April 18, 2004
Last Friday's City Club Mayoral Forum
We're so far behind on what we're trying to get posted that we were going to refrain from doing a semi-stenographic report from Friday afternoon's Mayoral forum sponsored by the City Club of Portland, but since we came away with the sense that all four of them (to varying respective degrees) displayed improved debate/forum performance, we've decided we will attempt to approach the event in our normal fashion after all.
We're also doing away with dropping to parentheses in order to offer our analysis of this campaign and this event. It's all of a piece, and we trust that readers understand how to tell the difference. Readers who wish to hear the candidates for themselves can listen to the mp3 of the forum, which should be freely available for about the next week.
(Parenthetically, we were told by the executive director of City Club, before the forum got underway that COMMUNIQUE is one of the first things she checks in the morning. "We're glad someone else stays up all night so we don't have to," she said.)
Under City Club rules, any event with four candidates or more will be conducted by their rules for forums, rather than debates. Candidates invited to this forum were: Phil Busse, Jim Francesconi, James Posey, and Tom Potter.
Disclosure: In the Mayoral race, we endorsed Phil Busse.
Opening Statements
"Integrity, innovation, and accountability," said Busse. "That's what I'm going to bring to City Hall." He referenced his experience in developing a "business incubator" for students -- two of whom developed projects which went on to become full-fledged small businesses.
Saying that he "entered the race as disenchanted," Busse said that "an amazing thing has happened on the way" as he's become more serious about the campaign. "Everyone at some point in their life," he said, "should run for public office."
Calling Portland a "great city," Francesconi said that he is "proud of our parks and public schools," saying that they "keep us together." But he said that these things are "at risk," including our "quality of life."
"I will set the agenda," he said, in what to us sounded like at least a sidelong criticism of Potter. "I will frame the debate."
He re-iterated his "basic fundamentals" message of public safety, parks, schools, and family-wage jobs. He called for "job creation in our own backyard" and "whatever it takes to keep our public schools."
Posey opened up with a hearty, "Good afternoon." As usual, he had to instruct the audience that the proper response was to heartily return it. (Don't you people read COMMUNIQUE? If so, you'd know by now the proper way to do this.)
He began by saying he would read from a statement, not "shoot from the hip" as he usually does. Saying he sought to "capture the imagination and support of Portland voters," he claimed to bring "a new and different outlook on government." He said his "first priority" was to "generate and maintain a sufficient economy," and that he sought to "tax you less and provide more service."
"Our City needs backbone," said Potter, as well as (in what we took to be a sidelong criticism of Francesconi) a "Mayor with the courage of his convictions."
He repeated his experience with community policing, and said he "led New Avenues for Youth through a time of crisis." He also repeated his relatively new line that "the people of Portland are electing their new CEO" -- a comparison of the sort that we admittedly dislike.
He added, in the first direct slam at Francesconi: "It won't take me eight years to see the need for change."
Trying to put a positive spin on his lack of specifics, Potter said that "most candidates offer new programs to show that they are leaders," but that what the City needs is someone to bring the community together to determine how to solve its problems. "I am that leader," he said.
This nicely underscores our continuing difficulty with Potter's campaign. It's one thing to not believe in generating a laundry list of proposed solutions to the City's problems. But inherent in any allegation that the City is doing something wrong is that you have some indication of what it would take to do things right. For the most part (although not all the time), Potter steadfastly refuses to provide any such indication.
This is problematic. What's he going to do if he's elected Mayor? Spend the first six months holding public meetings on what Portland should do next, while letting decisions remain unmade in the meantime because we haven't had that public conversation yet? It's a campaign approach that simply doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
We were told recently that early in his campaign, local political "experts" told Potter to stay general, hammering away with words like "leadership" and "community." Newsflash: This hasn't generated any real excitement, and it's not going to. It simply isn't enough for the Potter campaign to rely on the presumption that they are the anti-Francesconi candidate.
Questions From City Club Members
The first question from Club members went to Potter. Given the lack of any Charter authority for direct involvement with the public schools, it asked, what is the "proper relationship" between the City and the schools?
"Our children are everyone's responsibility," Potter said, somewhat irrelevantly. "I will work with the school district," he added, "to rebuild the foundation of our community." He said we have a "very critical few years in front of us."
"I agree with all that Tom said," Posey said. "We must have results," he added, saying that we've been "paying for a school system that doesn't have the results we want."
The second Club member question, directed to Busse, asked about when, if ever, government should run more like a business.
