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Name: Dan Ryan
Age (and when/whether that will change before the election): 62
Pronouns: He
Neighborhood: Arbor Lodge
Are you a renter or homeowner? Homeowner
Education: University of Oregon, BA
Occupation: Current City Commissioner
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 39 years (38 in District 2)
Dan Ryan, candidate for Portland City Council District 2, in an undated photo provided by the candidate.
Courtesy of the candidate
For each of the following questions, please limit your answer to no more than 150 words. If you run over, we will at our discretion cut your response to meet that limit.
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.
As Portland commissioner, I have prioritized addressing the city’s challenges on homeless, permitting, livability and community safety. I’ve spearheaded the permit improvement initiative, adding four continuous improvement professionals to modernize our system for builders and small businesses. I also led the Safe Rest Villages initiative, providing temporary, safe shelters with essential services, marking a compassionate approach to homelessness. These villages serve as pathways to permanent housing, reflecting my commitment to collaborative and humane solutions. This work needs to be supported by the (supportive housing services) funds that are housed at Metro. These are the services people voted for in the spring of 2020 and must be supported regardless of the city and county’s agreement. I am dedicated to sustaining these reforms, shifting our culture from overwhelm to one focused on improvement, metrics, and accountability. We must fund what works and move away from ineffective practices.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
My entire career is a list of accomplishments; everything I have influenced is better than how I found it. I am an experienced bridge builder dedicated to moving Portland forward. I collaborate and work across ideologies to find solutions that benefit the people I serve. My approach involves listening, engaging and building trust with diverse stakeholders, and then having the courage to do something!
My focus is on achieving tangible results and fostering an inclusive, dynamic and thriving Portland. I’m eager to shift from temporary executive bureau oversight to engaging more directly with constituents in the streets, parks and schools of North and Northeast Portland. As families and elders increasingly leave our city, and with growing safety concerns, it’s crucial we focus on making Portland a vibrant, safe place that attracts and retains talent — a city where people are proud to raise their families.
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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?
Seeing through the establishment of a single permitting entity was a significant step in removing costly wait times for permit approval. Using real-time datasets and a continuous improvement model, our permit system will no longer stand in the way of progress. Beyond permitting, Portland faces challenges. We are losing a significant portion of our tax base. Until we can stop outward migration, we will continue to struggle to attract investment. We need to address our poisonous drug crisis, continue to restore public safety and activate our beautiful city to demonstrate that Portland is a great place to live and thereby attract housing investments. Once we address these issues, we will see an increase in investment and development, including housing. Together, these efforts will help us build more housing, revitalize our economy and make Portland a vibrant and livable place for all.
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 is the first responder for public safety, and it is essential that we build a coordinated, collaborative, and world class system. Our first responders — including firefighters, police officers, park rangers, and Portland Street Response — must be aligned in their mission, each playing a vital role as part of a well-oiled machine. Managing our city involves attention to the entire ecosystem. We cannot afford to make decisions in silos or continue funding programs that fail to deliver results. That’s why my office introduced an Outgoing Grants Policy, which will take effect on Oct. 4. This policy addresses the nearly $17 million of taxpayer money previously awarded to outside organizations without sufficient due diligence or accountability. We need to be vigilant about policy alignment and implementation. Anything else is mission drift.
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 not to renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
I hear the frustration from Portlanders about taxes increasing while services are declining. It’s a serious issue that we must address. As costs continue to rise, I recognize that many families and businesses are feeling the pinch, making it harder for them to remain in our city.
We need to right-size our taxes to ensure they are fair, sustainable and not driving people away. This involves taking a hard look at our spending, prioritizing essential services like public safety, housing, and infrastructure and eliminating inefficiencies wherever possible. We must consider all city, county and Metro taxes in totality to create a balanced and equitable fiscal strategy.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
We must hire a reform-minded, experienced city manager because Portlanders are frustrated with rising taxes and diminishing services. City Council must adopt a builder mentality and support a shift from status quo unaccountable siloes supported by special interest to transparent teamwork the people of Portland deserve.
I have some concerns about the new 12-member, multi-district representation in Portland’s government. While aimed at increasing representation, there’s a risk it could lead to divisions and gridlock. With diverse district priorities, finding common ground might be challenging. We are in a crisis and need aligned action. We can’t go back to ideology debates that were frequent when I joined the council in September 2020. Today, we have a thoughtful council responsive to reality — exactly what Portlanders deserve. My hope is to continue serving on a level-headed council that can make tough decisions and advance our work. This is about service, action and results.
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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?
The majority refusing services suffer from the effects of poisonous drugs linked to sex crimes, violence, and theft. We need to ask the state for involuntary temporary holds in medical facilities to manage withdrawal. Once stabilized, individuals can choose treatment, transportation home, or face legal 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. Investing in community police professionals is crucial to ensure community safety and effective crime response in Portland. By reallocating funds from redundant and overlapping city services, we can bolster public safety resources, enhance training and improve community relations.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
Align (the Portland Clean Energy Fund’s) budget with transparent, measurable goals to ensure accountability. This budget cycle showed we can invest in both community initiatives and greener infrastructure. I’ll keep asking, “How do we measure success?” Let’s get it done for the people, not for the pockets of special interests.
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Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
I would prioritize repaving streets and fixing potholes while enhancing safety for cyclists with extensive greenways. Regardless of bus or bike lanes, our streets must be repaired to ensure efficient movement of people, goods and services across the city. Let’s make our infrastructure work for everyone.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
No. This council has focused on downtown, the heart of Portland, which fuels our city’s economy. To keep it vibrant, we must invest in public spaces, support local businesses, activate arts and music, enhance safety and accessibility and tackle the dangerous open-air drug crisis.
