My Priorities

A Bold Vision
for Portland

Safe, Welcoming Neighborhoods and Reliable City Services

Portlanders want a city that works. They want clean parks, maintained streets, responsive local government, and safe neighborhoods where families and businesses can thrive. After nearly two decades of public service, I understand how to navigate tricky bureaucracy, solve tough problems across jurisdictions, build teams, and turn policy into action.  When local government follows through, we don’t just build community; we build trust.

    • Accelerate the voter mandated streamlining of government.

    • Improve coordination across city bureaus and regional partners so problems are solved right the first time.

    • Support public safety staffing and resources that allow police to follow through on investigations, fix emergency response times, and make neighborhoods safe.

    • Invest in cleaner, safer, and more welcoming public spaces through park maintenance, lighting, vandalism repair, and neighborhood upkeep.

    • Address livability concerns by upholding community standards and connecting people in crisis with lifesaving services.

Housing Affordability and Cost of Living

Families are feeling pressure from rising costs. As a young, working mom, I was able to work, attend school, and raise children while building a career in this city. Today, too many families, seniors, and first-time homebuyers are struggling with rising housing costs. We need practical solutions that expand housing opportunities while preserving the neighborhoods people love.

    • Create policies that make it easy to build more housing at the rate of 4,000 units per year. Expand housing choices by supporting a mix of housing types of all types, including affordable homeownership and multi-unit housing.

    • Reduce unnecessary barriers and city codes that increase housing costs while  streamlining permitting and encouraging efficient development.

    • Promote responsible growth that balances affordability with neighborhood stability to helps families remain in their communities while preserving what makes each neighborhood unique

Economic Opportunity and Small Business Vitality

Strong neighborhoods depend on strong local economies. Portland should be a place where small businesses, workers, and entrepreneurs can succeed. Throughout my career, I have built coalitions that bring together government, business, and community partners to accomplish shared goals.

    • Deliver policies that will help attract and retain businesses. Strengthen neighborhood business districts through investments in safety, cleanliness, and welcoming public spaces.

    • Support workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and pathways to family-wage careers.

    • Invest in vibrant commercial corridors, public spaces, arts, and community events that support local businesses and bring people together.

Family-Friendly Recreation, Arts, and Public Spaces

A thriving city should also be joyful. Parks, swimming pools, sports, arts, and cultural spaces strengthen communities and foster a sense of belonging. My career has been built around partnerships that leverage resources and bring millions of dollars in public and private investment to community projects. I know how to stretch limited resources and build collaborations that improve quality of life.

    • Expand access to affordable recreation, youth programs, sports, swimming, and arts opportunities for families across Portland.

    • Protect and activate parks and public spaces through partnerships that keep them safe, welcoming, and well-maintained.

    • Support local arts and cultural organizations that celebrate Portland's unique identity.

    • Advocate for equitable investments, so every district has access to quality parks, trails, recreation facilities, and community gathering spaces.

    • Champion a reimagined waterfront

Good Government and Accountability

Your city government should be responsive, transparent, and focused on results. Too often, bureaucracy gets in the way of solving problems and leaves residents frustrated. My approach is simple: bring people together, improve coordination, measure results, and earn public trust by delivering on commitments.

    • Partner with Mayor and City Manager to Improve coordination among city bureaus and regional partners so residents experience a government that works together rather than in silos.

    • Increase transparency through clear performance measures and regular public reporting.

    • Strengthen public trust by ensuring residents, businesses, and community organizations have meaningful opportunities to be heard.

    • Modernize city government by streamlining permitting, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and making city services easier to access.

Build the Tom McCall Waterfront Bowl

Transform the Tom McCall Waterfront Bowl into one of the nation's premier civic gathering spaces through collaboration with community members, businesses, artists, entertainment professionals, philanthropists, and regional partners.

    • Create a destination that supports concerts, festivals, recreation, and cultural events while reconnecting Portlanders to the Willamette River and strengthening our local economy.

    • Ensure the project reflects Portland's identity by engaging residents throughout planning, design, fundraising, and implementation.

Reimagine Public-Private Partnerships

Portland has incredible public assets that can and should accomplish even more through innovative partnerships. Throughout my career, I've demonstrated that when government, philanthropy, nonprofits, businesses, labor, and community organizations work together, we can deliver projects that would not otherwise be possible.

    • Expand public-private partnerships that improve parks, recreation, community centers, public spaces, and neighborhood infrastructure.

    • Leverage philanthropic investment, sponsorships, volunteerism, and private expertise to maximize taxpayer dollars and expand opportunities in every district.

    • Build long-term partnerships that create lasting community benefit rather than one-time transactions.

Make Portland the National Model for Civic Partnership

Portland is one of the country's top volunteer communities. We should become the city that other communities study for how government works alongside its residents to solve problems together.

    • Create a culture where collaboration is the expectation—not the exception.

    • Strengthen relationships between neighborhoods, community organizations, businesses, schools, and government to deliver better outcomes.

    • Measure partnership success through improved public services, stronger neighborhoods, and increased community investment.

Reclaim Portland's River as Our Front Yard

The Willamette River is one of Portland's greatest assets, yet too often we treat it like our backyard instead of our front porch. By expanding thoughtful access, recreation, and stewardship, we can strengthen our economy, improve public health, and reconnect Portlanders with the river that defines our city.

    • Expand safe public access to the Willamette River through partnerships and community-driven planning.

    • Support recreation, habitat restoration, waterfront events, and public spaces that invite people back to the river.

    • Build on successful community partnerships that make the river accessible, welcoming, and safe for everyone.

Create a City That Says "Yes"

Portland became one of America's most admired cities because people weren't afraid to innovate. We should once again become known as the city where great ideas can move from concept to reality through collaboration, smart government, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.

    • Modernize city processes so residents, nonprofits, artists, entrepreneurs, and businesses can bring ideas to life more quickly.

    • Pilot innovative solutions before making large public investments.

    • Encourage creative problem-solving that delivers better outcomes while respecting taxpayer resources.

    • Celebrate Portland's culture of creativity, entrepreneurship, and civic innovation as an economic and community strength.