Meet Chris Olson, candidate for Portland City Council District 2

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: Chris Olson

Age (and when/whether that will change before the election): 33

Pronouns: He/Him

Neighborhood: Sullivan’s Gulch

Are you a renter or homeowner? I’m a renter

Education: B.A. in Pastoral Ministry, Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL)

Occupation: Non-profit Communications Consultant

How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: I’ve lived here for almost four years. I moved here in November of 2020.

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.

I would prioritize fully funding the Portland Street Response (PSR). PSR is an innovative program that dispatches unarmed first responders to non-violent crisis calls, reducing the burden on police and connecting people with the services they need. Fully funding PSR will expand its capacity and coverage, ensuring our response to crises is compassionate and effective. Second, I would stop the harmful and ineffective practice of homeless sweeps. Sweeps do nothing to address the root causes of homelessness and often push vulnerable individuals into more dangerous situations. Instead, I would reallocate those funds to open emergency temporary shelters across the city.

To secure at least 7 votes, I would build coalitions with council members committed to public safety reform and humane homelessness solutions. I would engage with community advocates, highlight the cost savings and benefits, and work with impacted neighborhoods to ensure these changes have broad-based support.

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

One of my proudest accomplishments was working for the California Vote Project in 2012. The voter registration campaign was set up to flip a Senate and Assembly district in Riverside County from Republican to Democrat. We canvassed door to door to make sure we reached every voter in the county. At the end of election day, we successfully flipped those two seats. This project showed me the power of grassroots movements and meeting voters on the ground where they are. My experience makes me the best pick for District 2 because I’m willing to do the work to ensure the people are represented by someone who understands the challenges that Portlanders face.

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 quickly increase housing availability, I would push to streamline the permitting process for multifamily developments, reducing unnecessary delays and cutting red tape that slows down construction. I’d advocate for rezoning areas to allow for more affordable, mixed-use developments, especially near transit corridors, to maximize land use.

Additionally, I’d increase city investments in non-profit and community-led housing projects and leverage public land for affordable housing. I’d work to expand incentives for developers to build affordable units, such as tax abatements or fee reductions while ensuring strong tenant protections. By focusing on these practical steps, we can rapidly increase the supply of housing and meet the needs of our growing city.

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 must prioritize funding essential services like affordable housing, public safety, mental health services, and transportation. Fully funding programs like the Portland Street Response, which addresses non-violent emergencies with mental health professionals, is critical for a compassionate public safety approach. We also need sustained investment in affordable housing, especially for low-income and vulnerable populations, and in maintaining and improving public transportation for equitable access to jobs and services.

To sustainably fund these services, I propose reforming the city’s tax structure to ensure large corporations and high-income earners contribute fairly, reducing the burden on working-class Portlanders. We should explore a progressive business tax and implement a vacancy tax on unoccupied units to discourage speculation and generate revenue. Additionally, we must re-evaluate and reallocate funds from less effective programs to those that directly address urgent needs, ensuring we deliver essential services equitably and effectively.

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?

I support increasing the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) tax to 2% on companies generating over $1 billion annually. This tax targets the wealthiest corporations, ensuring they contribute more equitably to our community. The additional 1% increase would be specifically used by bureaus to fund renewable energy projects, and efficiency upgrades at the city. This approach not only fights climate change but also creates a source of income for the city, protecting the interest from the original PCEF tax.

While I don’t support eliminating any existing taxes that fund essential services, I believe we should focus on making sure our tax structure is fair. For instance, I advocate for creating or expanding progressive taxes on large corporations and high-income earners. This ensures that those who profit most from Portland contribute fairly to our shared goals of environmental sustainability and economic justice.

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 support the move to a more representative and accountable city government, but I have some concerns about voter education efforts by the city. The new ranked-choice voting and expanded City Council are positive steps, but we must ensure the transition doesn’t create confusion or dilute accountability. I’d like to see clearer communication with voters about how ranked-choice voting works and more community engagement to ensure all residents understand the new system.

Related: Issues important to Oregon voters

For the five remaining questions, please 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 don’t favor jailing people for camping on public property. Criminalizing homelessness is ineffective. People who refuse shelter do so because we lack the resources to meet their needs. We should focus on expanding accessible, low-barrier shelter options and providing supportive services that address the root causes of homelessness.

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?

No, I wouldn’t vote to fund hundreds more police officers. We should focus on investing in proven community safety solutions like the Portland Street Response and mental health services. We can pay for this by reallocating funds from the police budget toward these more effective programs.

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

Yes, I support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot with an increase in the PCEF tax to 2% for large corporations. This change ensures greater investment in renewable energy, green jobs, and economic justice, funded by those most able to contribute.

Related: Listen to 'OPB Politics Now'

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

This is a false dichotomy—we can do both by appropriately taxing corporations. I support creating more protected bike and bus lanes while improving degraded driving lanes, ensuring safe, efficient transportation options for all Portlanders.

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

Downtown has not received enough attention in some areas, and too much in others. The fixation on homelessness and drugs has created a bogeyman for problems Portland faces, many of which could be solved by providing adequate housing and mental health services.