Meet Bob Simril, 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: Bob Simril

Neighborhood: Grant Park

Renter/homeowner: Homeowner

Education: BA, Lewis and Clark College

Occupation: Business Advisor

How long have you lived in the city of Portland: 20 years

Age: 66

Pronouns: He/Him

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.

Two of my top priorities for the new council are Better Communities and Infrastructure Investments. For Better Communities, I envision safer, cleaner, drug-free streets and expanding housing resources for children aging out of foster care until they are 23. To address addiction, we need more healthcare, mental health, and addiction specialists, offering competitive salaries, national recruitment, and relocation support. A small county fund allocation can support this. I advocate for fully funded police and fire departments, purposefully recruited from local communities, and expanding Portland Street Response 2.0 by collaborating with CCOs, hospitals, and government resources to diversify revenue and solutions. I aim to expedite PCEF fund distribution for cooling areas in parks and public spaces while also providing underserved communities with annual clean air filters and CO2 monitors for safer living spaces.

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

I bring an enterprise mindset to create a more streamlined, accountable, and effective city government. With experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and leading a global team for Tony Robbins, I specialize in solving large-scale problems collaboratively across departments. In the private sector, performance is non-negotiable—you either deliver or you’re out. I’m hardwired to find creative solutions and generate real results. As the city council expands to 12 members, we need diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Growing up in the projects outside Compton in the ’60s as a Black kid with a white mother taught me the power of persistence and communication with diverse communities. District 2 represents a full range of social, economic, and racial diversity, with 15% Hispanic and 10% Black populations. I can connect with anyone in our district, from underserved communities to boardroom leaders, listening and addressing their needs.

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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?

Portland needs 11,000 new housing units, and to meet this demand, we must transition people through the housing continuum—from shelters to temporary housing to permanent homes. My plan focuses on helping families move from high-rent apartments to homeownership through a homebuyer rate reduction program for low- and middle-income families. I will also revamp government insurance requirements for small construction businesses, creating cost savings that can be reinvested in affordable housing. We need to streamline permitting and create agile zoning areas to encourage private investment and innovation. Recruiting businesses and supporting local enterprises will boost economic growth. Incentives to offset high interest rates and temporary tax breaks will stimulate investment. A mix of housing for all income levels is essential, including converting garages into studio apartments or repurposing office spaces into residential units. I will champion a housing project that houses every child in Portland.

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 new City Council must prioritize essential services like public safety, infrastructure maintenance, housing, and addiction and mental health support. I support maintaining full funding for police, fire departments, and expanding Portland Street Response 2.0 to enhance public safety. We must also invest in infrastructure, focusing on upgrading roads, bridges, and utilities in underserved areas, while increasing affordable housing by converting unused city properties. To fund these services sustainably, I recommend a hiring freeze for non-essential executive management to preserve resources, while reallocating staff to align with critical city needs. Establishing key performance indicators will help keep programs on time and within budget, ensuring we optimize current funds while providing essential services. This approach balances immediate needs with long-term financial sustainability, ensuring Portland continues to meet the needs of its residents.

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?

Next year, we anticipate a reduced budget while maintaining fixed labor costs. To adapt, we will reallocate current staff to align with the new structure and implement a hiring and salary freeze on executive management positions, excluding essential emergency services, ensuring alignment with city priorities. With a shrinking resident population, we must assess how to deliver timely services that meet current needs during this economic downturn. I will evaluate all program’s effectiveness and reduce future tax levels if over-reserves are collected. High taxation is driving businesses and residents away. To sustain revenues and provide services, we need to focus on business health, retention, and attracting new residents. I will not approve additional taxation but optimize current revenues, adjusting or returning over-reserved funds to taxpayers based on income levels. Education is crucial to inform the public with transparency and accountability, demonstrating that we are good stewards of our resources and tax

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 optimistic about the new governance structure but have concerns about the potential confusion ranked-choice voting may cause for voters. To ensure our democracy functions as intended, we need ongoing education to help the public understand and engage fully with this new system. Additionally, transitioning to the new city structure will pose operational challenges and impact city employee morale. Aligned leadership between the council, managers, and mayor will be essential to navigating this shift smoothly. It’s important that staff are involved in decision-making about how to perform under this new structure to keep morale high. I’m also working with organizations endorsing me to educate the public about ranked-choice voting, particularly in communities of color and non-English speaking populations. I’m available to support and participate in these efforts to ensure the transition is successful and inclusive.

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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?

I prefer engaging this population to encourage participation. They need shelter and care. However, I will support existing and evolving laws on unlawful camping, even if jail is a last resort.

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 support phased police funding as budgets allow. Additionally, I advocate for recruiting qualified candidates of color and women to build trust and representation within the communities they serve.

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

I support maintaining the Clean Energy Fund. We can use these funds creatively for air filters, CO2 sensors in underserved communities, and add trees, sunscreens, water features, and fresh water stations in parks and public spaces citywide.

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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

My top priority is safe, clean, secure and accessible transportation for bikers, motorist and pedestrians. I will prioritize community infrastructure needs in underserved communities first, then expand as needed.

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

The current council, managing bureaus and making legislative decisions, seems spread thin. They lack KPIs to measure the effectiveness of their actions and a comprehensive plan for downtown beyond addressing the drug and houselessness crisis.