Mayor, 2019–2023, leading the city through Covid. School Board, 2007–2013, including two years as Board Chair and two as Finance Chair. Also, diversity of work and life experience.
I'm running for City Council now because I have broad and very relevant qualifications for the position, and I care deeply about Portland. There are very real challenges to livability, and I can help address them thoughtfully, meaningfully and in partnership, with a lens crafted by experience, trial and error. Our city council must lead with action: more housing, less crisis, real opportunity for local business.
The biggest gap isn’t Portland's effort or investment; our municipal government works hard and invests in shelter, services and support. But I believe the town-by-town approach to big system needs isn’t working. I think we would do better to move from a decentralized system to one where cities, towns, counties and the state coordinate to provide shelter, detox and recovery beds, and mental health services across the state. If we can pair people with available resources, there will be fewer people in crisis at any one time. Additionally, we need more affordable and middle housing, and the city plays a key role in fostering new development.