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11-25-2024 10:48 pm • PDX and SEA Weather
MLK Breakfast
With the list of Portland City Council candidates finalized, voters will see a larger field of candidates than before.
Voters will also be given new directions in how to vote: Instead of choosing just one candidate, they will be listing the candidates they prefer, in order of preference, under the new ranked-choice voting system. This will allow them to vote for three candidates at a time, and will prevent the risk of run-offs.
While the learning curve to this new system may seem steep, it is an approach that has drawn a more racially and economically diverse group of candidates.
Here are certified and soon-to-be-certified candidates in N/Northeast Portland. They are running to represent District 2, which lies largely north of the Willamette and north of I-84 and borders PDX.
Without exception, each of these candidates has listed affordable housing and public safety as among their top priorities.
A forensic accountant and owner of an optometry clinic, Armstrong calls himself "an insufferable optimist by nature" who wants to focus on inclusive housing policies, creating a safer environment for the public and small businesses and promoting better neighborhood engagement.
A mother and community volunteer with a background in working to get pro-choice women candidates into local and national office, Glickman describes her 30-year vision for the city as including green union jobs, increasing community safety, phasing out fossil fuels, opposing oil trains through the city by specifically calling out transporter Zenith Energy.
A senior healthcare communicator at Oregon Health and Science University, Hudson’s priorities include cleaning up the city by prosecuting street, drug and property crimes, making Portland Street Response a 24/7 service, streamlining permitting processes to build more affordable housing and to "love on where we live."
Co-owner of general contractor InterWorks LLC, Reed graduate Kitchin served on the Portland Charter Review Commission and wants to leverage her industry knowledge to address the city's homeless crisis, and advocates strengthening the Portland Street Response program and encouraging entrepreneurship in countering the climate crisis.
Cofounder and executive director of Oregon Recovers, addiction expert Marshall is advocating the establishment of trauma-informed shelters with a focus on family reunification, creating a minimum basic income program for families and slashing the addiction rate by constructing four sobering centers, adding 100 sober housing beds to the city and tripling detox capacity.
The current people and culture manager for the city of Portland, Penson promises to get the city back to delivering basic services that include clearing public rights of way, trash removal and graffiti, as well as strengthening the city’s lagging 911 system. Named a 2024 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense candidate, Penson says she will make sure the city actively works with state and federal officials to fund and pass gun violence prevention laws.
A former labor and workforce training policy advisor to Gov. Brown and organizing coordinator for Oregon AFL-CIO, Pirtle-Guiney promises to focus on economic resilience in the community through budget review and by studying how zoning changes help or hurt the community, and by calling into question tax breaks, free waivers and other business subsidies that benefit some businesses over others.
Current City Commissioner Ryan touts his success in establishing seven Safe Rest Villages as part of his platform of providing shelter and services for everyone on the streets. Ryan promises to continue his work to cut costs and wait times in the city’s permit review process in order to promote housing development, and to continue his support for residential arts, music and sports organizations to enrich the city economy.
Small business consultant and youth athletic coach Simiril says his approach is one of "empathy and accountability": He favors data-driven hiring practices for the police in order to build trust between law enforcement and communities of color, and endorses taking a more nuanced approach to helping the homeless by recognizing their individual needs and backgrounds. He emphasizes the importance of community policing to make sure business districts and common areas are "safe havens" for all residents.
Founder and executive director at economic equality group Just Transition For All, Tasini is the former president of UAW Local 1981 and has centered workers’ rights and renter protections in his platform. A renter himself, Tasini promotes affordable housing as a universal right, calls or public broadband access and challenges local economic policies that provide tax cuts to the wealthy. He also believes the fossil fuel industry should pay a much greater share for putting Portland residents at risk of injury or adverse health effects.
Owner and operator of Reverend Nat's Hard Cider, West recalls being in "permit hell" while trying to expand his cider business in Portland -- and says he'll make sure the city's permitting bureau expedites approvals while still following code. West criticized the city's deal with Zenith Energy to expand oil shipments in the city and favors climate-forward solutions like protected bike lanes and expanded TriMet service.
Director of social service programs at Multnomah County, Zaghloul is running on a platform of economic justice and empowerment, promoting anti-poverty initiatives that counter food insecurity in marginalized communities, taking proactive measures to deploy resources to the homeless and "a balanced approach of compassion and decisive action" to collaboratively increase public safety.
Certification pending:
Current vice chair of Portland Public Schools Board of Education, DePass is also a member of the city’s bureau of planning and sustainability climate policy team. DePass wants to introduce an "age-friendly framework" that supports some of the city's most vulnerable residents: children and the elderly, while also making policy decisions through a climate justice framework, promoting inclusive affordable housing options and protecting pedestrian and cyclist safety.
The inclusive policy manager for the public safety service area for the city of Portland, Kanal has a focus on investing in infrastructure to benefit all residents. He proposes more car-free street design, expanding light rail service in his district and opposing the widening of the I-5 in the Rose Quarter.
Property manager Mespelt wants to redefine "affordable housing" in Portland with more livable price ranges in rent, transparency in how public properties are managed and by increasing the housing supply. He supports a city-funded down payment assistance and loan program, as well as increasing shelter capacity and creating a tow away program for inoperable RVs and "chop shops."
A renter and grassroots activist, Olson’s proposals include a renters' bill of rights that prohibits nonpayment-related evictions during winter months and during the school year for families that include students or teachers; following the New York City and Cleveland models of easing medical debt for residents on a large scale; and creating a universal basic income program to prevent seniors from becoming homeless.
The programs director at the educational support organization The Shadow Project, Park envisions a city council that operates through a climate justice lens in policy making. She is running on a platform of equitable community engagement during the local government transition, effective service networks and human-centered policies – as well as a restructured public safety system.
Founder and executive director of the nonprofit Vibe of Portland, Streib is an arts advocate who sees the support of Portland's "creative economy" of artists, musicians and entrepreneurs as key in making the city sustainable. In addition to investing in programs to support creators, Streib wants to see a return to policies that promote "environmental and infrastructure boldness" in the city, including in how the housing stock is expanded and how the city responds to extreme weather.
Read more about: The New Portland City Government: What You Need To Know About Voting
Read more about: City Elections Officials Explain Ranked-Choice Voting
