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Name: Mariah Hudson
Age: 46
Pronouns: she/her
Neighborhood: Alameda
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: Did not respond
Occupation: OHSU Senior Healthcare Communications Specialist
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: the last 12 years consecutively
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.
To restore the Portland that we love, we need to end the crisis and begin the comeback with urgency and vision. First, that means holding the Joint Office of Homeless Services accountable for outcomes. I would seriously consider ending the contract with JOHS.
Second, to end the crisis on our streets, I would fully fund our first responders including Portland Street Response and give PSR the ability to transport people in crisis.
As a communications leader at OHSU I see the failures of our system everyday including a lack of shelter and delays due to understaffing of first responders. Public safety and homeless are the most pressing issues holding Portland back.
To earn the votes, I’ll work across agencies as I have done at OHSU and as a legislative advocate. I know how to build consensus through disagreement and elevate the common good focusing on outcomes.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
The last time Portland treated a crisis like an emergency, I was a leader at OHSU helping operationalize our response and keep communities healthy. As chair of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, I collaborated with neighbors to open the Walnut Park shelter working with businesses, the city and county to get people from tents to shelter and make sure the environment was safe for neighbors.
I knew it was time to step up and serve because compassion isn’t enough to solve the crisis on our streets that is endangering our neighbors and our future. Getting Portland back on track requires leaders who can turn compassion into action–just as I have as a PTA board member and chair of the PPS and Transportation budget committees. On council, I’ll collaborare across agencies for the common good and make sure tax dollars are well spent.
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?
Drawing on the recently adopted Housing Production Strategy, I would focus on three key areas: infill development, streamlining the permitting process, and catalytic projects.
First, I support zoning changes, partnerships with community development corporations (CDCs), and the use of special financial districts (TIFs) to increase infill development.
By encouraging ADUs, courtyard apartments, skinny homes, and multifamily housing along key corridors, we can create more diverse and affordable housing options.
Expanding capacity in close-in, high-opportunity neighborhoods with access to transit and jobs helps address the housing shortage and reduces commutes.
Second, I’ll push for continuous improvements in Portland’s permitting process. With multifamily projects currently averaging over 500 days for approval, we need to remove code barriers and enhance transparency to reduce delays and costs for developers.
Lastly, I’ll champion catalytic projects like Albina Vision and the OMSI District, working through public-private partnerships to ensure these developments deliver much-needed housing.
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?
We must prioritize services that support a safe, and livable city: public safety, well-maintained roads and parks, and affordable utilities. Portland has many unique assets, but basic services are foundational to retain and attract jobs and residents. It is essential we invest in and leverage support for local businesses, including the arts, to grow our economy.
Sustainably funding these services requires more than smart budgeting: we must grow our tax base by attracting new businesses and residents to expand our economy. We should also use performance metrics to find efficiencies, but as PBOT budget chair, I’ve know there are diminishing returns in cutting services like IT and HR. Growth, particularly in our city core is key to meeting current and future needs, which will only increase with aging infrastructure. Ultimately, making these decisions will require collaboration to balance immediate needs with long-term sustainability.
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?
As a City Council candidate, I believe we need to ensure our taxes are equitable and provide value to Portlanders. I would advocate eliminating the Arts Tax, which has been criticized for being regressive and disproportionately impacting low-income residents.
Instead, I’d explore more equitable ways to fund the arts, such as corporate sponsorships and partnerships with private organizations.
I also support revising the Metro Homeless Services Tax. While it’s crucial to addressing homelessness, I would explore lowering the rate and expanding its uses to include transitional and supportive housing, which can have a more immediate impact.
Finally, though not a tax, Portlanders face some of the highest water and sewer fees in the country. I would push for a review of these fees and project costs driving fees to ensure they are fair and funds are being spent effectively, helping ease the financial burden on households and small businesses.
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 have concerns about the changes to city elections and governance, especially with the introduction of multi-member districts. These districts are large, which could make it harder for council members to effectively connect with and represent their constituents. The multi-member system was chosen by a committee, not directly by voters, and several committee members are now running for these seats. I believe the complexity of large districts may make it more challenging to address local concerns.
Additionally, the current funding model only provides one staff member per council member, far less than our part-time state legislators, who represent smaller areas. This may be insufficient for managing both legislative responsibilities and the work required.
Finally, I believe it’s essential to evaluate the performance and gaps in our new voting system to determine if adjustments are needed to ensure greater participation and representation as was envisioned in the charter.
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?
The homeless and addiction crisis on our streets is urgent and requires accountability at all levels. When there is shelter available, I support consequences, including jail, to give people a reason to change course. This accountability is needed to ensure our public spaces are safe and accessible for all.
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, Portland is understaffed for a city of our size and needs. Response times are unacceptably high and leave residents vulnerable. I would consider pausing non-essential projects in other bureaus and focusing on attracting jobs and growing our tax base to pay for needed staff.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
No. I support maintaining the current tax level on large corporations. The current council has made many of the administrative changes needed and the PCEF advisory structure ensures funds directed to projects that meet program goals.
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?
As chair of the Portland Bureau of Transportation budget committee I’ve led the committee in recommending the city to maintain current assets before establishing new projects without maintenance plans. As a bike commuter and runner I know that unsafe pavement endangers cyclists and pedestrians the most.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Downtown is the economic engine of our region and revitalization deserves the immediate attention and action from city and state leaders. The safety, development and perception challenges of downtown are not isolated and impact neighbors and businesses throughout the city.