Jim Middaugh: Why I'm Running

Jim is a candidate for the Portland City Council.

I’m Jim Middaugh, and I’m running for Portland City Council Position 2 because I’ve got the experience, independence, creativity and history of getting things done for Portland that we need to make our city even better than it is today.

I helped create a community grants program to strengthen our schools. I partnered with business to cut red tape at South Waterfront. I cut my own budget by more than a million dollars while bringing salmon back to Portland. I helped find new resources for housing and the homeless. I teamed with our universities to search for local solutions to global warming.

I serve on the Columbia River Gorge Commission, where I’ve stood against proposed development that would scar our scenic area. I was co-chair of my neighborhood. I volunteer in my kids’ schools. And, I’ve served Oregon on behalf of two members of Congress – Jim Weaver and Peter DeFazio. I’ve consistently demonstrated the candor, courage and creativity needed to make our city greater. My independence, experience, and passion for Portland will allow me to deliver results on the day I take office.

Our city is great because we agree about our values. We value things that are green, progressive, affordable and open to all. We value the voices of regular Portlanders just as much as the voices of the rich and powerful. We’ve succeeded in maintaining these values largely because we’ve had a string of bold visionaries who turned them into policies that work. It’s one thing to want to be a leader on the environment or affordable housing. It’s another thing entirely to navigate multiple layers of government and business and to get your colleagues to agree with you. To be the Portland we want to be, we need elected leaders who are committed to our values, and who have the practical experience, independence and creativity to turn them into action. I will be that leader.

But don’t just take my word for it. Ask Erik Sten, Peter DeFazio, Jim Weaver, Elizabeth Furse, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Stand for Children, SEIU, NARAL, BRO, the Multnomah County Democratic Party, the Portland Mercury, the Northwest Examiner or any of the hundreds of other people who are listed as supporters on my web page – www.jimforportland.com. You can also ask any of the 1,700 people who contributed $5 and their signatures in record time to get my campaign up and running. I’m the only publicly financed candidate in this race, which means I’ll never answer to anyone but the people of Portland.

I know that there are a lot of important races in this election, and you have a lot of decisions to make on your ballot. I hope that you will decide to vote for me, Jim Middaugh, for Portland City Council position 2.