Charlie Hales says he's running for Portland mayor in 2012

Oregonian:

The former Portland city Commissioner, who left office in 2002 to take a job with HDR managing streetcar planning, is the first candidate to declare for Portland mayor.

While in office, he championed a 1994 parks bond and promoted light-rail lines to Hillsboro, Portland International Airport and along Interstate. He also was the first Portland politician to vote against involvement in the Joint Terrorism Task Force and pushed for hiring initiatives for women and minorities within the Fire Bureau. His crowning achievement is the downtown streetcar line, which opened 10 years ago after Hales was able to persuade property owners near the line to help pay for it.

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