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Before you vote this fall, find out what Portland city council and mayoral candidates think about our parks. Portland Parks Foundation (PPF) invited each city council and mayoral candidate to share their thoughts with the voters on Portland’s parks system.
City council and the mayor will impact the future of Portland’s parks system. In our new governing structure, city councilors are the policymakers with power to refer bonds and levies to the ballot and are the voices of Portland’s community members at City Hall. Portland’s mayor is the chief administrator overseeing the city’s budget development and implementation of the city’s strategic plan - ultimately overseeing the operation of parks and its budget.
Here’s a chance to hear what your candidates think about your parks system before you vote this fall. Below are links to answers from every mayoral candidate and city council candidate who responded.
PPF reached out to all candidates. Some have not replied by the deadline. If we hear back, we’ll continue to update.
Candidate responses:
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by first name. Click on their name to read their responses.
Mayor
The following candidates are also running for Mayor, but did not provide a response:
Alexander Landry Neely, Dustin Witherspoon, James Atkinson IV, Liv (Viva) Østhus, Michael Hayes, Saadiq Ali, Shei'Meka (BeUtee) As-Salaam, Yao Jun He
District 1
The following candidates are also running for District 1, but did not provide a response:
David Linn, Joe Allen, Joe Furi, Loretta Smith, Michael (Mike) Sands, Noah Ernst, Thomas Shervey
District 2
The following candidates are also running for District 2, but did not provide a response: Chris Olson, Debbie Kitchin, James Armstrong, Jennifer Park, Jonathan Tasini, Mariah Hudson, Michael (Mike) Marshall, Nat West, Sam Sachs, Will Mespelt
District 3
The following candidates are also running for District 3, but did not provide a response:
Ahlam K Osman, Angelita Morillo, Brian Conley, Christopher Brummer, Clifford Higgins, Cristal Azul Otero, Dan Gilk, David O'Connor, Harrison Kass, Heart Free Pham, Jaclyn Smith-Moore, Jesse Cornett, John Sweeney, Kelly Janes (KJ), Kenneth (Kent) R Landgraver III, Luke Zak, Matthew (Matt) Anderson, Melodie Beirwagen, Patrick Hilton, Philippe Knab, Sandeep Bali, Steve Novick, Terry Parker
District 4
The following candidates are also running for District 4, but did not provide a response:
Ben Hufford, Bob Callahan, Brandon Farley, Chloe Mason, Ciatta R Thompson, Eli Arnold, John Toran, Kevin Goldsmith, L Christopher Regis, Lee Odell, Lisa Freeman, Michael Trimble, Mike DiNapoli, Moses Ross, Patrick Cashman, Raquel Coyote, Tony Morse, Tony Schwartz
What is at stake?
An equitable and thriving parks system is essential for a healthy Portland. We know our parks:
provide public places of connection
foster a strong sense of community and belonging
encourage health and overall well-being
offer opportunities for cultural and artistic expression
are essential for local wildlife and addressing the effects of climate change
Portland’s future leaders will need to understand the vast system Portland’s parks and recreation encompasses. Additionally, understanding the various funding sources for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is also necessary for overseeing the budget and operations and developing policy and strategy. Historically, PP&R has been funded through a myriad of funding sources including General Fund tax dollars, system development charges, service charges, permits, fees, intergovernmental and interagency agreements, special revenue trust funds, grants and donations, bonds, and levies.
As evidenced by the long history of parks bonds and levies, funding for parks has never provided adequate funding for proper maintenance or operations. Currently, there is over a $600 million maintenance backlog and the 2020 parks levy that funds over a third of PP&R’s operating costs is set to expire at end of 2025. Portland's parks face a critical need for sustainable future planning. Recent public polling has explored both the feasibility of a future bond and the renewal of the 2020 levy to address maintenance needs and sustain operations.
There are major gaps in the level of service throughout Portland’s parks system, and our beloved parks system is facing a financial cliff if we don’t find funding to maintain it. It’s important for Portland voters to hear from their candidates about how they intend to work with their constituents and their colleagues to address these issues to prioritize our parks.