Meet Josh Leake, candidate for Portland mayor

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.

About the candidate

Name: Josh Leake

Neighborhood: I’ve lived and worked across Portland, with deep connections to Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest neighborhoods

Renter/homeowner: Both homeowner and renter

Education: Muay Thai boxing & training in Phuket, Thailand; Portland State University: Honors College, graphic design; Portland Community College: Spanish and computer science; Extensive professional training in finance, property valuation, and small business management

Occupation: President of a Portland based mortgage company; Founder and executive director, Portland Film Festival; Property Manager of various Portland properties; Small business owner and community leader

How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: Lifelong Portlander, occasionally living abroad, fluent in several languages

Age: 49

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.

As a lifelong Portlander with a unique blend of business acumen, housing expertise and public safety experience, I’m uniquely qualified to address our city’s pressing challenges. Unlike career politicians, I bring practical solutions and a fresh perspective.

Key accomplishments include:

• Housing: Managing a successful mortgage company, providing insights into Portland’s housing crisis and potential solutions.
• Public Safety: Over 600 hours volunteering with Portland’s first responders, gaining firsthand understanding of our city’s challenges and community needs.
• Economic Development: Founding and running multiple Portland-based businesses, demonstrating ability to stimulate local economy and create jobs.
• Community Engagement: Uniting diverse groups through the Portland Film Festival and partnerships with local organizations.
• Fiscal Management: Overseeing multi-million dollar budgets, crucial for responsible stewardship of city finances.

I’m committed to fostering a more responsive, efficient government that serves all Portlanders, guided by my grandmother’s wisdom: “Closed mouths never get fed.”

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?

• Equitable Neighborhood Development: While downtown Portland receives significant attention, many neighborhoods, especially in East Portland and outer Southeast, need focused investment in infrastructure, economic development and community services. I’ll champion initiatives that ensure all Portland neighborhoods receive equitable resources and opportunities.
• Green Job Creation: Portland has the potential to be a leader in sustainable industries. I’ll focus on attracting and nurturing green businesses, from clean tech to sustainable construction, creating jobs while advancing our environmental goals. This includes partnering with local colleges and trade schools to develop workforce training programs aligned with these emerging sectors.

These initiatives will create a more balanced, sustainable city economy, improve quality of life across all neighborhoods and position Portland as a forward-thinking, equitable city.

What specific examples do you have that demonstrate your competence to oversee a city with an $8.2 billion budget?

My 30 years of finance experience uniquely qualifies me to manage Portland’s complex $8.28 billion budget:

• Led a GAAP-accounted mortgage company, demonstrating proficiency in stringent financial management and regulatory compliance.
• Managed budgets for multiple Portland-based businesses, balancing growth with fiscal responsibility.
• Extensive experience in commercial property finance, providing insights into large-scale urban development projects.

I’m committed to transparent, responsible financial management. As mayor, I’ll:

• Improve public disclosure of intracity transfers for better transparency.
• Implement performance-based budgeting to ensure taxpayer money is used effectively.
• Seek innovative funding sources, including public-private partnerships and grants, to supplement city revenue.
• Regularly audit city programs to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.

My approach combines financial acumen with a commitment to public service, ensuring responsible stewardship of Portland’s resources while meeting our city’s diverse needs.

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 primary concerns about Portland’s new government structure are:

• Effective Representation: Ensuring the council represents all Portland communities. I propose regular town halls in each district and a robust community engagement strategy.
• Efficient Decision-making: With more council members, there’s a risk of gridlock. As mayor, I’ll focus on building consensus and implementing clear processes for timely decision-making.
• Balancing Citywide and District Needs: Council members must balance district priorities with citywide concerns. I’ll work to foster a collaborative environment that considers both.

The mayor should be a facilitator and visionary leader. I’ll:

• Ensure smooth implementation of the new structure.
• Advocate for necessary resources to make the transition successful.
• Foster collaboration between council members, the city administrator and the public.
• Provide a unified vision for Portland’s future while respecting the new division of responsibilities.

My goal is to create a more responsive, efficient government that truly serves all Portlanders.

Related: What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest Washington

How would you work to promote and boost Portland nationally as mayor and reinvigorate people’s sense of civic pride?

To promote Portland and boost civic pride, I’ll leverage our unique assets and foster community engagement:

• Showcase Portland’s Innovation: Highlight our leadership in sustainability, technology, and craft industries to attract businesses and talent.
• Enhance Cultural Tourism: Partner with Travel Portland to promote our diverse arts scene, food culture and outdoor attractions.
• Expand Sister City Relationships: Strengthen international ties to boost trade and cultural exchange.
• Launch “Portland Pride” Initiative: Collaborate with local businesses and community organizations to celebrate Portland’s unique identity.
• Revitalize Neighborhood Identities: Support district-specific cultural events and improvement projects.
• Green City Leadership: Promote Portland’s commitment to sustainability and livability.
• Support Local Creatives: Boost Portland’s reputation as a hub for artists, musicians and innovators.
• Youth Engagement: Partner with schools to increase student involvement in city government and community projects.

