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.
Bob Weinstein, candidate for Portland City Council District 4, in an undated photo provided by the candidate.
Courtesy of the candidate
Name: Bob Weinstein
Neighborhood: Northwest
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: University of Massachusetts: BA in Psychology, University of Oregon: Master’s in special education and post-graduate work in school administration
Occupation: Former special education teacher, school superintendent, and U.S. Senate Staffer
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 6.5 years
Age: 73
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.
Two city policies I’d prioritize changing:
1. Budget Allocation: Implement a “Critical Needs First” policy, allocating 75% of discretionary general funds to public safety, homelessness, affordable housing, neighborhood livability, and essential infrastructure. Rationale: Ensures funds address Portland’s most pressing issues.
2. Homelessness Strategy: Improve coordination with Multnomah County, adopting proven solutions like Built for Zero and Houston’s coordinated access model. Rationale: Evidence-based approaches with demonstrated success in reducing homelessness.
To secure votes, I’ll:
● Conduct thorough research and prepare compelling support materials
● Build public and stakeholder support through outreach and engagement
● Engage early with council members and the mayor to seek co-sponsors
● Organize site visits to cities successfully implementing these models
● Develop detailed implementation plans with clear milestones
By focusing on these two critical areas and employing strategies honed from 18 years of city government experience, I believe we can achieve the necessary council support
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
My 12 years of experience as a school superintendent taught me how to make policy and balance budgets.
My 18 years of experience as both a council member and mayor in Ketchikan, Alaska uniquely qualifies me to serve Portland’s City Council. During my tenure, I successfully balanced the city’s budget while maintaining essential services, demonstrating my expertise in municipal finance. I spearheaded initiatives to improve infrastructure and promote sustainable economic development, which was critical after the city’s largest employer closed.
As a U.S. Senate staffer, I honed my skills in constituent services, addressing diverse community needs and navigating complex governmental processes. This experience taught me the importance of responsive, transparent governance.
My track record shows I can build coalitions, make tough decisions, and deliver results. I’m committed to bringing this proven leadership to Portland, focusing on pragmatic solutions to our city’s most pressing challenges.
Related: What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest Washington
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?
To rapidly increase housing availability, I propose a multi-pronged approach:
1. Streamlining permitting processes to reduce delays and costs for developers. Approve and implement a policy that sets a reasonable timeframe for permit review and approval.
2. Incentivize higher-density, mixed-use development near major transit corridors.
3. Incentivizing the conversion of underutilized commercial properties to residential use where feasible.
4. Improve infrastructure in areas targeted for housing growth.
5. Partner with nonprofits to develop affordable housing on city-owned land.
6. Review the inclusionary zoning provision to ensure it’s not inadvertently slowing development.
This strategy, successful in other cities, requires the mayor’s support and regular progress reports. By cutting red tape, incentivizing development, and fostering partnerships, we can create a more accessible housing market for all Portlanders.
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?
I recognize the fiscal challenges facing Portland. We must prioritize essential services while addressing our spending issues.
Portland already has the highest combined state/local tax rate in the country unless one makes $25 million. Our problem isn’t lack of revenue - it’s inefficient spending. We need to focus on core services: addressing homelessness, public safety, infrastructure maintenance- like our streets and our parks.
To fund these sustainably, we must:
1. As noted above, adopt a “critical needs first” budget policy that ensures that most spending goes to top priorities.
2. Audit current spending to eliminate waste and inefficiencies
3. Reallocate funds from non-essential programs to vital services
4. Implement performance-based budgeting to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively
5. Explore public-private partnerships to reduce costs
By streamlining operations and focusing on essentials, we can provide better services without burdening taxpayers further.
Related: Issues important to Oregon voters
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 doesn’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. Our city already has the highest tax rate in the US for most residents. We need to prioritize our spending on core services before considering any new taxes or levies.
I’m against creating new taxes and would carefully scrutinize renewals of existing ones. We must address issues like the $400 million surplus in the Preschool for All fund, which demonstrates poor financial management. Targeted taxes can lead to inefficiencies and inequities.
The Oregonian’s editorial board stated on December 17, 2023, “We need a financial reckoning. We need our local jurisdictions as well as the public to examine how we pay for public services, decide on priorities and strategize how to better meet obligations.” I agree wholeheartedly. It’s time to realign our spending with our priorities and ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently and effectively.
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’m concerned about the city transition team recommending only 1 staffer per council member, while adding millions of dollars for new administrative positions. City Hall now believes that the incoming city council won’t be responsible for responding to constituent concerns, and that Portlanders with concerns or problems with the City should instead dial 311.
I disagree.
In my years of experience as an elected city official and staff for U.S. Senator Mark Begich, I learned that constituents have many important reasons to contact their elected officials. And that they expect a response from their elected representatives. It’s a fundamental principle of local democracy. Open communication between councilors and constituents is vital for effective governance.
I’m committed to working with my colleagues and the community to strike a balance between improving our governance structure and maintaining a system that is accessible and responsive to all Portlanders, including neighborhood associations.
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 I would prefer that there be no arrests, I think that is the right option for those who repeatedly refuse available shelter. Not only would they have safe shelter, but they would also have access to mental health and drug treatment services if needed.
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 support hiring 200-300 more officers to approach the national average for large cities, ramping up over several years. We’d pay by reallocating budget priorities and reducing redundancies, like streamlining our 85 communications staff across six service areas. This would improve public safety while ensuring efficient use of city resources.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I support PCEF’s goals but believe we need more flexibility with surplus funds. While I don’t advocate putting it back on the ballot, I support allowing council discretion to allocate excess funds to other pressing city needs, while maintaining PCEF’s core mission and funding.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
While protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes are important, we cannot ignore the deteriorating condition of many of our existing roads.
My priority would be to first address the existing degraded driving lanes to ensure basic safety and functionality for all road users.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Downtown’s challenges have received insufficient attention from city leaders. The persistent issues of encampments, open drug use, and lack of revitalization demand more focused action. Working with small business and other stakeholders, I’ll prioritize comprehensive solutions to restore downtown’s vitality and ensure it remains a safe, thriving hub for Portland.