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Name: Doug Clove
Neighborhood: Pleasant Valley
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: Franklin High, MHCC Associate’s Degree, B.S. Portland State University Occupation: Water Inspector, Portland Water Bureau
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 44 years
Age: 48
Pronouns: He/him
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 7 votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.
I’d definitely shake things up with our policy on the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Honestly, partnering with the County is just silly. They’ve shown they can’t get it right over there. The homelessness situation is worse than ever, and piling on more bureaucracy isn’t the solution. It seems like our city council is scared to own up to the problem and actually try to fix it. Why change anything when they keep getting elected while the status quo remains? I’d talk to the other commissioners and let them know I’m ready to take the blame if we try something new and it doesn’t pan out. I’ll also call out those council members who won’t back fresh solutions. It’s time to clean up this city!
The second thing we should do is restore funding for the Portland Street Response and the Fire Bureau.
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What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
I’ve spent 26 years working for the Portland Water Bureau, and during that time, I’ve really made a difference in our city. Most of my career has been spent out in the community, connecting with fellow Portlanders, and I was also on the front lines as an essential worker during the Covid pandemic. Plus, I was part of the team that successfully rolled out the new Water Bureau billing system.
Now, let’s chat about what I haven’t done. I haven’t been part of the same old political hacks at city hall that’s watched our beautiful city of roses decline and become a joke across the nation. I also haven’t wasted millions of dollars on the homelessness crisis only to see the situation get worse.
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?
Portland was once a stunning city that attracted tons of visitors, and many of them actually came. Even with Governor Tom McCall’s famous line, “Come visit, but don’t stay.” We’ve got to focus on boosting our housing situation. It’s time to rethink our permitting processes, zoning laws, and make use of vacant buildings for new homes. We’ve got these abandoned properties, often called zombie homes, that we need to tackle and convert into livable spaces. We really need to make it easier to build here.
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?
One of the biggest issues with the city council is that their priorities don’t really align with what the average Portlander, especially those in East Portland, care about. Since I jumped into this race, I’ve been flooded with emails and messages about the Arts. The Arts? Seriously? Let’s focus on fixing potholes and improving our roads first. We need to build sidewalks in East Portland so our kids aren’t trudging through mud on their way to school. We should also boost police presence in parks so kids can play without the fear of being shot. Plus, let’s increase funding for Street Response to help get people off the streets.
City council is talking about remodeling the Keller Auditorium for $215 million. The Sierra Club states that we have a 26% chance of a major earthquake by 2070. Why would we make the Keller improvements a priority with those odds?
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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?
I believe there isn’t a tax or levy that Portlanders wouldn’t endorse. However, this contributes to the rising cost of living in Portland, which is a growing concern, especially for lower-income neighborhoods. I would not retract any tax approved by Portland voters, as such decisions should rest with the people. Nor would I suggest new taxes. Instead, taxes should be put to Portlanders through a referendum. Should additional funds be necessary, I would prefer to reallocate the financial responsibility to the major corporations and businesses in Portland. This approach is viable if we can return our city to its former status as a coveted location for businesses.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
My only worry is that Portland is going to be approaching unknown territory. This election is unlike anything we’ve seen before, and honestly, no one really knows how it’s going to play out. But hey, this is classic Portland—we’ve always been a bit different and open to new ideas. Plus, our current system is pretty messed up, so it can’t get any worse, right? The same old city hall folks have been calling the shots, catering to their own interests while East Portland gets left behind. It’s a joke for those insiders to suddenly act like they care about East Portland after ignoring it for so long. Now that they need our votes, they’re suddenly interested. This election is our shot at making some real changes and moving forward.
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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?
We’ve been too lenient with the homeless situation for a while. People are pretty understanding, but I don’t believe camping out in public would be as big of an issue if it didn’t come with so many problems. We’re talking about blocked sidewalks, trash everywhere, drug issues, unsanitary living conditions.
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?
I’m all for more police. The lack of law enforcement has really hurt East Portland, and we can see the effects. We need to face reality after trying out that policy of cutting back on police numbers. As for funding? It’s definitely out there, like I mentioned with Keller earlier.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I’m all for putting issues on the ballot. That’s the essence of democracy, right? My opinion doesn’t really matter; it’s all about what my constituents think.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
Improving our degrading streets. They are long overdue for maintenance. Especially in East Portland. It’s time for the bike people to share the wealth.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
They’ve received plenty of attention, just no real action. A thriving downtown is what drives the entire reputation of Portland. It’s a laughing stock, just ask the NY Times after their hit piece a while back.
