Meet Philippe Knab, candidate for Portland City Council District 3

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.

Name: Philippe Knab

Neighborhood: Laurelhurst

Are you a renter or homeowner? Homeowner

Education: BA Macalester College, JD Brooklyn Law School

Occupation: Attorney/Eviction Defense and Reentry Program Manager

How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 5 Years

Age: 45

Pronouns: he/him/his

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.

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

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’m focusing on two critical issues: unsheltered homelessness and public safety. My priority is shifting Portland to a shelter-first approach, as the current housing-first model doesn’t address the immediate urgency of getting people off the streets and into safe shelters. We also need more responsive public safety services, with a focus on improving call response times and increasing investment in the public safety system. I support expanding Portland Street Response while re-emphasizing community policing, ensuring all are held to the same accountability standards. As a trial lawyer, I was charged with understanding complex systems, explaining them to clients, and achieving the best outcome possible. I’ve negotiated resolutions on thousands of cases with opposing positions, and my experience in consensus-building and stakeholder engagement as program lead will help me secure the votes needed.

What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.

I have 20 years of experience in law and policy, leading change in large-scale programs. I currently manage Washington State’s Right to Counsel program for low-income tenants, the only fully functional statewide program of its kind. I also oversee three reentry legal aid programs that assist individuals transitioning back into society. As a supervising civil rights prosecutor, I successfully litigated the only case in Washington State that held a landlord accountable for discrimination based on immigration status in housing. At the Legal Aid Society, I started an interdisciplinary anti-displacement project in East New York.

My ability to lead large-scale programs and navigate complex legal and policy systems equips me to tackle Portland’s pressing challenges. My values are reflected in my work as a public defender and eviction defense attorney, where I consistently delivered tangible results for under-resourced communities.

Related: Issues important to Oregon voters

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?

There are some no-brainer solutions, like streamlining the permitting process to reduce bureaucratic delays and the costs of building. Second, I’d push for zoning reform to allow more affordable development and promote higher-density housing in areas well-served by public transit. Additionally, I would leverage public-private partnerships to incentivize affordable housing projects, addressing both supply and affordability.

To attract development, we must also tackle our public safety infrastructure and unsheltered homelessness. Developers are less likely to invest in areas where safety is a concern and homelessness visibly impacts communities. By improving safety and reducing unsheltered homelessness, we create an environment where private development can increase.

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 next City Council must prioritize two essential services: addressing unsheltered homelessness and improving public safety. These issues are deeply interconnected, and both must be addressed to create a more livable and equitable city.

For unsheltered homelessness, we need to prioritize a shelter-first approach that immediately provides safe spaces for people currently living on the streets. Public safety requires investment in community policing, improving response times, and expanding programs like Portland Street Response.

To sustainably fund these services, we should explore reallocation of existing budgets, strengthen partnerships with state and federal agencies, and ensure accountability for spending.

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 has become a high-tax, low-service environment, which is not sustainable. One of the things that drew me and my young family to Portland was the city’s progressive politics. I admire the collective spirit of Portlanders who want to right society’s wrongs, but we need to focus on measures that deliver tangible results. I would be open to reassessing prior levies to ensure they are truly working for the city and its residents but don’t feel the need to cut anything. Going forward, It’s important to prioritize services that directly improve the quality of life in Portland, such as addressing public safety, homelessness, and essential infrastructure. Going forward, I believe any new taxes or levies should be evaluated based on their ability to deliver measurable improvements for the community.

Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'

Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?

Yes, I voted for the change because it’s better than the old system, but I have concerns about ranked-choice voting potentially leading to more extreme candidates. I also believe Portland needs to take a step back from “leading the way” on every issue and instead focus on adopting best practices that are proven to work. Additionally, there’s still a significant lack of accountability and clarity between Metro, County, and City roles, which needs to be addressed. This overlap can cause confusion for residents and hinder effective governance.

My experience leading large-scale programs uniquely qualifies me to help guide Portland through this significant transition. Clear accountability and streamlined roles will be essential as we move into this new governance structure, and I’m prepared to help ensure we get it right.

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?

As a former public defender, I’ve seen the destructive impact of the criminal legal system, but rules are necessary. Allowing people to live in crisis, with untreated mental health and addiction, is more harmful than providing shelter and mandating its use for their well-being and public safety.

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 believe we’ve normalized low-level property crime and insufficient public safety services, so voting yes to increase public safety, including more community policing, seems probable. However, I’d need to see data and budget details before voting yes. Funding should come from reallocating existing resources and seeking state and federal support.

Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?

I would want to understand the specific reason for putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot—if it’s only because the tax generated more than expected, that alone isn’t enough. However, I’m open to reexamining prior assumptions and ensuring the fund is being used effectively and equitably.

Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?

It can’t be one or the other. We need to invest in maintaining our existing infrastructure while supporting multimodal transportation. I support prioritizing the creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes to ensure a balanced, efficient transport system for everyone.

Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?

The problems downtown are real. While city leaders have discussed them, what’s needed is real, tangible change—starting with addressing unsheltered homelessness. Downtown should be the heart of Portland, but it’s struggling and requires focused action to revitalize it.