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Name: John Sweeney
Neighborhood: Richmond
Renter/homeowner: Homeowner
Education: Portland Community College management
Occupation: Mechanical designer, retired
How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 80 years
Age: 84
Pronouns: None
Portland is facing a historic election involving a new voting system and an unusually high number of candidates. Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive and Oregon Public Broadcasting share a goal of ensuring that Portland voters have the information they need to make informed choices, and we also know candidates’ time is valuable and limited.
That’s why the two news organizations teamed up this cycle to solicit Portland City Council candidates’ perspectives on the big issues in this election. Here’s what they had to say:
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For each of the following questions, we asked candidates to limit their answers to 150 words.
Name two existing city policies or budget items you’d make it a priority to change. Why did you select those and how do you plan to line up at least 7 votes on the council to make them happen? Please avoid broad, sweeping statements and instead provide details.
Public Safety: Increase and refresh the Portland Police and Portland Police Reserve.
The Portland Police Reserve could be a backup and a stepping stone for full-time employment as full-time officers, because public assistance is Multnomah County’s duty. We, the city, can serve as a backup with zoning and leases for some of the empty buildings downtown. This would get the homeless closer to services and out of neighborhoods.
What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.
I was with the Portland Parks for over 32 years and retired as a park operations supervisor and worked with most other city departments. I served on the parks safety committee and the Portland Fleet Accident Review Board for many years. This experience gives me a wide view of many parts of the city.
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Portland is on track to permit the fewest number of multifamily units in 15 years and remains thousands of units below what’s needed to meet demand. What steps would you take to dramatically and quickly increase the availability of housing?
Housing is a major need. First, I would want to examine the system to locate the roadblocks, then streamline the process to speed up the building of more apartments to solve the lack of housing in Portland. I would move social services to the county and end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
The next City Council is going to have to make some very difficult decisions regarding what to fund and how. What essential services must the city provide and how should the city sustainably fund them?
The main job of our government is to keep the American people alive and free. That means public safety is a priority and must be funded as a priority.
Portlanders have approved many tax measures in the past decade — supporting affordable housing, free preschool programs and green energy initiatives. Are there specific taxes or levies you want eliminated or would choose not to renew? Are there specific taxes or levies you would support creating? Why?
Did not provide an answer.
Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?
I am not happy with the change in the form of government. But it is what it is. So we need to deal with it.
The new Mayor does not have veto power. That means that there is no “checks and balances.” Veto power would restore those “checks and balances” that is a mainstay of our government.
I would push for having 12 districts. That way we would have one councilor/one district, just like the state Legislature, and better service to our citizens.
Related: Listen to ‘OPB Politics Now’
For the five remaining questions, we asked candidates to answer in 50 words or fewer:
Do you favor arresting and jailing people who camp on public property in Portland who refuse repeated offers of shelter, such as the option to sleep in a city-designated tiny home cluster?
Only if the person is truly a problem. Moving them downtown in some of the empty buildings will solve most of the problems. Arresting people should only be the last resort.
Would you vote yes on a proposal to fund hundreds more police officers than the City Council has already authorized? Why or why not? How would the city pay for it?
Did not provide an answer.
Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?
I am not up on the details of the Clean Energy Fund. But I would push to put all of our diesel equipment on renewable diesel fuel and our Flex-Fuel vehicles on E-85 Gas and move our gasohol to E-20. This would give us cleaner air as a result.
Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?
We have enough bike and bus lanes. It is way past time to fix our streets. Our cars and trucks are taking a real beating, and we are very tired of it.
Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?
Downtown Portland is a living ghost town. We need to stop and take a new look at the mess. I do not know where to start with out going for a complete overhaul.
