Portland needs Mayor Jefferson Smith

Chip Shields

There are a lot of great candidates in the race for Portland Mayor. I'm voting for Jefferson Smith because he is the most progressive candidate in the race, but I’m also voting for Jefferson Smith because I have seen him deliver real results as my colleague fighting for justice in the Oregon legislature. I believe that in the race for Portland Mayor, we need to choose someone who can not only hit the ground running, but we need someone who can deliver real results right away. That’s Jefferson Smith.

I've represented N/NE Portland for over seven years. Living-wage jobs, health care, schools and equality are my top priorities. I'm proud to have endorsed Jefferson because he has demonstrated a unique ability to lead during his time in the Oregon Legislature. From working in a split Oregon House in order to balance the state's difficult budget to developing bipartisan legislation to solve tough water issues, Jeff has shown that he has what it takes to collaboratively work through problems.

Back in the 1990’s, the City of Portland had money for big, new projects. But now times are leaner and budgets are tighter. Of the candidates, Jefferson has worked with budget shortfalls to bring them into balance, rather than making them deeper. Portland needs Jefferson's experience. The next mayor will set key financial priorities. Jefferson will be ready to go on day one with the necessary skills to meet the city's needs while being mindful of what we can afford to pay for.

Jeff will also be ready on day one in another key way: he understands how to bring together people who disagree to find common ground and move forward. He co-led the bipartisan landmark effort on budget transparency to put Oregon government spending online. With Democratic Speaker Arnie Roblan and Republicans Kim Thatcher and Gene Whisnant, he helped increase Oregon’s grade for budget transparency.

Jefferson's plan to nurture and grow Portland's homegrown businesses highlights Jeff's ability to bring together those who often disagree. He was the co-Chief sponsor of Grow Oregon legislation, which created a plan for market intelligence for homegrown businesses. He collaborated with Rep. Sal Esquivel (R-Medford), Rep. Vic Gilliam (R-Seattle), Rep. Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City), Rep. Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) and Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Rep. Greg Matthews (D-Gresham), Rep. Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene). Together this bipartisan group launched Oregon’s economic gardening plan to grow local business first rather than paying big companies to relocate. Jefferson knows most new jobs come from earlier-stage, homegrown companies. The Small Business Development Centers “Get Growing” program and the new Grow Oregon pilot are helping those companies find new markets and new customers with proven tools normally available only to larger businesses. Harvard’s Kennedy School recently named the concept that inspired the bill a “Top 25 Government Innovation".

Jefferson's experience bridging his work in the legislature with local government and organizations will also serve the city well. Portland's mayor will need to work with Salem to solve municipal problems. Working with District Attorneys, advocacy groups like Oregon Center for Christian Voices and Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, Jeff brought Republicans on board and passed the Human Trafficking Hotline bill unanimously. He was also Chief Sponsor of HB 4146, which created a special process for expunging adjudications for child sex trafficking victims who were charged with prostitution while being trafficked. This bill passed unanimously.

Due to our city's collaborative mayor/city council system, the mayor must have experience bringing together people that sometimes have strong disagreements. In the Oregon legislature, Jefferson has worked numerous times with conservatives and Republicans to develop and pass good policy at the state level. Most famously, Jefferson worked closely with Republican Bob Jenson to pass the landmark Water Investment Act, creating sustainable jobs in Eastern Oregon and launching a statewide integrated water strategy. As mayor, Jefferson's experience will go a long way toward moving the city forward to solve the difficult problems we face.

When he was elected to represent East Portland in the legislature, Jefferson made a commitment to not only serve, but to complete his term. He believed then, as he does now, that being elected to serve is a public trust. Jefferson's commitment to lead the city of Portland will be the same.

Portland is a wonderful city and a great place to live. But we have serious problems that require the right kind of experience and leadership to solve. Jefferson Smith is the candidate for mayor that brings those skills to the job from day one. That's why he's earned my support.

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    Harvard educated Jefferson Smith and his Bus Project are the darlings of the Portland Progressive community. But it appears that he was not smart enough to recognize national citizen journalist James O'Keefe as he and his hidden cameras boarded the Bus Project for two whole days this past year.

    Now that Jefferson Smith is a front runner in the race to be Portland's next Mayor, it appears that he is poised to fall like an ACORN in the soon to be released Bus Project scandal involving major improprieties with minors directly involving Smith.

    http://www.oregonteaparty.org/​james-okeefe-oregon-tea-party-2​012/

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        Nothing to see here ...

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      You may be right. After all, it would seem those left of center in this state have an insatiable appetite for those who exploit children: Neil Goldschmidt, David Wu, Sam Adams ...

