Editor’s note: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Stay informed with OPB on the presidential race, key congressional battles and other local contests and ballot measures in Oregon and Southwest Washington at opb.org/elections.
Name: Loretta Smith
Neighborhood: Wilkes
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: B.A., in Communications from Oregon State University
Occupation: Public servant and small business owner
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: Over 25 years
Age: 59
Pronouns: she/her
Portland is facing an historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates. Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices, and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.
That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland City Council candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election. Here’s what they had to say:
For each of the following questions, we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words.
Name two existing city policies or budget items you’d make it a priority to change. Why did you select those and how do you plan to line up at least seven votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.
First, our economic engines are small businesses and a skilled workforce, and it’s time that everyone in Portland experienced this. We need to ensure our small businesses have access to capital, technical assistance and opportunities to bid on city contracts. Throughout my life of service, I have always been passionate about access to job training and work experience for youth and adults so that our local economies are healthy.
Second, we need to fully fund our first responders, including our police, fire, and 911 system. Our public safety officers are dangerously understaffed, and the City Council must meaningfully address this issue in the next budget cycle.
My leadership style is collaborative, and that means knowing your colleagues and what drives them to serve. I plan to use my government experience and knowledge to work collaboratively with the City Council members and come to agreements with each of my 11 colleagues.
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What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
My eight years of experience as a Multnomah County Commissioner taught me how to work with my colleagues on a variety of issues that built great coalitions to pass meaningful policies. I am the best pick for the district because I understand the community and I understand government. I authored and passed over 100 ordinances, resolutions and amendments as a county commissioner between 2011 and 2018. I built working relationships with all my colleagues to get support for many policy areas:
- Decreased the digital divide by partnering with Comcast to give laptops to low income families and nonprofits;
- Expanded paid internship opportunities to create employment opportunities for underserved youth;
- Created pre-apprenticeship programs for young people and adults;
- Secured funding to build housing for disabled and homeless veterans; and
- Secured county funding to help transform Cully Park from a dumpsite to a community space.
Portland is on track to permit the fewest number of multifamily units in 15 years and remains thousands of units below what’s needed to meet demand. What steps would you take to dramatically and quickly increase the availability of housing?
Put simply, build it. In every district, we need to have middle housing in addition to affordable housing and market rate housing. Only by building a full continuum of housing can we meet the current and future needs of a thriving city.
We need to cut red tape and streamline and expedite the permitting process, so we can build housing more efficiently. We need to make it easier and faster to build residential infill (tiny homes/ADUs/granny suites) multifamily, mixed-use and multi-generational housing, and we need to do it yesterday.
Where the city has the ability to reduce the cost of building much-needed housing are in the system development fees. We can lower the cost of building housing with maintaining high safety standards, and prevailing wage laws.
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The next City Council is going to have to make some very difficult decisions regarding what to fund and how. What essential services must the city provide and how should the city sustainably fund them?
As a city councilor I will prioritize public safety, homelessness, small business supports, revitalizing our streets and sidewalks in East Portland and downtown revitalization. These high priority items can be funded through the city’s general fund and existing permanent operating budget.
Portlanders have approved many tax measures in the past decade — supporting affordable housing, free preschool programs and green energy initiatives. Are there specific taxes or levies you want eliminated or would choose to not renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
Portland and Multnomah County do not lack for tax revenue or good intentions, but we lack for effectiveness and accountability for those designated tax dollars. Until we can get our city back on track and get people and businesses moving back into Portland, we need to put a moratorium on new taxes and fees over the next year.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
I am worried we will not keep our promise to the voters and have district offices. I will have an open-door policy and I want my constituents to be able to access the government in their district without having to come downtown.
Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'
For the five remaining questions, we asked candidates to answer in 50 words or fewer:
Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who refuse repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?
I don’t favor jailing people who camp but we do need to end unsanctioned tent/RV camping on Portland’s streets. I support the city’s latest camping ordinance but it’s not enough to talk about wrap-around support for mental health and substance abuse treatment without having enough available beds for unhoused people.
Would you vote yes on a proposal to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? Why or why not? How would the city pay for it?
When we call the police for help in East Portland we know no one is coming right away because they are understaffed. We need to fully fund public safety, including our police, fire and 911 system. The next City Council must meaningfully address this issue in the next budget cycle.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
No, I do not support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot because we already have a dedicated amount of money and we can change the existing language by putting it to a vote on the City Council.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
East Portland deserves improved surfacing of existing driving lanes and improved sidewalks. In some places in East Portland we do not have sidewalks and it is unsafe for families to walk because of all the unsanctioned camping.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Portland is much more than downtown and while I think what is happening downtown is important, it is not the only area that deserves attention. I am excited to serve on the expanded City Council that will have representation for all parts of the city, including East Portland.
