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Name: Debbie Kitchin
Age (and when/whether that will change before the election): 68
Pronouns: She/her
Neighborhood: Sullivan’s Gulch
Are you a renter or homeowner? Homeowner
Education: B.A. Economics, Reed College, M.B.A., Portland State University
Occupation: small business owner
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 48 years
Portland is facing a 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.
Fund Portland Street Response for 24-7 operations. Public safety is a major concern for many Portlanders. We need an unarmed emergency response service for members of our community experiencing a mental crisis whenever it happens. It will help police spend more of their time on criminal activity, which will also improve public safety.
Adopt metrics to measure permitting time for residential and commercial projects. The City must continue to reduce the time it takes to get permits because it adds to the cost of building housing and it discourages housing production in Portland. It is one of the areas where the city can make a difference. The city cannot control interest rates, costs of building materials and many other factors affecting housing costs but the city can have a huge impact on costs related to permitting.
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.
My background as a small business owner in the housing industry for 30 years plus 18 years in the public sector as a regional economist gives me a unique combination of experience and perspective on how our city can function better. I’ve been part of the startup of a brand new government agency, an experience that will inform me as we embark on our new form of government. I understand the importance of public-private partnerships for collaborating and solving problems. I bring years of leadership and collaboration to organizations ranging from the Energy Trust of Oregon to the Portland Metro Chamber to the SE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the City’s Comprehensive Plan. I served on the Charter Commission so I bring a deep understanding of how local governments operate throughout the country and in other parts of the world.
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?
Reduce the time it takes to get permits, which will lower costs. Change zoning to allow for increases in density in close-in neighborhoods and more flexibility on housing types. Preserve, maintain and improve existing affordable housing. These improvements take a fraction of the time and cost of new housing. Development costs are very high in Portland and often there are conflicting parts of the code that add to costs and don’t achieve intended outcomes. Having oversight of the bureaus under one management can lead to reducing conflicts and outdated ineffective requirements.
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?
The City provides basic essential services including police and fire protection, emergency response, streets and public rights of way, zoning and building permitting, water, sewer, parks and open spaces, economic development, among other services. Charter reform will offer some opportunities to eliminate duplication and ineffective management but full results will take time. Deferred maintenance is a continuing problem for our streets, parks, and other infrastructure. We will need to find cost savings in many different places, as well as tap all sources of federal and state revenues from recent infrastructure allocations.
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 not to renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
I support the Governor’s call for a moratorium on any new taxes for the next few years. Our local governments need to show that we can steward the dollars we already have and deliver services in a more effective, coordinated way before asking taxpayers for more money. I would not eliminate any of the current taxes because voters approved them — I would not override the will of voters. I support homeless services, preschool for all and the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Preschool is by far the best investment we can make to affect education outcomes. We recognized years ago that wrap-around services helped prevent homelessness and helped people recovering from homelessness stay in housing. Finally, the climate crisis is an existential risk and PCEF helps the city address the crisis and especially for those most vulnerable. Responsible stewardship of public dollars is a key priority for me.
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Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
As a member of the Charter Commission, I and my fellow commissioners spent two years and countless hours researching best practices, consulting experts and engaging with community members to develop the proposals that voters approved in 2022. I support having three city councilors per district because it brings more voices to the table. I support district representation so that all Portlanders have a voice.
Our change to remove management of bureaus from individual city commissioners to streamlined professional management under a city administrator will pay dividends for years to come. Our city has suffered under an antiquated form of government which created silos and ineffective management. It will take time to adapt to culture change and new ways of doing the work but I am excited about the possibilities of what we can achieve. We have the opportunity for a more accountable, responsive, transparent and representative government.
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 do not support arresting and jailing people who camp on public property. We currently do not have enough tiny home spaces or other acceptable alternatives for emergency housing. We need to focus on outreach, improving our range of alternative shelters and options for drug, alcohol and mental health treatment.
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?
We need to fill our vacant police officer positions first and prepare for upcoming retirements. We have been understaffed in our authorized positions for years. I support recruitment of officers who live in our community. Our police bureau needs to rebuild trust with the Portland community before expanding the budget.
Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I would not support putting the Clean Energy Fund back on the ballot. There are always opportunities to improve access and outcomes. The climate crisis will continue to impact our community, especially the most vulnerable residents. We need a program that intentionally addresses these disparities in innovative ways.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
Safe streets are a top priority for me. There are places where investments in bike and pedestrian infrastructure make the most sense. There are places where degraded driving lanes are a safety and structural hazard for all modes. I prioritize safety and not all or nothing approaches.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Downtown is the engine and heart of Portland and needs to have focus and attention. But let’s not lose sight of our incredible neighborhoods and small business districts around our city — they are a treasure that we must celebrate and support. We need connection, community and diversity of place.
