With expectations that president-elect Obama might pick his cabinet in the next few weeks, we’re following his pick for Transportation Secretary very closely.
Previously, we reported early rumors that Obama was considering former City of Portland transportation commissioner and now U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer or Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar (whose arguably the most important and revered [...]

Amanda Fritz(Photo � J. Maus)

With 70% of the vote, Amanda Fritz, a neighborhood activist and Registered Nurse, has been elected to Portland City Council.
Ms. Fritz, who lost a bid for Commissioner in 2006, won a decisive victory over Charles Lewis and she is the first non-incumbent to win a council seat using Portland’s public campaign [...]

President-elect Obama at a rally in Portland on March 21, 2008.(Photo: Ethan Jewett/Stickeen Photography)

(Photo by Steve Rhodes/Flickr)

I don’t care how you get to a ballot box today, just do it.
If you haven’t voted, make sure you swing by one of the ballot drop-off sites, get in line, or do whatever it takes to make it happen. And, while you’re at it, drag your friends, co-workers and neighbors [...]

Wednesday’s regularly scheduled KBOO Bike Show will host the BTA’s public affairs director Karl Rohde for some post-election analysis.

Post election woes and victories. Guest Karl Rhode will discuss current pro-bicycle legislation, what passed, what didn’t pass and what’s coming down the bike lane.
9-10AM, Wednesday, November 5th
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast here later that day

The Ace Hotel is throwing a big election night party that will raise a glass to a new era in American politics and will raise money for a few local non-profits; including the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)(Photo � J. Maus)

Politico published a story today about who might get cabinet-level appointments in a Barack Obama presidency (if he’s elected on Tuesday night of course).
Politico reporter Ben Smith and ABC’s Jonathan Karl (who used “well-positioned Democrats” as sources) have put two familiar names in the running for Obama’s Transportation Secretary [...]

(Photo � J. Maus)

The Multnomah County branch of the Barack Obama campaign has a bike event planned following this Friday’s presidential debate.
First, they’ll host a viewing party of the debate at the Laurelhurst Theater in Northeast Portland.

According to Streetsblog, there’s an interesting meme about Sarah Palin and Barack Obama’s two-wheeled preference going around the right-leaning blogosphere. Here’s more from editor Aaron Naparstek:
“These two images (below) have been floating around the right wing blogosphere under the shrieky, all-caps headline, “THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.”
One of the websites is To [...]

It’s been way too long since I chimed in on the one remaining race for a Portland City Council seat. I hope to offer more coverage of both remaining candidates (Charles Lewis and Amanda Fritz) soon, but in the meantime, here’s a news release fresh from the Fritz camp:

“Mayor Elect Sam Adams Endorses Amanda [...]

Jeff Merkley(Photo: JeffMerkley.com)

Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, is turning to Portland’s bike community for help in his race to grab a seat in the United States Senate from incumbent Gordon Smith.
I received an invitation yesterday for a fundraising event in September that will take place at the Bike Gallery [...]

“It’s really an opportunity to talk about bikes with Barack.”– SRAM CEO Stan Day in Bicycle Retailer magazine

BicycleRetailer.com reports that the president and CEO of component manufacturer SRAM will hold a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
According to the story, “the event’s goal is to introduce Obama to industry leaders and to discuss cycling’s [...]

Bissonnette — who is very close to facing a runoff with Amanda Fritz for a seat on City Council — emerged as a champion of bicycling and sustainable transportation during his campaign.(Photo © J. Maus)

The race for City Council Seat #1 has gotten even closer as the final ballots trickle in.
Amanda Fritz is the clear [...]

[Updated throughout the night. Refresh for latest.]

Portland’s new Mayor, Sam Adams.(All photos © J. Maus)

It’s election night and the campaign parties are going strong all over the City.
The big news is that Sam Adams has won the race for mayor with a decisive 52-34 victory over Sho Dozono.
During his concession speech, Dozono said [...]

