Why I'm running for Multnomah County Commission

By Mike Delman of Portland, Oregon. Mike is a candidate for Multnomah County Commission, District 3. (Currently held by Commissioner Lisa Naito.) More information at MikeDelman.com

I am deeply honored to run for county commissioner, not because the job is glamorous, but because the county’s policies and programs make a difference in the lives of my family and yours.

My heart and soul is in Multnomah County. I’m passionately committed to causing county government to work better, spend tax dollars more wisely, and make decisions in a more open way.

It’s no secret that our county government is struggling -- to pay its bills, deliver services, and connect with the private sector and citizens. I worked at the county throughout most of the ‘90s, when the elected officials worked well together and provided excellent customer service to citizens. I see no reason why we can’t return to that standard quickly.

County government is feeling the crush of poor spending decisions. It’s time to pull back from the noise and controversy, and the lack of open dialogue. It’s time to focus on solutions.

I have the experience -- from nearly 11 years as an executive assistant to a County Commissioner, and the Multnomah County Sheriff, and in my work at the Multnomah County Department of Aging and Disability services. In addition to my public sector and organized labor experience, I’ve run a small business in downtown Portland, and worked elsewhere in the private sector. Currently, I’m the public affairs director for a non-profit that trains and employs the disabled -- the Portland Habilitation Center.

I helped to originate the Public Safety Coordinating Committee. I lobbied and fought successfully for important state and federal money for Multnomah County. I understand the justice system challenges -- from opening Wapato jail to the management of our jails.

My experience with public education is important to me. Serving as the Fernwood PTA legislative representative, I lobbied local government for increased SUN funding, and lobbied state legislators for increased K-12 money.

The county must create community through positive relationships with neighborhoods, schools and partner governments. I believe in public-private partnerships, too -- which I know from my work helping to bring about McMenamin’s wonderful Kennedy School Project.

Diversity is important in our community. I believe that county government must strive for equality of opportunity. I believe county government needs to care for everyone – not just those “at risk” of failure. County employees and managers need to project an attitude of becoming problem solvers, not simply “putting fires out.” When I worked at the county, our employees were proud to be considered the government of last resort. We had a soul. I think that attitude has been suppressed. I will work to bring it back.

We need to create an effective County Mental Health Program. I propose a reorganization. I will work with developers, planning officials, advocates and non-profits to improve residential mental health facilities. Since the closing of Dammasch, our mentally ill are housed in expensive jail facilities, under our bridges, and wherever they can find a roof. This is unconscionable. The county must commit to changing this paradigm. We need to tackle these programs together, as a community. Our society needs us to do better, to care more about those unable to help themselves.

In our health care system, county money should go where it will do the most good. Coordination between medical facilities, county clinics and OHSU could result in serving more citizens. Duplication of high-cost machines, laundries and food service needs to be minimized. I will also push for increased partnerships between county health clinics and local hospitals -- Kaiser, Providence, Emanuel, OHSU, Adventist and Good Samaritan. For example, the county needs to take the indigent out of costly hospital emergency rooms, and help get them preventive and ongoing care elsewhere. I will fight for universal health care at the State and Federal level.

We are warehousing and recycling people in our county corrections system. We need to come together as a community to provide rational service delivery in the corrections system. Social service providers such as Human Solutions, Cascade Behavioral Health, and Portland Impact can help find alternatives to costly jail cells. Central City Concern, Alcoholics Anonymous and St. Vincent DePaul can design alternatives for alcoholics and drug addicts that help them re-make their lives, escaping the cycle of hopelessness.

The county has successfully created partnerships to help our public education system through the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) programs. Currently these programs are sporadically located in low-income areas. I will strive to implement similar programs at middle-income schools -- schools that also have after-school needs for all students.

I grew up in this community. My wife, Lori, and I, and our two school-age daughters, want the same things you do: a good education system, a strong, healthy economy, and safe, vibrant neighborhoods.

I have contributed as a community activist and volunteer with Multnomah County Health Help, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism, Save PIL Sports, the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association, a school volunteer at Laurelhurst and Fernwood, as a mediator for the Victim-Offenders Reconciliation Project (V.O.R.P.) and currently as a member of the Portland Citizens Disability Advisory Committee and the Multnomah County Human Services Budget Advisory Committee.

I have been an active Democratic precinct committeeperson, serving King County in Seattle in 1980- 1982, Washington County 1984-1986 and in Multnomah County since 1988, helping Democratic candidates in every election cycle.

To win this election, I need your help. I need your help in my volunteer, grass-roots organization. Please let me know if you’re interested in volunteering. I’d greatly appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mike Delman
[email protected]

Nov. 07, 2007 Posted in guest column.