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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.

Name: Chloe Mason

Age: 33

Pronouns: She/Her

Neighborhood: Nob Hill

Are you a renter or homeowner? Renter

Education: Did not answer.

Occupation: Fitness Model/Small Business Owner/ Author

How long you’ve lived in the city of Portland: 2015

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.

Starting in the area of taking care of our public spaces — I need to see all of the city’s services functioning well together. We are all on the same team, and moving toward the same goals, so seeing for example the street outreach folks show up and clean up a campsite, but leave an RV behind for PBOT to come pick it up days (maybe weeks) later, that doesn’t strike me as a system that’s functioning as well as it could be. My suggested change would be to move as many of those response services under one roof as possible. Align the work, and align the budgets.

I have seen this problem repeat itself across the city, so it is certainly not unique to my district. I expect everyone on the council to want to move in that same direction.

What previous accomplishments show that you are the best pick in your district? Please be specific.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have served on the boards of Raphael House of Portland, the Portland Art Museum, Soho House, and the PPB Equity Advisory Council. These roles have equipped me with valuable leadership skills, including the ability to foster collaboration and inclusivity. I’ve been the person our city is supposed to support, but it felt like my voice was ignored. Asking myself, Why are basic necessities like food so out of reach that I have to rely on government help? And why can’t we do more to stop the fentanyl epidemic that has taken the lives of three of my friends? My dedication to our community, coupled with my empathy and compassion, sets me apart as a qualified leader.

What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest Washington

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?

To address the housing shortage, I suggest transforming empty office buildings into residential units. Understanding that this could take some time to see what buildings have the infrastructure to do so, there are an abundance of vacant buildings that could be of potential. We must streamline the permitting process to cut red tape and encourage affordable housing by offering grants and tax incentives.

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?

Did not answer.

Issues important to Oregon voters

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?

I will not support any increases in fees or taxes on hardworking Portlanders who are hustling to get by and want to stay in this city. One specific tax I think needs work is Preschool For All — I believe we should reconsider the thresholds indexed for inflation because as a working single mom, I can tell you that $125,000 a year in 2020 went a lot farther than $125,000 a year in 2024. I would also like to see us find a less cumbersome way to collect the Arts Tax. Art and art education is something that is absolutely crucial for a vibrant community and is clearly something that Portlanders show strong support for, but I have heard dozens of Portlanders express frustration over the hoops they have to jump through to pay for it. I argue it would be much more effective as a bond measure.

Do you have any concerns with the changes coming to city elections and city governance? If so, what would you like to see change?

With this year’s election being the first time using Ranked Choice Voting, we may see a decrease in Portlanders voting due to confusion. However, RCV encourages voters to make more informed choices.

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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?

Camping on public property, especially on walkways, can pose a public safety risk. Implementing consistent and enforced consequences for those who refuse safe shelter options is essential to address this issue.

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?

No, I would not vote yes because the City Council has already voted on the amount the city can provide. It would be great to have more present law enforcement, however, I trust that our Council made the best decision for our city budget.

Do you support putting the Clean Energy Fund measure back on the ballot? What, if any changes, would you support?

The Portland Clean Energy Fund is a community-driven solution that not only promotes clean energy but also prioritizes those who have historically been underserved. By investing in renewable energy projects and energy efficiency upgrades, we can reduce our carbon footprint while creating a more just and sustainable future for all.

Which would you prioritize: Creation of more protected bike lanes and priority bus lanes or improved surfacing of existing degraded driving lanes?

Upgrading our deteriorating driving lanes should be a top priority, as it is a longstanding concern of our constituents. The condition of our roads is causing hundreds of dollars in car damage, placing a financial burden on our community. I have personally experienced this.

Have the problems impacting downtown Portland received too much or too little attention from current city leaders? Why?

The issues the city is facing downtown has received too much of the wrong type of attention. There has not been enough solution focused attention. Instead of constantly stressing the issues we need more attention on the strategy to be productive.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/27/portland-oregon-city-council-chloe-mason-politics-government-district-4/