Editorial

City, county deserve the best

The Portland Tribune, Oct 23, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (4 Reader comments)

Portland-area voters may be concentrating the bulk of their election attention on the historic race for the White House and the grinding battle for a U.S. Senate seat representing Oregon. But closer to home, voters have significant decisions to make about who will lead the city and Multnomah County during the difficult months ahead.

Here are our recommendations in these races:

Portland City Council

Position 1 — Charles Lewis

Sam Adams is giving up this seat to become mayor, and the vacancy attracted a swarm of candidates — six to be exact — in the May primary.

As voters consider the two finalists in the November election, they will find a lot to like about Amanda Fritz, a former Portland Planning Commission member who could bring years of activist experience to the council. But our preference remains with Lewis, founder of the nonprofit Ethos Music Center.

Lewis has actual business experience, a sense of mission for the City Council and a well-defined list of priorities — job creation, small business assistance, investment in affordable housing and city support for schools.

These attributes will make a difference on a council that needs less process and more action.

Multnomah County commissioner

District 3 — Mike Delman

For East Portland voters, Delman is the obvious choice in this race.

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