The Oregonian has unveiled its city council endorsements, following its earlier endorsement of Rene Gonzalez for mayor.
The news organization interviewed up to six candidates per district, a number that raised eyebrows given the varying sizes of the candidate pools, ranging from sixteen in District 1 to thirty in Districts 3 and 4.
In a letter to the editor earlier this month, District 2 candidate Mariah Hudson expressed frustration over being excluded, citing qualifications like chairing PBOT’s Budget and Bureau Advisory Committee. Hudson, backed by several labor unions, elected officials, and business groups, is the third-highest fundraiser in her district.
In District 4, supporters of neighborhood and arts advocate Stan Penkin sent over 80 emails to The Oregonian editorial board, requesting that Penkin be granted an interview. Penkin, the district’s second-highest fundraiser, has endorsements from all four sitting city commissioners and several business groups.
Other District 4 candidates who were not invited to make their pitch included Tony Morse, with over twenty labor endorsements and support from multiple business groups, and Mitch Green, an economist, and environmentalist whose worker-friendly platform has earned support from many labor and progressive organizations.
In District 3, The Oregonian notably did not interview Tiffany Koyama Lane, a teacher and union organizer who could become Portland’s first Asian-American councilor. Koyama Lane is the top fundraiser across all council races, and is backed by numerous labor organizations and progressive leaders. In contrast, The Oregonian’s first pick in District 3, Kezia Wanner, is not a participant of the public campaign financing program, and has raised less than $10,000.
In District 1, The Oregonian’s editorial board endorsed small business owner Terrence Hayes, Radio Cab supervisor Noah Ernst, and sustainability advocate Candace Avalos. In District 2, it backed City Commissioner Dan Ryan, City of Portland manager Tiffani Penson, and cider entrepreneur Nat West.
In District 3, it chose Kezia Wanner, a compliance director for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, former City Commissioner Steve Novick, and recovery advocate Jesse Cornett. In District 4, the board picked Eric Zimmerman, chief of staff to Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards; Olivia Clark, a former high-level staffer for TriMet and the Department of Environmental Quality; and Portland Police Officer Eli Arnold.