservative campaigns and PACs since January 2025, and also paid by progressive Portland candidates and Democratic, labor or progressive committees this cycle.

What: Union print and mail shop
Where: Portland
Website: morelink.com

Business & conservative side, 2025–26$34K+$831 owed

Progressive side, 2025–26$8K

Every Oregon committee, 2025–26$837K

Every Oregon committee, all years$1.1M142 committees since 2024 (at least)

Who’s behind it

Scott Ballo, Co-owner (bought firm 2017). At Morel since 2009. Before that he worked for union-backed political groups and politicians, including Gov. Ted Kulongoski. nwlaborpress.org
Alli Wood, Co-owner (bought firm 2017). Morel's bookkeeper since 2004. nwlaborpress.org
Shauna Ballo, Co-owner (spouse of Scott Ballo). Former communications director for SEIU Local 49 and Basic Rights Oregon. nwlaborpress.org
Ben Wood, Co-owner (spouse of Alli Wood). No other background given in the source. nwlaborpress.org

What to know

NW Labor Press (2017) says it specializes in political mail for “union-friendly political candidates and organizations.” NW Labor Press
Owners told NW Labor Press in 2022 that most requests for the union bug come from Democratic candidates. Volume roughly doubles in election years. NW Labor Press
Bought fellow Portland union printer NuWay Printing in December 2018. NW Labor Press

Who paid it, Jan 2025 – Oct 2026

Portland city and county races

Kellie TorresBusiness-backed side$11K
Julia Brim-EdwardsBusiness-backed side$9K
Eli ArnoldBusiness-backed side$7K
Steve NovickBusiness-backed side$3K
Olivia ClarkBusiness-backed side$3K
Shannon SingletonProgressive side$5K+$831 owed
Tiffany Koyama LaneProgressive side$3K

Every other Oregon committee

24 more local, judicial and measure committeesOther$204K
Friends of Pam TreeceGrouped with the business-backed side$102K
12 more Democratic, labor and progressive committeesDemocratic, labor, progressive$86K
Friends of Janeen SollmanDemocratic, labor, progressive$70K
Friends of Tina KotekDemocratic, labor, progressive$40K
Washington County Safe CommunitiesOther$36K
Portland Association of Teachers PACDemocratic, labor, progressive$34K
Libraries for Everyone - Vote YesOther$33K
Virginia La Forte for School BoardOther$32K
Democratic Party of Coos CountyDemocratic, labor, progressive$28K
Alex for JudgeOther$26K
SDLFDemocratic, labor, progressive$25K
OEA-PACDemocratic, labor, progressive$22K
Portlanders for ParksOther$21K
Savage for JudgeOther$19K
Friends of Rachel PhilipOther$19K

Every Oregon committee, all years

$1.1M from 142 committees since 2024 (at least: the search caps out on firms this busy). The biggest:

Friends of Pam Treece2025–2026$102K
Coalition for Portland’s Future2024$80K
Friends of Janeen Sollman2026$70K
Friends of Tina Kotek2024–2026$42K
Washington County Safe Communities2025$36K
Portland Association of Teachers PAC2025–2026$34K
Libraries for Everyone - Vote Yes2026$33K
Virginia La Forte for School Board2025$32K
Democratic Party of Coos County2025–2026$28K
Alex for Judge2026$26K

Sources

Portland race payments: the campaigns’ own ORESTAR filings. Other clients and all-years history: a Ballast vendor search of every Oregon committee in ORESTAR. Both pulled Oct 19, 2026.
NW Labor Press, Sept. 2017 (Morel Ink owners change, union remains)
NW Labor Press, Jan. 29, 2019 (Morel Ink acquires NuWay Printing)
NW Labor Press, Nov. 2, 2022 (Busy season for union printers)
NW Labor Press, July 6, 2023 (Graphic Communications Conference leaves the Teamsters)
Morel Ink website, home
Morel Ink website, About
Morel Ink website, Contact (locations)