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        You must be forgetting Bob Packwood. His Republican colleagues didn't want to force him out just because of his numerous sexual scandals. They only forced him out after he threatened to expose their misdeeds as well. Then they shut him up real fast. Scandal doesn't have a political party, but fraudulent videos have James O'Keefe's name written all over them.

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          Does your Packwood example, involving adult women, have anything to do with what I said?

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            Jeff, there were at least 30 women who came forward in the Packwood case and other allegations that may have involved underage women. But you're dodging the issue of whether somehow only Democrats get involved in these scandals. If that's your position, it is clearly absurd partisanship. Mitch McConnell was one of Packwood's closest friends and may have helped push him out due to skeletons in his own closet. So, if you're going to make ridiculous trollish comments, at least have the courtesy to only come out from under your bridge at night to eat your goats...or whatever you do with them.

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            Oh, how we forget our history.

            Bob Packwood was surviving his scandal just fine. Until it was revealed that he had shown up at the home of an intern to personally deliver a reference letter - at which time he attempted to force himself on her.

            Within a matter of days, he was forced out by the Republican leadership.

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        I wouldn't characterize this as "an attack" ... it's only a prospective video at this point ... no need to worry.

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        It actually won't help Jefferson. Beacuse no one's going to give any thought to this kind of stupidity -- the Bus Project does some great work, and while I don't think it qualifies Jefferson to be Mayor, no one can take that success away from him.

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        Exactly ... nothing to worry about here ... folks love seeing their prospective leadership in compromising positions with minors!

        EDITOR'S NOTE: In the video posted by the Oregon Tea Party, James O'Keefe makes a number of assertions without evidence (promising to release it "later"). He does not make ANY CLAIM about Jefferson Smith. In fact, someone the crowd yells out that a Bus Project leader is running for Mayor, and O'Keefe responds, "What's his name?" We're striking out these comments from Geoff Ludt, and barring him from BlueOregon. He can spew his crap on his own website. -kari.

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    Great summary of reasons to vote for Jeff!

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      Spencer, just to clarify - are you referring to the "compromising positions with minors" as reasons to vote for him? Just a point of clarification here.

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    I'm voting for Charlie Hales. I like Smith but the problems Portland has leave no roon for on the job training.

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      Willard, what do you make of the election complaint filed against Charlie Hales?

      http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-28517-hales_faces_elections_complaint_updated.html

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        In my humble opinion, not that you asked, I'd say it's pretty solid.

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          Ask the Multnomah County Elections Director, and he'll say it's baseless: "Mr. Hales has met the burden of residency for the purposes of voter registration.... I have concluded that, based upon the statutes cited above, Mr. Hales was eligible to be registered to vote and to vote in Oregon during the time he lived in Washington State."

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            Take a look at my complaint, his reply, and my reply to his reply. Pull up the statutes in question and look for yourself. I've posted everything online for all to see.

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    Now I know this is the wrong crowd for this but, it's too FUNNY not to pass on: [removed]

    EDITOR'S NOTE: In the video posted by the Oregon Tea Party, James O'Keefe makes a number of assertions without evidence (promising to release it "later"). He does not make ANY CLAIM about Jefferson Smith. In fact, someone the crowd yells out that a Bus Project leader is running for Mayor, and O'Keefe responds, "What's his name?" We're striking out these comments from Geoff Ludt, and barring him from BlueOregon. He can spew his crap on his own website. -kari.

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      The Republican members of Congress do not like the Tea Party. The actual, registered Republican voters who really cast ballots do not like the Tea Party. Oregon Republicans do not like the Tea Party. The Republican Governor’s' Association and their mayoral colleagues do not like the Tea Party. Our allies do not like the Tea Party. Even our enemies do not like the Tea Party!!! The only people who DO like them belong to a very small band of feverish zealots who have no grasp on reality and are incapable of comprehending the fact, the FACT...that their personal demigod never had any chance whatsoever. NOBODY who matters ever wanted this party. Scream about how wrong you think this is and howl in rage about your lunatic and laughable conspiracy theories. Go ahead. Deny it to yourselves and to every rational person in every conceivable forum every minute of every day until the election, and nothing will change. They were was never in this race. Never. The rest of this great nation knew that from the start and we collectively thank our Lord for this.

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    O'Keefe won't release any video until after he finishes editing/cgi/staging the final cut.

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    What Portland needs is a mayor that is in harmony with its positive rating, in latest PPP poll Portland ranks number 2 behind only Seattle. http://t.co/O0Au8PJC

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