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Name: Timur Ender
Neighborhood: Hazelwood
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: B.A. Criminology, NC State; Lewis & Clark Law School
Occupation: Infrastructure project manager
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 12 years
Age: 34 (35 at time of election)
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 would advocate for making the arts tax more equitable. A senior on fixed income shouldn’t be paying the same amount as someone making $150,000. I would be proactive in communicating with city staff and council colleagues about what changes I would like to see, what council’s priorities are, and what changes councilmembers would be willing to support. The changes I would like to see are making it a sliding scale based on income and ensuring revenue is used to benefit all parts of the city.
I would also advocate for Portland Street Response becoming available 24/7. Portland Street Response (PSR) is a trauma-informed response to people in crisis. Having a strong program would make the City more competitive for outside dollars and therefore less likely to need to fund with only discretionary general fund dollars. That is something I foresee most of council supporting.
Related: What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest Washington
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
I was involved in the launch of the Fixing Our Streets program which has yielded over $130 million for projects like paving, street lighting, and safe routes to school. A disproportionate amount of this funding has gone to projects in East Portland.
I was involved in the launch of fixed speed safety cameras which have made our arterials safer.
I was involved in the launch of bike share which has provided an additional mobility option for residents.
I personally have managed over $30 million of infrastructure projects, primarily in East Portland, and have worked with neighborhood, community, and business groups to ensure city budgets and policies met the needs of East Portlanders.
Secured a national grant and brought together city staff, community organizations, and businesses to improve walking, biking, and transit access in Gateway district.
Volunteered with community leaders from Rosewood Initiative on a walkability plan for Rosewood.
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?
Implement Portland: Neighbors Welcome Inner Eastside for All campaign which legalizes missing middle housing.
Implement strategic policy changes that allow more types of housing. One example which other cities have done is single stair reform. This allows smaller apartment buildings to have only one set of stairs (with enhanced fire/life safety standards) which drives down the cost of housing.
City must work to provide predictability and reduce the time it takes to receive a permit. Getting permitting under one bureau was a great first step and I look forward to building on top of that.
We should explore alternative models of building housing such as community land trusts and social housing.
Explore city owned land that could be deemed surplus and used for housing.
Advocate for making it easier to build accessory dwelling units with pre-approved plans and limiting system development charges.
Related: Issues important to Oregon voters
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?
Public safety and addressing homelessness are some of my biggest priorities. My sense is that the city’s public safety strategy is a bit disjointed. Multiple bureaus touch public safety and we need a comprehensive approach that allows us to focus resources. I will work to ensure we are leveraging the entire toolbox of public safety measures including improving 911 response times, street lighting, parking enforcement officers, park rangers, violence interrupters to prevent retaliatory shootings, implementing a voluntary gun buyback program, and activating city parks.
I do not believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach but we can be more strategic about how we are utilizing every tool at the city’s disposal to improve the safety of our community.
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 would start with adjusting the arts tax. I think it is important to show wins and build momentum. As a voter, when I look at a candidate, I ask “will my life be materially better if this person is elected?” We need to work towards budgets, policies, and programs that make life materially better for residents. 57% of East Portlanders are rent burdened meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. While adjusting the arts tax to make it more equitable will not by itself change this but as we look at the cumulative impact of taxes, it is a starting point for how we support seniors, working families, and single income households.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
First and foremost, the new city council has the responsibility to implement new changes to city government (policies, informal/formal procedures, committee assignments, liaison assignments, hiring new city manager, etc.) and ensure that we are keeping our constituents informed of these changes and their progress. As I have been canvassing in East Portland, I’m finding that there are still quite a bit of people who are not familiar with the change to district based elections. I believe that part of a successful transition to a new form of government involves proactive communication with Portlanders about the status of various transition pieces, what has been completed, and what is upcoming. I will be a strong advocate for district based offices and constituent services. I will also make myself accessible to my community as an elected official, just as I have done on the campaign trail.
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?
While there is a role for enforcement, the reality is that there has never been enough shelter for the many people who need and want a place to sleep at night. Ultimately, expanding shelter and housing options will be my focus because it addresses the root cause, maximizes taxpayer dollars.
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?
Investing in public safety is a strong priority and we should be intentional about how we do it. The challenges in East Portland stem from underinvestment and a lack of political representation/accountability. Before we spend tax dollars on expansion, my focus will be on filling existing positions.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
The Portland Clean Energy Fund is an important program for meeting goals around shared prosperity, electrification, and a just transition to a clean energy future. The projects it has funded have been consistent with promises made to voters. I don’t see a need to put it back on the ballot.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
I would support both. I don’t see it as either/or. In some ways, pairing paving with protected bike lanes on a project can achieve multiple wins as it reduces construction costs, provides smooth surface for residents regardless of transportation mode, and improves safety.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Downtown has received the appropriate amount of attention as it is the economic hub of the region. What has not is investment in East Portland. I’m committed to ensuring we are spending tax revenue equitably so that underinvested areas begin to have resources other parts of Portland take for granted.