Busse said that it should do so in those areas where it is "responsible for fiscal matters." He criticized an "enthusiasm" which sometimes has "gotten in front of ... business sense." He said he would bring "accountability and transparency" to City government. Busse also said he would bring City Council meetings into the neighborhoods,citing a "philosophical desire to bring community back into the process."
Francesconi said the City should run more like a business when considering "major capital projects," saying that deals such as PGE Park and the proposals around Memorial Coliseum make "no sense."
He also (yes I'm going to say this) made a valid point, rightly saying that "on the public side, it should not act like a business." For example, he said, in terms of providing critical services.
Posey received the third question from Club members, which asked whether the bid from Texas Pacific Group for Portland General Electric was sufficient, and asked for an opinion on the option of public power.
"Of course not," Posey said, arguing that "most of these ventures are failing."
"We need to put our money where it will have results," he added (this might have been in response to the public power alternative, but we haven't re-listened to the forum via the mp3 to check).
"I personally believe in the virtues of public power," Busse said. He added that the "role of the Mayor should be to educate" about those virtues.
Club members' fourth question went to Francesconi. It asked about the building boom downtown, urban renewal areas, and the Portland Development Commission -- and the matter of other parts of the City perhaps not receiving their share of attention for dealing with "true blight."
Francesconi expressed his support for looking at the whole City, and said he had "pushed hard for the first urban renewal area east of 39th." He also said that "PDC has gotten much more responsive," and called for "capital dollars" to go directly to neighborhoods, outside of the PDC system.
"This is a hot one for me," said Posey, accusing the current system of "taking Federal money on the pretense" of serving low-income areas, but instead offering a "giveaway to the rich." Posey simply called for an outright end to the Portland Development Commission.
The fifth question from Club members, directed at Busse, asked about the growth of "in-migration" of members of the so-called creative class.
"At the core of our economic plan," Busse said, "is what to do with the creative class." He said that "the City has a very important responsibility" for support and infrastructure. He called for a "business incubator" program for local artist entrepreneurs, and for reinvigorating Portland's attractiveness to the movie industry.
Potter called this "a wonderful opportunity" and said the City should "get out of their way" by streamlining various City processes.
Posey received the sixth Club member question, which asked for his views on the business income tax and whether or not it was a disincentive.
"I do believe it's too high," he said. However: "The average business person doesn't mind paying taxes if they are making money." He said that the most important thing for business is to increase the "ability to generate income."
At this point, the "question cards" we last saw at the Commissioner No. 4 forum went up, and Posey had 30 seconds to provide a better answer.
He added that the City needed to "figure out ways to generate more business" because "for me it's a volume issue."
"We need to look at all of the taxes," Potter said, saying that since Measure 6, we've been taking a "band-aid approach."
The seventh question from Club members went to Francesconi, and asked about the City's role in terms of struggling arts organizations and artists.
"The first role," he said, "is helping to create more jobs including more corporate headquarters to support the arts." He also referred the "the facilities side" and an obligation to "support smaller institutions" such as the Region Arts & Culture Council.
Busse said that one of the "overlooked" aspects to helping the City's arts community is affordable housing, which would help artists to "keep their eyes on the dreams that they have."
Oddly enough, the eighth question was on affordable housing and the real estate transfer tax. It went to Potter.
"I support the real estate transfer tax," Potter said. He also called for looking at tax increment financing and spreading out urban renewal funds to put more money into affordable housing. "The leadership is necessary," he said.
"We do need more money," said Francesconi. He said he supports efforts by Commissioner Erik Sten, and supports instituting the real estate transfer tax at the state level. He also said we should consider a "regional approach" and a "narrow special option fund."
Club member's ninth question went to Busse. It asked for perspectives on Portland's African-American community, especially in respect to recent shootings and "driving while black" (although it didn't use that term).
Busse referred to the recent youth summits that have been held to tackle such issues, relating the story of one teenager, a student with a 3.5 grade average, who has been in handcuffs twice. He also mentioned one police officer who, at such a meeting, said: "There are one of two ways people are making money in this neighborhood. That rap music trend, or dealing drugs."
He called for better police training, and more opportunities for officer to be out of their cars and in the communities (such as Busse's proposal to require community service activities from officers).
Posey said "the perception is that this is a black problem." He added that "we need to change the complete culture of this police department."
The tenth Club member question, to Francesconi, asked about increasing sewer and water bills, and projects such as the Combined Sewer Overflow, and cleanup of the Willamette River.
"It's the one question that I don't have a very good answer for," Francesconi said. While he said that Portlanders are willing to invest in certain environmental requirements, he also said "we need more help form the Federal government."
