Public safety and housing emerged as key topics when District 1 candidates presented their platforms during a live-streamed forum hosted by KATU and Willamette University.
The forum featured seven of the sixteen candidates running in the district: Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, Timur Ender, Noah Ernst, Terrence Hayes, Steph Routh, and Loretta Smith.
Public Safety Prioritized by Most Candidates
When asked about their top priority as city councilors, most candidates pointed to public safety. Jamie Dunphy, however, highlighted livability as his main focus, while Steph Routh emphasized housing and homelessness.
On public safety, Noah Ernst, a taxi company supervisor, argued for increasing the number of law enforcement officers, noting that Portland has significantly fewer officers per capita than similar-sized cities.
Candace Avalos, a sustainability advocate, advocated for a more diversified first responder system, including alternatives to police. She referenced Portland Street Response, which handles mental health calls, stating, “What our community wants and deserves is the right responder at the right time for the right reasons.”
Loretta Smith, citing her experience as a former Multnomah County commissioner, pushed for youth employment programs as a crime prevention measure: “I have never seen a kid doing a drive-by on their way to work.” She also highlighted the role of community-based organizations in addressing crime.
Jamie Dunphy, a live music advocate and former policy director for City Commissioner Nick Fish, supported adding more police officers but stressed that vibrant community spaces could do more to reduce crime. He argued, “There is no amount of police officers walking up and down Hawthorne Boulevard at one in the morning that will have the same effect on community safety as a concert getting out and people being out in the community.”
Sustainability advocate Steph Routh and Timur Ender, a transportation planner, agreed that community-based solutions were needed, proposing a mix of services that included both police and unarmed responders. “I support things like a voluntary gun buyback program to prevent retaliatory shootings,” Ender added.
Disagreement Over Police Expansion and Camping Ban
The candidates split over whether to expand the police force. Terrence Hayes, Loretta Smith, and Noah Ernst called for increasing the number of sworn officers, while Steph Routh, Jamie Dunphy, and Timur Ender believed filling current vacancies should come first. Candace Avalos suggested the city should examine how the police budget is currently allocated before deciding on further expansion.
Jamie Dunphy and Candace Avalos voiced opposition to Portland’s camping ban, which allows enforcement officers to fine or jail unsheltered individuals who repeatedly refuse shelter. In contrast, Noah Ernst, Terrence Hayes, and Loretta Smith supported the ban. Steph Routh emphasized the need for more shelter space but did not take a position on the ban itself.
Housing Solutions: Land Banking, Permitting Reform, and Vacancy Tax
The candidates offered a range of solutions for increasing Portland’s housing stock. Steph Routh expressed optimism about the expanded use of ADUs and duplexes and called for streamlining the permitting process. Loretta Smith proposed land banking and expanding tax incentives for affordable housing projects.
Candace Avalos also supported land banking and predicted that Portland’s new government structure would help speed up housing production. Jamie Dunphy criticized the slow permitting process and called for changes to incentive structures to encourage development, while Noah Ernst and Terrence Hayes focused on reducing regulatory burdens to boost housing production.
Timur Ender and Jamie Dunphy both advocated for a vacancy tax to discourage long-term vacant properties. Dunphy remarked, “I’ve been told that there are condos in South Waterfront towers that have never been tenanted at all. I think that if those are kept vacant for a long period of time, that’s criminal, and I think that we should incentivize against that.” Ender also proposed using surplus city land for housing projects and increasing the use of housing vouchers for low-income families.
Poll Results: Public Safety Tops Voter Concerns
A viewer poll conducted by KATU during the debate revealed that 60% of respondents identified public safety as the top issue for the city council, while 40% prioritized housing. The poll remains open on the station’s website. A second council candidate forum, this time with candidates from District 2, will air tomorrow at 11am.
