Street Wonk #15
Get out the Vote... Multnomah County Commission District 1 & 2 races... Multnomah County District Attorney... and more!
Dear Readers,
As you may have noticed, I’ve been on an extended break. However, I wanted to urge you to vote in the upcoming primary election and share my endorsements of three extraordinary individuals running for local office! I’m highlighting these candidates because of the passion and expertise they bring to many of the critical issues we face, including public safety, justice reform, housing and homelessness, and meeting the needs of underserved communities.
While primaries are typically overshadowed by the general election, the outcome this Tuesday will have an enormous impact on the future of our County, City, and community. All four of the Multnomah County Commissioner seats and District Attorney positions are up for grabs. Next week, we will collectively decide if we’ll continue to move forward to meet the urgent needs in our community or fall back on failed policies.
My vote will always be for equity, justice, and progress, so I hope you’ll join me in supporting Mike Schmidt for District Attorney, Meghan Moyer for Multnomah County District 1, and Shannon Singleton for Multnomah County District 2!
These progressive leaders are the only ones in the running with the experience to move us forward and offer real solutions that address the root causes of the issues we are facing. They have the support of trusted community organizations, leaders, and elected officials. Mike, Meghan, and Shannon are all champions for a progressive and humane future for our County. You can read more about them from our friends at Portland for All.
Mike Schmidt is a former high school teacher who has served as one of our country’s most progressive District Attorneys. He’s the only Democrat in the race and has the support of the Portland Mercury, Safety and Justice Oregon, Oregon Working Families Party, and countless others. Mike’s opponent for District Attorney is running on returning to broken windows policing, which will worsen racial disparities and make all of us less safe. Mike has taken concrete steps to reduce racial disparities in the county’s justice system and make our County safer and stronger in the long term. We need data-informed leaders like Mike in office, not a return to the failed policies of the past.
Meghan Moyer is a longtime disability advocate who has spent her career fighting for communities facing systemic barriers. Meghan is endorsed by the Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, Building Power for Communities of Color, UFCW, and many other trusted community organizations. Meghan's opponent has a history of bullying Black women and is trying to buy this election by loaning his campaign thousands of dollars. We need a seasoned advocate on the County Commission, not another elected official propped up by big-money interests.
Shannon Singleton has spent decades working directly with people experiencing poverty and has helped thousands of people living on the streets get housed. She is supported by the Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, AFSCME, Next Up Action Fund, and many other trusted community organizations. One of Shannon's opponents has a history of poor judgment, questionable ethics, and bullying women and also led the charge at the City to establish thousand-person mass camps. He’s now trying to weasel his way back into a position of power again after losing his race against me (but successfully serving as a spoiler) in 2020. Portland's wealthiest real estate and business interests are spending thousands trying to smear her reputation and take down an accomplished Black woman. Shannon is a trusted champion for housing justice, which is exactly what we need on the County Commission.
Please join me in urging your friends and family to vote for Mike, Meghan, and Shannon. Tuesday’s election will determine whether Multnomah County will continue moving toward a progressive future or follow the Portland City Council in going full-on retrograde. I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made together in the past several years. We’ve worked too hard to let it be laid to waste by elected officials driven by corporate interests or relying on smear campaigns. Don’t miss this opportunity to help steer Multnomah County in the right direction!
Onward!
Chloe Eudaly
P.S. Here’s how I’m voting on other races and local measures:
Gas tax renewal (26-245 “Fix our streets”): YES
PPS teachers levy: YES
Oregon Zoo bond renewal: YES
Urban Flood and Water Quality: YES
Finally, I would love to see a renter advocate on the Multnomah County Commission, and TJ Noddings looks promising, but he entered the race late and declined to fundraise, so while I’ll vote for him, I’m not holding my breath.
Just a little on-the-ground information about the DA race. Since I have extras, I offered official Mike Schmidt signs to friends who have a handmade one in their yard. Their original signs have repeatedly been destroyed or stolen.
That speaks volumes about the kind of people who support the "law and order" candidate. Dirty tricks in Portland!