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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2004)
/ Îlîe ortlanò (Observer September 22, 2004 PageA5 CHOOSING A MAYOR Reinventing Jim Francesconi continued city officials in neighborhoods, incorporating artists into city planning and launching a “buy Portland first” campaign to sup port local businesses, to name a from Front leer. He became a leader in the Portland Organizing Project, and co-founded the Youth Employ ment and Empowerment Coalition. He spent his career as a work- ers’-compensation lawyer, until taking office in 1997 on Portland’s City Commission. During that time, he racked up a long resume o f achievem ents in schools, transportation, parks and the en vironment, jobs and the economy, public safety and civil involve m ent. Some o f his proudest achievements include starting an after-school program, extending school days at 46 elementary and middle schools, holding Portland Public Schools and Parks Bureau accountable through audits, de veloping learning centers for Latino, Asian and African-Ameri- can high-risk youth and securing $ 175,000 in funding for that pro gram. and diversifying the Fire Department. Jim Francesconi He recently lost the support of the Portland Police Bureau, a highly coveted endorsement, over a mud- slinging ad against his opponent. f I'm proud that every labor office that's done endorsements has endorsed me. I passed the living wage ordinance in the city regarding health insurance for any contractors doing business with the city. Francesconi owns public de bates against his opponent. He demonstrates confidence and flu ency with city policy and sites specific achievements and goals for the city. He has outlined a plan for his first 100 days in of fice, which includes boosting di versity in the Portland Police Bureau, increasing visibility of “I'm proud of the great major ity of police officers and the hard work they do, but endorsements w on't stop me from doing what I think is right,” he said. Francesconi has earned en dorsements from prominent local leaders including State Sen. Mar garet Carter, former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Lolenzo Poe and Julia Brim-Edwards, co-chairs of the Portland Public School board, and the Portland Association of Teachers, as well as various labor unions. “I’m proud that every labor office that’s done endorsements has e n d o rse d m e," said Francesconi. “I passed the liv ing wage ordinance in the city regarding health insurance for any contractors doing business with the city. My opponent has done nothing in those areas so I’ve gotten labor support.” N efarious and influential forces such as The Portland B u sin e ss A llia n c e and Multnomah County Com m is sioner Lonnie Roberts also call Francesconi an ally. But part of Francesconi's new image, paired with the new slogan, “One Portland, Our Fu ture,” highlights testimonials from everyday folks. “ You’ re not going to see these fancy television commercials anymore; it's a lot different,” said Francesconi. One of his testimonials for his newly invented campaign is from Doris Dines, a retired African- American Portland resident, who said, “A commitment to diversity, the willingness to stick up for all people, and a sense of honest sincerity are all values that define Jim Francesconi, and those val ues are the reason I am voting for him!” Likehisopponent, Francesconi says he has no plans for higher office. If he loses this election, he will return to a legal career in the private sector. “It’s an agreement I have with my wife and one that is the right thing to do,” says Francesconi. “I will have spent eight years doing what I’m doing and I’m doing whatever I can to win this election." Tom Potter Prepares to Lead continued from Front downtown Portland, called New Avenues for Youth, directed a state agency that trains and cer tifies public safety officers and consulted for various firm s around the U.S. He was considered for a posi tion in theClinton administration, to create a national community policing model, but says he was eventually passed over because of his visible alliance to gay and lesbian causes. Potter’s support for his les bian daughter, Katie, led him to march in Portland's gay pride parade. At the time, he was the first police chief to do so, and he encouraged other officers to join him. He was also the only police chief ever to hold a place on Oregon's American Civil Liberty Union board. Possibly the most astonishing aspect of Potter’s campaign run has been the outpouring of sup port from notable individuals and organizations. Potterhas been en dorsed by the Portland Metro Chapter of the Green Party, former presidential candidate Howard Dean, "Willamette Week" news paper, gay rights organization Basic Rights Oregon, Dignity Vil lage homeless community, former State Rep. Jo Ann Bowman, now an activist for minority rights. The Rainbow Coalition, County Com missioner Maria Rojode Steffey, “El Hispanic News,” and the Multnomah County Democrats, to name a few. “How did an old cop get en dorsements from all those good progressive folks? I think they see in me some of those progressive values. They knew me when I was chief, they knew I was fair and worked to increase diversity. These folks know I walk my talk,” said Potter. Although Potter’s public per sona is that of a friendly straight- talker, his plans in office are either closely guarded or undeveloped. In debates, he clings to Portland’s need for a vision and his intent to have their emotional needs taken care of are more likely to achieve in school.” He speaks more as an activist than an experienced public servant, though Potter is keyed in to some of the city’s gaping problems, includ ing the educational achievement gap, promoting diversity in the police force and finding Portlanders living wage jobs. “I don’t have all the answers to that but I’ll work with the business community to try to develop a bet ter system and use the employment division in connecting people to Very small children in early, formative years will have the kind of support systems they need to succeed. People who have nurturing loving families, full tummies and have their emotional needs taken care of are more likely to achieve in school. v use his “bully pulpit” to advocate for children with full bellies, and against the “oxymoron” of “good government—” non-specific val ues anyone would be foolish to stand against. “One of my uses of the mayor’s bully pulpit will be to get people to focus on the front end of problems, and I consider police the back end, investing in people’s failures. Very small children in early, formative years will have the kind of support systems Ihyy neetj to succeed," he said. “People who have nurturing loving families, full tummies and jobs, so as a city, we are not taking on so much in employment and just giving places people can connect to figure out what’s out there and what’s available,” he said. If Potter is defeated in the general election, he says the worst thing that can happen is he’ll return to retire ment. He saysa “leadership vacuum” called him out to enter the race. “I would not have come out of retirement if I thought the leader ship Portland needed is out there,”, said Potter. "I will only stay in this position until I feel that the next generation is ready to take over.” SOUPS • T i * 1 IT’S LIKE DINING BUT AT HOME. Visit Safeway's Web site at www.safeway.com Fresh Whole Chicken Twin Pack i Gala Apples Butcher s Cut Valu Pack. I Northwest grown. I Fresh, crisp apples. - I Card Price: 50( lb. Grade A. Single Pack, 79c lb. SAVE up to 80< lb. Available at Safeway: W ESTERN U N IO N SAVE up to $1.98 on ■ ¡S ae MV Safeway Club Price Safeway Club Price M O N EY TRANSFER 1UCERNE® PRICES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2004 Sun Men Tue Wee Thur Fri 22 26 P m 27 23 24 Sal 25 22 5-oz. 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