Mitch Green
QUESTION 1: How will you engage with voters in SW Portland if elected? Please provide specifics on how your constituents will be able to communicate with you and how you will communicate with us.
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
When Portlanders voted to change our form of government it was driven in large part by a lack of access and responsiveness to constituents. I intend to be available in my district office, will respond swiftly to emails and phone calls, and proactively attend community events or meetings where community issues are discussed.
QUESTION 2: The transition to a purely legislative city council with geographical representation is a major shift from the current structure in which councilors oversee city bureaus. Under the old government structure, concerns about transportation or traffic circulation issues would be addressed to the commissioner in charge of PBOT; concerns about parks would go to the commissioner overseeing the Parks bureau; etc. Given the shift away from administrative powers on the council, how will you make sure constituent concerns are addressed?
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
It is my intention to bring constituent concerns into committee work where service area issues are discussed and policies are proposed to address shortcomings or gaps. I think a significant source of frustration in recent years stems from the lack of up-front and early engagement with community on policy development, where voters are only informed in the final stages of policy development and where testimony is a last ditch effort to stop or change a policy that is more or less settled. Instead, my commitment will be to include community at all stages of policy development and oversight.
QUESTION 3: What role should neighborhood associations play in fostering residents’ engagement with city government and elected officials?
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
Neighborhood associations are often the first place everyday people encounter politics, and will continue to have an important role to play in elevating community concerns for city council. A vibrant democracy requires wide participation and we should work to make them more inclusive of a broader set of voices.
QUESTION 4: District 4 is large and covers many neighborhoods. What issues do you think are particularly important for SW Portland neighborhoods (not downtown)? What proposals would you make to address these issues?
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
We have got to deal with our lack of sidewalks and active transportation infrastructure in SW. The current model of relying upon system development charges to build incremental new sidewalk infrastructure has resulted in both expensive new housing and slow and incomplete infrastructure development. As a result many of our neighborhoods are disconnected requiring that we drive to and from destinations, where many households may wish to bike, walk or take transit. If we're serious about safety and meeting our climate goals we need to move much more aggressively on the rate at which we build sidewalks and that will require a change in the funding model.
QUESTION 5: How do you plan to work with your District 4 colleagues to ensure productive outcomes on district issues?
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
Over the course of the race I've developed rapport and good working relationship with many highly qualified candidates who may be elected, even those who I may disagree with on the finer points of policy and priority. I believe I've earned the respect among my fellow candidates for my willingness to lead with integrity, good faith, and collaboration. If I'm elected I intend to work with my District 4 colleagues to establish constituency services norms for prompt service and championing our district concerns in holistic fashion. In areas where I have less personal expertise I'm happy to defer to my colleagues who do have it, and I would expect that relationship to be reciprocal. In the end, I think anyone who is elected, despite our specific policy priorities, is in this race for the right reasons and is committed to working together for a better city.
QUESTION 6: Why should voters in SW Portland give you a vote?
CANDIDATE RESPONSE:
I hope to earn the vote of SW Portlanders for my expertise in economic policy, creativity in thought, a career devoted to public service, and the willingness to burn my political capital to achieve wins for our community. I don't have ambitions for a political career, so I don't need to play politics for the sake of maneuvering for higher office. I'm going to fight hard for our district, be honest in my convictions, and let the voters evaluate me on my deeds.