By celebrating our strengths and addressing our challenges head-on, we’ll reinvigorate civic pride.

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?

My budget approach will be guided by transparency, prioritization and innovation:

• Transparency: Clear, regular communication with the public about budget constraints and decisions.
• Prioritization: Focus on essential services that directly impact citizens’ quality of life.
• Efficiency: Streamline operations without compromising service quality.

To minimize service reductions:

• Explore public-private partnerships for service delivery and infrastructure projects.
• Implement technology solutions to improve efficiency in city operations.
• Seek innovative funding sources like targeted grants and responsible user fees.
• Encourage interdepartmental collaboration to reduce redundancies.

Potential areas for optimization:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of all city contracts for potential savings.
• Implement energy-efficient measures in city buildings to reduce long-term costs.
• Explore shared service agreements with neighboring municipalities.
• Transition suitable city services to online platforms to reduce overhead.

I’ll prioritize funding for critical areas like public safety, infrastructure maintenance and social services while seeking creative solutions to budget challenges.

Related: Issues important to Oregon voters

How can the city of Portland and Multnomah County improve their existing partnership to more effectively address the homelessness, addiction and behavioral health crises?

1. Enhance Joint Office of Homeless Services:

• Implement regular performance reviews and adjust goals for maximum effectiveness.
• Streamline decision-making processes for quicker responses to emerging needs.
• Focus on evidence-based interventions and eliminate ineffective programs.
• Eliminate first step, no service housing.

2. Improve data sharing and analysis:

• Create a unified, real-time database for tracking services, outcomes and resource allocation.
• Use predictive analytics to anticipate and prevent homelessness where possible.

3. Increase community involvement:

• Establish a diverse task force including service providers, former homeless individuals and community leaders.
• Host regular public forums to gather input and share progress.

4. Align funding strategies:

• Coordinate budget processes between city and county to eliminate duplication and fill gaps.
• Jointly pursue state and federal grants to maximize funding.

5. Improve service integration:

• Create more co-located service centers offering housing, addiction treatment and mental health services.

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?

My perspective on policing is informed by over 600 hours of volunteering with Portland’s first responders.

I would prioritize:

1. Community-Oriented Policing:

• Expand neighborhood liaison programs to build stronger community-police relationships.
• Implement regular community feedback sessions to inform policing strategies.

2. Improved Training and Support:

• Enhance de-escalation and mental health response training.
• Provide better mental health support for officers to combat burnout.

3. Accountability and Transparency:

• Strengthen the police oversight committee with community representation.
• Implement body camera programs with clear usage policies.

4. Interagency Cooperation:

• Reestablish cross-county agreements to improve regional law enforcement effectiveness.

Regarding additional officers, I support strategic hiring to address current understaffing, but with a focus on quality over quantity.

For funding, we’ll reallocate resources from the U.S. Department of Justice settlement once terms are met, explore grant opportunities, and look for efficiencies in the current budget.

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?

This is a complex issue requiring a balanced approach. I’d work with legal experts to ensure our policies are constitutional, compassionate, and effective. We must address public camping concerns while focusing on expanding housing options, mental health services and addiction treatment. Criminalization alone isn’t the solution to homelessness.

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?

While downtown issues are crucial, we must ensure balanced focus across all Portland neighborhoods. East Portland and outer Southeast, in particular, need more attention for infrastructure improvements, economic development, and community services. As mayor, I’m committed to equitable development and resource allocation throughout our entire city.

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 don’t support using Clean Energy Fund money for unintended purposes. These funds were designated for specific environmental and community initiatives, and we must honor voter intent and legal obligations. I’ll work to find alternative solutions for budget shortfalls while ensuring the fund fulfills its purpose of advancing sustainability goals.

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?

I support using unanticipated revenue from the existing homeless services tax for affordable housing construction. This aligns with the long-term goal of addressing homelessness through increased housing availability. However, we must ensure this doesn’t detract from immediate services. I don’t support additional taxes on Portland citizens.

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.

I’ll seek a city administrator with proven municipal management experience, strong communication skills and innovative problem-solving abilities. Our relationship will be based on open communication, clearly defined roles and collaborative decision-making. I’ll foster a team environment that encourages creative solutions while maintaining clear lines of authority and accountability.