FEBRUARY 17. 2006 JUStjOUtjU
northwest
These Are the People in Your Neighborhood
Incumbent squares off against grassroots activist
manda Fritz’s campaign office is not
much to look at: a few hastily erected
card tables and telephone wires snaking
over industrial carpet.
But the furnishings tell a story: “I am
not going to waste taxpayer money on a fancy
office," she comments.
Her Web site also reports the source of her cam
paign financing. “I didn’t take more than $5 from
any Portland citizen during the qualifying phase of
this campaign, and I didn’t accept any money at all
from people who don’t live in Portland. While
serving on the Portland Planning Commission,
1 didn’t let anyone buy me even a cup of coffee,”
she says.
Fritz, a 47-year-old native of England, has since
qualified for public financing and is the first candi
date to benefit from Portland’s unique campaign
finance system. Rather ihan depending on large
donations, the program matches the candidate’s
fund raising to the tune of about 30 cents from each
Portland resident.
Fritz has lived in Portland for more than 20
years and in that time has become involved with a
variety of grassroots political efforts, from working
on the planning commission to attending rallies
supporting Senate Bill 1000, which would have
legalized civil unions for same-sex couples in
Oregon.
“I believe marriage is a wonderful institution,
with huge emotional and social benefits as well as
legal advantages. I’ve been married to my husband
for almost 24 years, and I can only imagine how
painful it would be if someone told me I could nor
be in my marriage. People who love each other
should he allowed to commit to each other. 1 will
do everything I can to help support the struggle for
equal marriage rights for all."
When asked about her platform as it relates to
the interests of the queer citizens of Portland, Fritz
says, “One of the main reasons I’m running is
because there are a lot of people who feel disenfran
chised and not heard.”
Fritz has supported the No on 9 campaigns in
1992 and 2000, attended rallies and
demonstrations and been an active ally for
the causes of queer rights in the city and in
the state.
Fritz is unequivocal in her support for
the Equal Benefits Ordinance introduced
by City Commissioner Sam Adams. She
sees the problems involved with city con
tracts and benefits as an issue affecting not
only same-sex domestic partners. Larger
issues of waste and accountability influence
her thinking on the subject. “Sam’s ordi
nance is a great start, but to me it is a big
ger issue, and 1 think the gay and lesbian
community can be part of this bigger pic
ture of how we spend our money wisely.”
Talking from his office, Dan Saltzman is
fairly no-nonsense about the reasons he
should be re-elected. Citing three issues, he
says, “My re-election platform is
about...making Portland a more family
friendly city, giving every child a shot at
success.” In addition, he is concerned with
that elusive element of development, sus
Neighborhood activist Amanda Fritz is challenging City
tainability, as well as reducing the cost of
Commissioner Dan Saltzman.
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Although the notion of sustainabil
ity has been bandied about by politicos
and policy makers alike, Saltzman’s def
inition is simply the idea of living more
lightly on the land. “We have to pre
serve environmental quality and our
natural environment and have eco
nomic prosperity without compromis
ing the quality of our environment for
future generations,” he says.
In contrast to Fritz’s highly empa
thetic approach to understanding of the
queer citizens of Portland, Saltzman
does not see his work as focused on
queer citizens per se. “We serve families
and youth without knowledge of what
their sexual orientation is.”
In characterizing the way he has
met the needs of queer citizens of
Portland, he says: “Queer citizens are
citizens. I’ve been at the forefront of a
For City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, the election is about
lot of issues that have been important,
“kids, environment and reducing the cost of government."
including adoption of the city’s nondis
crimination policy based on gender and
does not disdain this involvement, saying,
sexual orientation, to working with [former] Mayor
[Vera] Katz to adopt the domestic partnership reg “Neighborhoods are an important form of repre
senting citizens’ interests before City Council and
istry and extending benefits to domestic partners in
on many other issues.”
city government.”
Saltzman sees his job as being entrusted by the
He has also been part of the city’s comprehen
sive plan for the West End and led the effort to public to make decisions, and he recognizes that
have the Burnside Triangle designated as the cul “generally at least half the people are unhappy
with the decisions we make.” Nevertheless, he
tural heart of the gay and lesbian community.
sees a creative tension that exists between the
Saltzman is not so forthcoming in his stance on
the Equal Benefits Ordinance, noting: “I’m City Council and neighborhoods as well as a high
degree of collaboration.
inclined to support it but need more opportunity
Having served eight years on the City Council
for airing of it. It sounds like something I’d be sup
and five years with Multnomah County, Saltzman
portive of. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I
believes he will bring focus and resolve to his third
can’t commit myself to a position without hearing
term: “It’s about kids, the environment and reduc
from all sides.”
ing the cost of government. If people share that
Citizen involvement is of paramount impor
focus and resolve, then 1 hope they will support me
tance to Saltzman, whose decisions at times put
in my re-election effort.”
him at odds with neighborhood associations.
Although he doesn’t think one can categorize
neighborhood associations monolithically, he does
For more information about the candidates, visit
acknowledge taking positions that are contrary to
wwui.amandafritzforcitycouncil.com and
www. portlandonlme. com/saltzman.
some of the neighborhood associations. But he
MARTY DAVIS
by Sarah Dougher