“It’s time that the entire country learned from what’s happening right here in Portland with mass transit and bicycle lanes and funding alternative means of transportation.”– Senator Barack Obama

The historic crowds from yesterday’s Barack Obama rally made headlines from Chicago to India — but the big news around here is that bicycles left their mark [...]

Due to his role as Commissioner in charge of Transportation, I have reported on Sam Adams many times in the past few years. Last week I finally sat down with Sho Dozono — a Portland business owner who is Adams’ only competition in the race for mayor.
Below are some of my thoughts [...]

Yesterday, I shared some thoughts (and asked for yours) on the race for Council seat #2. Today, we move to to the other hotly contested battle for City Commissioner being waged by six candidates, five of which are likely to garner a significant number of votes.
This race features several impressive candidates and two [...]

With just over one week left before ballots are due, here are my thoughts on the race to fill Seat #2 on Portland’s City Council.

Nick Fish(Photos © J. Maus)

Jim Middaugh

Over the weekend, Seattle P-I columnist Joel Connelly traveled to Bend (175 miles SE of Portland) to cover Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign visit.
In a column he published this morning, Connelly wrote:
Sen. Barack Obama talked wistfully about taking a bicycle ride in the high Oregon desert, but plunged back into what is both a victory lap [...]

Devoted bike advocate and transportation guru Chris Smith will take part in a City Club debate tomorrow.(Photo © J. Maus)

You’ve got some important choices to make in this election, so why not wait a few days before making up your mind?
Tomorrow is the big City Club debate featuring the six candidates vying for City Commissioner [...]

An Obama spoke card in Portland, via Los Angeles and New Orleans.(Photos © J. Maus)

Local news outlets are reporting that Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, is headed to Portland.
No specific details about his visit have been announced but he’s expected to be in Portland later this week.
Sen. Obama delivered a rousing [...]

Reader David Seifert sent in this photo.

Ballots are out and some Portlanders are already casting their votes in a landmark election that will remake Portland City Hall.
I’ve been lacking a bit in political coverage but I hope to rectify that in the next few days (hold on to those ballots!).

Daniel Johnson (pre-trim).(Photos © J. Maus)

Daniel Johnson — the guy behind the pothole ride — started Bike Lunch as a way to meet people and encourage community among folks who ride.
The idea is simple: Meet every Friday during the lunch hour and share conversation among friends old and new. The event [...]

Check out this cool and short (1:46) YouTube video from City Council candidate Chris Smith. He gives an overview of his strategy to make Portland into America’s sustainability leader:

“I’m a very pro-bicycle candidate.”–Mayoral candidate Sho Dozono during a televised debate

Mayoral hopefuls Sam Adams and Sho Dozono debated on prime-time local network television on Monday. Part of the format included a series of questions that were submitted online by KGW viewers.
Dozono hasn’t said much about bikes during his campaign. The only time [...]

The City Club of Portland hosted a mayoral debate on Friday between the two leading candidates — City Commissioner Sam Adams and Portland business owner Sho Dozono.

Sho Dozono(Photo © J. Maus)

Sam Adams(Photo © J. Maus)

[Via the Portland Mercury Blog]
Check out City Council candidate Harold C Williams Two. He’s announced a run and bike ride he hopes will end with a job at City Hall:

Bike parking at the Memorial Coliseum this morning.(Photo © J. Maus)

Regrettably I won’t be inside the Barack Obama rally this morning. However, I did stop by the Coliseum on my way into the office to check out the bike parking situation.
While there are definitely a lot of bikes parked illegally (a technicality, since there [...]

This just in from Amy Ruiz at the Portland Mercury… Mayoral candidate Sho Dozono has been stripped of public financing. Dozono is the only real challenger to Sam Adams and he has said he would drop out of the race without public funds.
A brief snippet of the ruling is below:
Presiding State Administrative [...]

Election madness is heating up in Portland. Here’s my attempt to help keep you updated on the latest happenings…