In The News

"The strongest answers came from Chris Smith" ... "Smith gave the consummate response" ... "Smith was picked over an appealing field of candidates"

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #14:

(Original Post from Mar. 20, 2008)

Our region is poised to consider what to do about the Columbia River Crossing—and we’re faced with an option that costs roughly $4.2 billion dollars, and possibly doubles the size of the bridge over the Columbia River. In your opinion, does the staff-recommended option—a 10 to 12 lane bridge, plus light rail transit, tolls, and improved pedestrian and bike crossing—meet Portland’s goals and needs? What would you advocate for as the optimal plan for the crossing, and how would you ensure that Portland’s needs and goals aren’t lost in a massive regional, bi-state project?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #13:

(Original Post from Mar. 13, 2008)

The last candidate who turned in more than 1,000 signatures has been certified for public financing. What are your thoughts on the program? Why did you or didn’t you participate? Also, would you vote to put the program to a public vote in 2010?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #12:

(Original Post from Mar. 6, 2008)

In areas such as transparency, accessibility, and constituent relations and involvement, what can Portlanders expect from you if elected? How have you demonstrated those values in past roles, or in your campaign?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #11:

(Original Post from Feb. 28, 2008)

It seems that due to the current mortgage meltdown and the recession we are currently in, all of the major property management companies have decided to raise their rates in some cases up to 25 percent in non-hip areas. Most of the statues of Tenant’s rights are geared towards property owners, not renters. Leases are not worth the paper they are printed on: I have known many people who are given the 72 hours to vacate notice letter for the most shallow of reasons, but God forbid the tenant wants to walk away as management companies have no problem sticking the ex-renter with charges that are legal, but in bad faith. I.e., you have lived somewhere for 5 years without any work being done on the property, yet the ex-tenant will be billed accordingly for the work that is needed, even though the “damages” are just a part of normal wear and tear.

Is there anything the candidates are thinking of that can help tenants avoid astronomical rent hikes and find more ways to balance out the power of property owners? I am not talking about low-income housing either (which i feel is a separate issue), but working-class citizens that are not seeing their wages get any higher suddenly getting sticker shock when their rent agreements are up for renewal. In all honesty, due to my last rent hike, I am not supporting any property-tax levy because I know this will give my management company the power to disproportionately increase my rent again beyond the true cost of the tax so they can pocket more money. People are squeezed as much as they can be and this would be will just lower the standard of living to a high degree. I love this town, but it seems that the citizens who are not broke, nor own homes do not really have anyone looking out for them.

I wish to remain anonymous because I am afraid of retaliation.

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #10:

(Original Post from Feb. 21, 2008)

Stakeholders in Old Town Chinatown—homeless advocates, the Chinese community, residents, business owners, developers, the PDC—have been at odds over where to site a homeless day access center, raising issues about process and power as they debate future development in the neighborhood. How would you, as city commissioner, handle such a hot button issue? What’s the solution for siting the homeless day access center?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #9:

(Original Post from Feb. 14, 2008)

Last year the city adopted recommendations made by the Portland Peak Oil Task Force but little action has been taken. If one of the major solutions to global warming and peak oil is to reduce energy consumption and with it, reduce growth, how would you as a city commissioner approach this goal knowing that the business community prefers an unsustainable status quo?

- Jonathan Brandt, SE Portland

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #8:

(Original Post from Feb. 7, 2008)

Portland is in year three of the 10-year plan to end homelessness, and the city council is about to lose that plan’s biggest advocate, Erik Sten. Can homelessness actually be ended, and is the 10-year-plan on track to accomplish that goal?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #7:

(Original Post from Jan. 31, 2008)

Multnomah County is facing an $18 million budget shortfall, which will make it exceedingly difficult to provide adequate mental health, drug treatment, and addiction services. Though social services aren’t under the city’s jurisdiction, the issue impacts our city. How would you, as a city commissioner, find creative ways to fill the gap?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #6:

(Original Post from Jan. 24, 2008)

On Wednesday night, January 16, Police Chief Rosie Sizer presented a report on the Racial Profiling Task Force, a group charged with working toward the elimination of racial profiling. Has Portland seen progress in this area? What can be done to further improve police-community relations?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #5:

(Original Post from Jan. 17, 2008)

This week’s question—from reader Jasun Wurster—tackles the PDC’s urban renewal areas.

What are your thoughts on the Portland Development Commission’s eleven Urban Renewal Areas? More specifically, would you support extending the following Urban Renewal Areas when they reach their expiration date (dates are from the PDC’s website)—three would expire during your term:

• Downtown Waterfront - 2008
• South Park Blocks - 2008
• Airport Way - May 2011
• Oregon Convention Center - June 2013
• Lents Town Center - 2015

Also, why would they support to extend or let the above URA’s lapse?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #4:

(Original Post from Jan. 10, 2008)

City Hall can be an exhausting, brutal and frustrating place to work, let alone thrive. What makes you “tough enough” to be a successful leader in that kind of environment?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #3:

(Original Post from Jan. 3, 2008)

In your opinion, what is Portland’s most pressing problem? If elected, what would you do about it?

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #2:

(Original Post from Dec. 20, 2007)

If elected, which bureau would you most like to head up? How do you feel that bureau is currently being run, and what changes, if any, would you make as commissioner of that bureau?