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.

    • Build police capacity. Fill the police positions Portland already funds. Once authorized staffing is reached, consider additional officers based on workload, response times and investigative needs. Permanent positions should be supported with sustainable, ongoing funding through the City budget, not temporary dollars.

    • Protect and fully fund Portland Fire & Rescue. Portland cannot afford to compromise emergency response. I will prioritize funding to maintain fire and emergency medical response capacity, protect frontline staffing, keep stations operational, and address equipment and infrastructure needs. As a councilor, I will use the budget process and public performance measures to track staffing, response times and service reliability so Portland is prepared when the next major emergency happens.

    • Send the right responder. Police should focus on violent crime, property crime, investigations and other work requiring law enforcement. Expand appropriate Portland Street Response eligibility, with clear safety protocols, while pursuing county, state and federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.

    • Measure results. Publicly track vacancies, hiring, response times, investigative workloads and backlogs, and calls shifted to non-police responders.

    • Address homelessness with clear responsibility. Behavioral-health crises may be appropriate for Portland Street Response; criminal activity may require police; unsafe camps, trash and obstructions require other City services; and shelter and behavioral-health services require coordination with Multnomah County.

    • 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.

    • Work toward building 4,000 housing units per year. Expand housing choices by supporting a mix of housing types of all types, including affordable homeownership and multi-unit housing.

    • Remove barriers. Identify viable housing projects that are stalled and determine why, whether it’s permitting, fees, infrastructure, financing or City regulations. Use Council’s policy and budget authority to address the barriers the City controls.

    • Improve permitting. Work with the Mayor and City Administrator to make permitting faster and more predictable, with clear expectations for processing times and outcomes.

    • Use incentives that work. Track projects receiving City incentives all the way through construction and completion. Continue or expand tools that produce results and reconsider those that don’t.

    • Bring more resources to the table. Work with Metro, the state, affordable-housing providers, private developers, lenders and labor to move projects forward and leverage outside investment.

    • Protect housing stability. Support targeted rent assistance, eviction prevention and legal assistance while preserving existing affordable housing.

    • Create real accountability. Establish a public housing-production dashboard showing permits issued, construction starts, completed homes, affordability levels and permitting timelines. Require regular progress reports to Council comparing actual production with the 4,000-home goal. If Portland is falling behind, identify why and bring specific policy, budget or administrative changes forward to address the barriers.

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

    • The commitment: Set a clear goal, measure progress publicly, identify what is getting in the way, and adjust when we aren’t getting results. Success isn’t how many housing policies Council passes. It’s how many homes Portland actually gets built.

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.

    • Protect parks, trails and natural areas. Protect voter-approved Parks funding and prioritize maintenance of the public spaces we already own. Pursue Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) dollars for eligible climate work, including tree care, habitat restoration and green infrastructure, while leveraging grants and community partnerships for additional investment.

    • Measure results: Publicly track assets repaired or reopened, natural areas restored, outside dollars leveraged and progress reducing the maintenance backlog.

    • 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.

Leverage Partnerships to Stretch Public Dollars

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.

    • Portland should use every available resource before asking taxpayers to carry the full cost. I’ve seen firsthand how partnerships with nonprofits, philanthropy, businesses, labor and community organizations can bring additional investment, expertise and volunteers to public projects.

    • Bring outside resources to the table. For major City projects where partnerships are appropriate, I will push for a funding strategy that identifies potential grants, philanthropy, sponsorships, volunteer support and other outside investment.

    • Build partnerships for long-term results. Prioritize partnerships that improve public assets, expand services and create lasting community benefit, not one-time transactions.

    • Measure what they deliver. Establish a Citywide baseline for outside resources leveraged and, by the end of my first year, push for annual public reporting on outside dollars and resources leveraged, projects completed, services expanded and people served.

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.