Recent Posts

Jim Redden reports on the launch of the Citizen Smith campaign and the issues relating to all candidates this cycle who plan to utilize Portland's Voter Owned Elections (VOE) system.

Excerpts:

When activist Chris Smith announced for City Council on Wednesday, he took a stand on a controversial issue that will not appear on the ballot for three years — the city’s public campaign financing program, which the council has promised to refer to the voters in 2010.

The Merc's Scott Moore cover Chris's entry into the race, and the challenges and issues facing the campaign.

Excerpt:

In a number of ways, Smith will begin his run as the early frontrunner among the field of likely candidates, but among the city at large, his name will probably register a collective "Chris who?"

"With the tens of thousands of people who will be voting in the May primary election," Smith says, "my name recognition is pretty low. But if you look at the 'thought leaders' who will be out there talking and informing those voters, it's quite high."

Editor Jonathan Maus posts observations from Chris's campaign kickoff speech.

Excerpt:

I’ve seen and heard Smith at countless meetings over the years, but now it’s a whole new ballgame.

Video of Wednesday's Citizen Smith for Portland City Council launch:

Surrounded by supporters, Chris Smith officially announced his bid for Portland City Council this morning at an Ankeny Plaza press conference. Standing next to his partner, Staci Paley, and the Skidmore Fountain, with its well-known inscription “Good citizens are the riches of a city,” Smith gave his first speech as a candidate for the seat currently held by Commissioner Sam Adams.

In his remarks, candidate Smith, who as an activist advocated the adoption of the Voter Owned Elections public campaign finance system stated that, “Our campaign will work to be an example of how Voter Owned Elections should be used: honestly, transparently, and as an invitation to participation by voters.”

I came to Oregon 20 years ago. I came here for a job, planning to stay for a couple of years.

Instead I fell in love with Oregon, and I fell in love with Portland, for all the same reasons that I know all of you love Portland. For the things that set us apart from other cities.

Portland Tribune: Citizen Smith

(Originally published February 20th, 2007.)

Excerpt:

But if one thing is true about Portland civic life in recent years, it is this: If there’s a table — at least a table where wonks are talking about policy frameworks and regional planning and assessing needs for the future and seeking input from stakeholders and blah, blah, blah — Chris Smith is probably at it.

He is Citizen Smith.