16.2002
20
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Openly gay man runs low-budget
BEND
541.388.0905
61249 S.Hwy 97
for Portland by Sarah Leimert
ortland City Council candidate Ric
Berrong is not afraid of a challenge.
P
In addition to facing formidable
opposition from 15 other people, the
40-year-old is running as an openly
gay man. He knows his sexual orientation will
play a role in his candidacy.
“I am an openly gay man— have been for the
last five years," he says. “There will he those who
vote for me because I am gay. A nd there will be
those who won’t vote for me for the same rea
son. All I can do is hope that people will look at
the issues.”
Berrong was bom and raised in Portland and
expresses a great love for the city and its poten
tial as a growing metropolis. “This isn’t some
thing I just want to do for kicks,” he says. “1 real
ly am passionate about this city.”
Berrong, who attended Franklin High
School and Mt. Hood Community College, has
been a delivery driver in Portland for the past 12
years. He works full time for the Irwin-Hodson
Company.
He has no prior political experience to draw
from. “But I view being an average citizen work
ing for all the citizens as a positive,” he says.
W ith a campaign slogan of “one voice can
make a difference,” Berrong would like his can
didacy to he based on his love for and dedication
to Portland, not how much money he has in his
campaign coffers.
“I’m not rich,” he says. “So (I’m) making lit
tle fliers, handing them out, walking my dog
around with a sign. W hile other candidates
expect to spend a great deal of money to get
elected, I do not want to buy this position, I
want to earn it.”
Through volunteer work with the Metropol
itan Human Rights Center, Cascade AIDS Proj
ect and two Portland hospices, Berrong has been
encouraged to become more involved with the
sexual minorities community. “Involvement
and education are essential for everyone’s equal
ity,” he says. “I offer my voice to ensure all citi
zens are viewed and valued equally."
Berrong is a busy man w ith a long list of
goals. In addition to working full time and
running a campaign, he also is pioneering his
own publishing company, Saisar U nlim ited,
and is writing a book, Neni: A Celebration of
Truth, which is scheduled to he published in
th e summer o f 2003. W h en he is not hard at
work on one o f his projects, he frequently can
he seen riding his hike or walking around
dow ntow n w ith his dog, Saddi.
Promoting Portland's out-of-state tourism is
high on Berrong’s priority list. In addition, he
would like to encourage folks who already live
here to explore the city.
“Pve talked to people who haven’t been
downtown in years and won’t come down here,"
he says. “They have one bad experience and
they want to stay away... 1 want to show the city
as being accessible and safe, because it really is.”
Berrong also is troubled by the current con
dition of the Portland Police Bureau. He wor
ries that C h ief Mark Kroeker does not repre
sent a “positive change for the future” of the
departm ent.
“If we are to he searching for a new chief of
police, I would insist that we hire within the
bureau, someone who knows the city,” he says.
“We will never find someone to please all the
people, but at least we can find someone who
respects all the people.”
A nother issue close to home for Berrong is
the Burnside Triangle, Portland’s gay culture dis
trict, which he says has the potential for devel
opm ent and a chance for redefinition. He calls
upon the sexual minorities community and the
city to improve the area, patronize existing busi
nesses and encourage new ones to establish
themselves.
“I totally support that,” he says. “But what
does [the Triangle] really represent? Basically, it’s
a bunch of clubs. I would like to encourage some
businesses that are unique to the area— card
shops, more bookstores, clothing shops.”
Berrong wants to be sure every voice in Port
land is heard, not just the well-financed ones.
For example, "the recent decision of the current
City Council to ignore the voice of the citizens
and move forward with the [Oregon Health Sci
ences University] tram troubles me," he says. “1
live in the neighborhood where the tram will
[operate], and 1 believe there were other options
that would have made everyone happy.”
Berrong’s intent is to play an instrumental
role in securing the Rose C ity’s future. “Port
land has a charm and character all its own," he
says. “As it grows into an even stronger and
more successful city, we must ensure that we
embrace and cherish the character that makes
Portland unique.” | H
can be contacted at
FaithfulQueer@aol. com.
R lC BERRONG
is a Portland free-lance writer.
E-mail her at scleimert@earthlmk.net.
SARAH L e im e r t