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Mike Marshall, candidate for Portland City Council District 2, in an undated photo provided by the candidate.
Courtesy of the candidate
Name: Mike Marshall
Age: 63
Pronouns: he/him/his
Neighborhood: NE Portland
Renter or homeowner: Homeowner
Education: B.A., University of California, San Diego
Occupation: Co-Founder & Executive Director, Oregon Recovers
Years in Portland: 11
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.
Slash Addiction Rates. I would immediately work to establish an emergency plan for developing a system of addiction care and work with county partners to pay for it.
Specifically, we need four sobering centers (one in each quadrant of the city), we need to triple the number of detox beds available (and link deflection to mandatory detox), and we need 1000 more beds within sober living facilities that are connected to outpatient programs. Every candidate is campaigning on fixing the behavioral health system–securing 7 votes will not be a problem.
Create Tax Relief. I would also move to immediately create a joint city-county-metro task force of elected leaders to evaluate every local tax and bond passed over the last 30 years and draft a ballot measure that revises the collective tax burden for lower and middle income families while continuing to meet the progressive objectives of the people of Portland.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
As a person in long-term recovery and an addiction policy expert, I have a unique understanding of what the city needs to urgently and rapidly address our homeless and addiction crisis. I’m the co-founder and executive director of Oregon Recovers whose advocacy has led to the first-ever statewide addiction recovery strategic plan and the allocation of $1.5 billion by the legislature to implement that plan. I am also the co-creator of the www.RecoveryNetworkofOregon.org, the only online resource for families to find access to recovery services. In a crisis, I lead on developing solutions and creating resources for families and communities.
My many years of working on democratic development programs overseas provides me with a unique perspective on what’s needed to implement our new system of government. It is key that we establish robust, transparent and engaging procedures for operating as a legislative body. I’ve advised institutions in over 20 countries on these legislative best practices hence I will bring a unique set of skills to our new city council.
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?
We need to design a response that meets the moment. Former Governor John Kitzhaber recently developed a memo which provides a clear path forward for quickly scaling up to meet the city’s identified housing needs. It is for establishing a 36-month Housing Emergency Immediate Response Period that includes implementing the following:
- Expand use of the Multiple Unit Limited Tax Exemption (MULTE)
- Suspend Type III Design Review except for appeals of Type II decisions
- Consolidate and expedite permitting functions into one bureau (partially implemented)
- Meet the statutorily-required 120-day window for zoning/land use review and approval/denial, or the project is automatically approved
But we also have to look at short- and medium-term solutions:
- Financially incentivize a “home sharing” program targeting senior homeowners who wish to stay in their homes as they transition to fixed incomes
- Convert Portland’s four golf courses into housing campuses utilizing modular homes and apartments
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?
Given the overwhelming concern for public safety and the impact that it is having on Portland’s tax base, it is critical that we prioritize reducing police response times and increasing behavioral health interventions. This will be achieved by hiring 30-40% more officers who are rooted in Portland’s communities and empowering Portland Street Response to deploy independently, transport clients and respond 24/7.
Mitigating the current impacts of climate change and its effect on the most vulnerable Portlanders should also remain a priority. PCEF funds should be left intact but utilized for a broader set of objectives including providing free public transportation and a permanent emergency weather shelter system.
The gas tax should be converted to a % of sales instead of a flat tax so that transportation revenue is more robust as we grapple with 4 decades of deferred maintenance and the need to invest in more alternatives to automobiles. Not popular but necessary.
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?
Once elected I would move to immediately create a joint city-county-metro task force of elected leaders to comprehensively evaluate every one-off local tax approved over the last 30 years to determine if they remain efficacious and reflect the current intent of Portlanders. The task force would be charged with developing a comprehensive tax reform ballot measure that revises the collective tax burden for lower and middle income families.
Separately, I would sponsor a ballot measure to convert the gas tax from a flat rate of
$0.10 to a % of sales to offset reduced gas consumption and to make the gas tax more equitable relative to the affluence of the consumer.
Additionally, I would push to lift the state preemption which prevents local alcohol taxes. Cannabis consumers are paying far more in taxes than alcohol consumers despite the fact that alcohol consumption causes exponentially more damage to the economy.
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’m very excited that Portland is reinventing its democracy. The voters’ intent was to develop a system of government more responsive to our community and more effective in solving the city’s problems. Key to this will be the introduction of a robust legislative oversight process that includes legislative hearings, meaningful stakeholder engagement and realistic timelines for policy development. Additionally, individually and collectively within each district, the new city councilors need to design and adopt a constituent services process that is designed to connect people to solutions–not just individuals.
Without a doubt, there will be hiccups as the new city councilors, mayor and city administrator carve out their respective roles. It will be hugely important, however, that the public witness adults collaborating together to ensure the new system is working.
My goal is to lead from behind and work to build confidence in and enthusiasm for the experiment the voters have chosen.
Related: Issues important to Oregon voters
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 support construction of 2000 more trauma informed shelter beds that are linked to robust supportive services. And as we increase availability, I support providing houseless individuals with the choice of moving off the streets into a safe shelter or facing legal consequences. Jail should be the last of those consequences.
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?
Yes. I will advocate that Portland build a police force equal to the national median which is 1.8 police officers per 1000 residents. We currently have a ratio of 1.2 per 1000–the lowest in the nation. But we need to recruit officers who live in Portland.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
Yes. Given the threat of climate change it is critical the city maintains a fund to mitigate its rapidly increasing effects. However, I believe the allocation of tax revenue should be decided by elected officials who are accountable for their decisions, not by appointed volunteers.
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?
Given the threat of climate change we always need to prioritize alternative forms of transportation over automobiles. It’s painful but necessary. At the same time I also support converting the gasoline from a flat tax to a % of sales tax in order to generate more income for transportation needs.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
A vital downtown is key to vibrant outlying neighborhoods. Given the recent damage to Portland’s national brand and its subsequent effect on our tax base, it’s key that we address issues of public safety and commercial occupancy rates downtown. But moving forward we should expect our new district-based councilors to cast a wider eye towards problem solving across the city.