This is also where Francesconi announced he had changed his mind on the burial of the reservoirs, citing the projects cost. But we covered that in a previous item.
Potter said, "We were aware of this problem fifty years ago." What else he said we didn't capture.
Club member's eleventh question went to Potter. It asked how to balance support for urban design with responding to criticisms of things such as the City's permitting processes.
"Urban design," Potter said, "is tied to having a vision for the City." He said he work work with citizens to create a plan and vision. "As we move forward," he said, "all areas of our life ... have to be placed together."
The "question cards" flashed into the air, and Potter added a response about "streamlining" City processes.
"When you don't know the answer," Busse said, "you need to ask the experts." He also said that the Ecotrust building should be "a polar star" and serve as an illustration of how things could be done.
Posey received the twelfth and final Club member question, which asked about the proposed "clean money" campaign finance reform.
"I would vote for that," said Posey, who in fact testified before City Council when it took up the issue. He then used one of his best lines, which I've never been able to write down quickly enough to capture it all. "We all know there's a direct connection between clean money and ... clean everything." That ellipsis takes the place of a litany of items, such as "clean environment."
"We shouldn't even have the appearance of this City being compromised," he added.
"We need campaign finance reform at three levels," Francesconi said. He explained that at the local level, he would support the "clean money" proposal, that we need limits at the state level, and that we need media access reform at the Federal level.
At this point, Busse asked if he could get a quick fifteen seconds, but was turned down. He would get to say what he wanted to say later in the forum.
Candidate Questions For Each Other
This is the part of the forum that has been making the rounds around town for having at least a moderate level of sparks between candidates.
Posey referenced a comment made the previous week by Commissioner Randy Leonard that he had the most diverse staff of anyone on the City Council. "How," he asked Francesconi, who's been on the Council much longer, "can he trump you?"
"I commend Commissioner Leonard for having a diverse staff," Francesconi said. "I'm proud of having the only Latino at City Hall," he added, and went on to say he had appointed the first woman director of Portland Parks & Recreation.
"I'm concerned because when I look at your performance as Commissioner," Posey replied, "I don't see any changes since a year ago."
Francesconi asked Potter about what he had done to support the public schools.
"First of all," Potter said, "I contributed eleven grandchildren to the public schools." He said that "for the last ten years" he had worked on public safety and homeless youth issues, and on "increasing opportunities to succeed." Potter admitted that he hadn't "worked directly with the schools," but that he would "make sure we would resolve this issue."
Again, the "question cards" flashed into the air. Francesconi jumped in: "I think we should just waive that." It was unclear to us whether or not Potter wanted to add to his answer. But Francesconi called for performance audits and some use of City resources.
Potter then asked Francesconi about his seemingly-shifting positions (what we're been referring to as "switcheroos") on issues relating to same-sex marriage and campaign finance. "What do you really believe about these issues?" he asked.
On same-sex marriage, Francesconi first said that he expressed support for civil unions, but after talking with Basic Rights Oregon changed his position to support gay marriage. On campaign finance: "We need clean campaigns, and I'm running one." He also said that "people are responding" to his message.
We suppose if you repeat that long enough, it might automagically become true.
Potter rebutted on both counts, saying that Francesconi had originally proclaimed publicly that he believed marriage to be between one man and one woman. And on campaign finance, he pointed out that it had been reported that Francesconi's campaign had called supproters trying to convince them to file complaints against Potter. He called this "not very clean."
It was Busse's turn to ask a question. "I see you're bracing yourself," he said to Francesconi, "but this is for Tom."
His actual question for Potter was on the question of off-leash hours for dogs in the City's parks. But he took a quick moment to slip in what he had wanted to add to an earlier point about campaign finance reform.
He announced that starting next week, he would be enacting voluntary immediate disclosure of campaign contributions, and challenged the other candidates to do the same.
Readers here will remember that Busse first announced he would do this in reader comments here, in response to our own challenge to all candidates to do so. We hereby proclaim this to be the first known instance of a discussion here on PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE finding its way directly into a political campaign.
But back to the dogs issue. Potter said that one of the main problems with the decision that was made on off-leash hours was that it was "not done in conjunction with the neighborhoods." He said he supported off-leash hours, but "not near our schools."
In his brief rebuttal, Busse said "we should be pushing for stewardship programs" in which each neighborhood would design for itself a solution for the off-leash dog issue that works for its own parks.
Audience Questions
The first audience question wanted to know how each candidate would teach a one-hour class on how to be Mayor.
