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Alexander Landry Neely, Portland mayoral candidate, in an undated provided photo.
Courtesy of the candidate
About the candidate
Name: Alexander Landry Neely
Neighborhood: St. Johns
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: B.A. Reed College, Religion
Occupation: Owner/Winemaker at Libertine Wines
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 25 years
Age: 43
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 mayoral 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.
Why are you the best candidate to serve as mayor at this time? Please point to specific accomplishments as part of your answer.
Since I moved to Oregon in 1999 at the age of 18, I have been proud to call Portland my home. This is one of the best cities in the world but we have been plagued by an inefficient government that acts against the will of the people. I have lived all over this town, worked for many small businesses, and started my own. Our government needs a fresh start with leaders who represent our population at large. We are artists, creators, workers, lovers, and visionaries. As a small business owner who makes a living off the bounty of our beautiful corner of the world, I offer our fine city a people’s perspective. In the wine world I have pushed boundaries, created new styles, and showcased our Pacific Northwest creations to the rest of the country and beyond. I can do the same for our government.
What are one or two issues that you’d like to draw attention to or champion as mayor that are overlooked or receiving less attention than they deserve?
First and foremost we need to increase funding and assistance for our creators and opportunities for them to show their artistic talents to the rest of the city and the world at large. We are such a special place with so many inventive and ingenuitive people and it would behoove us to embrace it.
Secondly, we need to make Portland Street Response our primary form of public safety. The people want it but it has been railroaded by our current leaders for absolutely no good reason. We can be leaders in the revolution of public safety. Time and time again Portland Street Response has shown to be wildly effective. Let’s do what makes sense.
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What specific examples do you have that demonstrate your competence to oversee a city with an $8.2 billion budget?
While my business deals with a lot less zeros, what really matters is percentages and the allocation of resources. From harvest, to bottling, to marketing, to farming, I know when and where to spend money. Not to mention I’m the parent of a 16 year old which is arguably more difficult! Our priorities should start with our most needy population. Food security, outreach programs, public health, education, the arts, and Portland Street Response will be at the top of my priority list.
What are your biggest concerns, if any, about the new form of government? What role do you think the mayor should play in it?
My biggest concern is that our new form of government will be filled with the same corporate plants who have been acting against the will of the people this whole time. I think the mayor should be a gentle steward of public policy, letting city councilors enact the will of their districts. The mayor should set a firm and decisive budget while offering a guiding voice for the city. The mayor should listen intensely, and act according to the will of the people. The mayor should be one of the people, not a false figurehead owned by outside private industry.
How would you work to promote and boost Portland nationally as mayor and reinvigorate people’s sense of civic pride?
I would elevate our artists, musicians, and creators via increased funding through the budget. This is our identity as Portlanders. We make stuff. I already have extensive experience representing Portland throughout the country and beyond through my wine. Also I would go on Fox News, tell them to pound sand and keep our city’s name out of their mouth.
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Mayor Ted Wheeler has already warned that next year’s budget will be a difficult one as costs rise and forecasts call for lower revenue. What would guide your decisions in developing a budget, what specific ideas would you explore to minimize service reductions and are there specific areas where you would look to make cuts?
Ted Wheeler is a fear monger who is trying to scare people into voting the same ruling class back into office. Assuming what he says is actually true, we spend an unfathomable amount of our budget on public safety and it is wildly inefficient.
We need to reallocate the PPB budget to make up for any shortfalls while channeling a good portion of it into Portland Street Response which will actually get the results we desire.
How can the city of Portland and Multnomah County improve their existing partnership to more effectively address the homelessness, addiction and behavioral health crises?
The only way to start addressing the homeless crisis is to provide barrierless housing. Full stop. Our homeless neighbors are exactly that, our neighbors who can no longer afford housing. Get them housing without conditions. Immediately. It is our job as a community to get all of our people under a roof. Then, and only then, can we start addressing other public health issues.
Right around the corner from my house a tiny home village opened with a resource center. While this is not a long-term solution, it is a springboard that allows people the chance to get back on their feet. If you want people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, you have to give them boots.
If elected, you will oversee the police chief. What is your opinion of police bureau priorities and operations and what changes, if any, would you make? Would you push for the city to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? If yes, where would you find the money?
PPB regularly and repeatedly states that they have too much on their plate. We should listen to them and lessen their burden by relegating non-violent emergency calls to other first responders. I will make Portland Street Response my number one public safety priority.
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 have refused repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?
Jailing people for non-violent offenses is never the answer. If we build homes without conditions, most people will choose to sleep in them. There will be some people who refuse initially, but we can start building a community where it would never be more desirable to live in a tent.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention among current city leaders? Are there other specific neighborhoods in the city that have not received enough attention?
With many 9-5 workers still telecommuting, we need a new downtown plan focused on tourism, events, and commerce. We don’t need another Gucci store; we need local folks. Also I still dream of a huge individual stall grocery food market. East Portland and selfishly St. Johns.
Do you support the decision to use millions from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to backfill budget holes in various city bureaus? Would you seek to continue, expand or halt that practice?
I do not have enough information to make an educated judgment call on this. I would consult advisors as well as other leaders, and then make a decision that works best for the people and the environment.
Do you support a potential change to the region’s homeless services tax that would direct some of the program’s unanticipated revenue to construct more affordable housing? Why or why not?
The money should be used as intended by the voters. I will heavily lobby the federal government to build more affordable housing in Portland.
Describe the qualities and experience you will seek in a city administrator. Describe the working relationship you plan to build with the top administrator and their half dozen deputies.
The city administrator will be of utmost importance. They should be devoted to the people, wary of large corporate interests, and a true multitasking deal maker. But above all, they better love this city as much as I do.