Francesconi said he'd suggest getting experience in the neighborhoods and in the private sector.
Posey said he'd teach them about civics and that "education is about creating community."
Potter said that he's teach that the "job of the Mayor is to protect everyone and increase access to opportunities." He also said the Mayor needs to have a "thick skin," courage, and character.
Busse said that there are "many means to mean different ends," and that "means matter." He also said it was important to have creativity and to brainstorm.
The second audience question asked about the Portland Development Commission and plans such as the possible Home Depot at Burnside and MLK.
Potter said he opposes that plan, and that we should be "looking for local businesses to be put in these communities." He encouraged people to "buy local."
Busse called the plan a "slap in the face of small business in this town," such as the Rebuilding Center and Hippo Hardware.
Francesconi said: "For once we agree." Saying he supports small business, he added that he doesn't believe the research that claims to show that such large businesses help small business in their area.
"I agree," said Posey, "except that in most cases its a lot of rhetoric that doesn't show up on the ground."
The third audience question asked about the issue of "panhandlers on every corner" downtown.
Busse said that while "we need to listen to businesses downtown," we also need to "roll back" the criminalizing of the homeless population, and focus on the root problems. In terms of criminalization, he referenced the sit-lie ordinance.
Of course, there is no actual sit-lie ordinance. Rather, there are enforcement guidelines in place for other existing City laws which often result in the same end results which would have come about with an actual sit-lie ordinance. This helps explain Francesconi's answer to this question.
"I didn't support the sit-lie ordinance," Francesconi said. "It did not pass." Unfortunately, since Busse used the common "sit-lie" shorthand for the current use of existing law, this allowed Francesconi to not have to address what is in effect despite the lack of an actual sit-lie ordinance. Saying matters such as panhandling is "hard for customers," Francesconi added that the City needs to discourage it without criminalizing it.
Had Busse referred to current use of existing law rather than referring to a "sit-lie ordinance" which doesn't actually exist as its own entity, there might have been an opportunity here to find out if Francesconi believed using existing law as a kind of "sit-lie" was, in fact, criminalizing behavior rather than discouraging it.
Posey said that panhandlers "didn't drop out from the Moon" -- his point being that we should "figure out where their families are" so that they can take responsibility.
Potter said that 60% of such people have, for example some sort of mental health issues, and that we should "stabilize their lives" through affordable housing and experimental programs such as Dignity Village.
The fourth and final audience question asked for the top three things the candidates would do in their first year to help business development.
Posey said he would "talk to business" to tell them the City is on their side, and "reduce the barriers to doing business."
Potter said it was important to "retain our businesses," remove barriers to expanding businesses, and attract new businesses.
Busse said City Hall should "stop looking at small business the way a vulture looks at prey." He called for tools such as grants to small businesses, and for the City to act as a "conduit to partnerships" between and amongst local businesses and business resources.
Francesconi said that behind him from his first day in office would be a sign that says, "Jobs: Worth fighting for." He called for a reduction in the business income tax, for plans to recruit and retain business, and for "building that engineering building at PSU."
This forum included no closing statements, and so that was the point at which it concluded. In the end, this particular forum presented two main developments in the Mayoral campaign.
We've already seen people discussing the fact that elbows are now been thrown far more directly amongst the candidates. But in addition to that, each of the four candidates -- in their own relative ways -- seemed to have honed their public performances somewhat significantly.
While this in part might be an artifact of having only four candidates onstage, we think that perhaps it helps that the primary campaign is in the home stretch, and they each know that they have to be as solid as possible. This is not to say that they have perfected their public performances, just that they each seem to have learned something.
At the risk of appearing to play favorites, we believe that the biggest impression upon people may have been made by Busse, who we have backed in this race. We say this not merely because it is our own observation, but because of what we've heard from others. At least one person in the audience reportedly found themselves nodding their head during Busse's responses to questions -- and at one point turned to someone else at their table and explained that they had originally dismissed Busse's campaign, but after this forum found that they had been impressed.
We hear that there seems to be a televised debate from KGW coming between now and the primary election. Early indication (although we dont have this confirmed) is that Busse may be participating. If so, we should watch very closely to see how well he comes across. If he makes an impression, on local television, this close to the election when it will be fresh in viewers' minds... well, it could be something.
Of course, tomorrow we get to see the same four candidates in an entirely different environment, as the post-XPAC event called Candidates Gone Wild! finally descends upon the Aladdin. Even we won't hazard a guess as to how that particular event will play itself out.
Disclosure: PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE accepts political advertisements, and currently runs ads from the Francesconi campaign.