Two candidates for Portland mayor — Eileen Brady (L) and Charlie Hales (R) — have commented about the future of PBOT Director Tom Miller (center) (Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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The candidates at a debate in February.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Three local media outlets — KPAM radio, KOIN TV, and the Portland Tribune newspaper — hosted a mayoral debate today. Among the questions asked by KOIN's Mike Gianola was, "Will building more bikeways be a priority for you?"

Amazingly, for the city most often referred to as the best bicycling city in America, not one of the leading candidates for mayor grabbed the question by the horns and answered with a strong, "Yes!". If you weren't convinced yet that bicycling is a liability when it comes to swaying undecideds (who all the candidates are trying to sway right now) this exchange should seal the deal.

Instead of confidently answering that Portland needs to do more to build our lagging bike network and make bicycling a larger priority because it makes sense and we've already made huge strides for relative peanuts in investment — each candidate stuck to their now familiar responses they've pulled out whenever a bike-related question comes up. (more...)

KATU-TV (Portland's ABC affiliate) and Willamette Week hosted a televised mayoral debate on Sunday night. It was a very good debate with questions taken from live audience members, online fans, and seasoned political reporters from both outlets. Then this happened...

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Eileen Brady, photographed in BikePortland's downtown office.

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A big endorsement for Mr. Hales.

Local elections are heading into the home stretch here in Portland (primaries are May 15th). Candidates are going to the full-court press, media coverage is picking up, and non-profit groups are hosting events to introduce you to your future leaders. Here's an update on things from a bike/transportation perspective...

The big news is that former City Commissioner turned streetcar/light-rail consultant Charlie Hales has won the big endorsement of The Oregonian. In an editorial explaining the decision, The Oregonian cited Hales' experience on City Council and his "record of accomplishment" on many local issues. (more...)

Tom Miller in May 2011.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

According to The Oregonian's City Hall reporter Beth Slovic, PBOT Director Tom Miller is not likely to keep his job if Charlie Hales or Eileen Brady win the mayoral election.

Both candidates made their intention to make the change in separate interviews with The Oregonian this week:

"I believe we need to change the leadership at the Transportation Bureau, and we need to do it on day one," Brady said in an interview with The Oregonian on Wednesday about her priorities should she win.

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"This isn't personal," he [Hales] said on Friday. "There are major issues in the bureau, and it needs a fresh and fully qualified leader."

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He's pumped!
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

After a thorough evaluation process that included in-person interviews, a questionnaire and ride-along with all three major candidates, political action committee Bike Walk Vote has announced their endorsement of Jefferson Smith for Portland mayor.

Bike Walk Vote co-chair Evan Manvel said today in a phone interview that Smith's "Commitment, record, and leadership on equity as well as his focus on not spending all of our money on new infrastructure and highways," are key things that stood out for them. Manvel also cited Smith's work to "engage the whole city and work with non-traditional power brokers" as traits that were important to their choice. (more...)

Eileen Brady, Charlie Hales, and Jefferson Smith on stage at Lincoln Hall.

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Jefferson Smith making a point during an interview in our downtown office.

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The three leading mayoral candidates will answer questions about active transportation.
(L to R: Charlie Hales, Jefferson Smith, Eileen Brady)
(Photos: J. Maus (Hales and Smith), Eileen Brady Campaign)

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Charlie Hales photographed in my office a few weeks ago.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with candidates for Portland mayor. With the primary elections just about five months away, it's time to start doing your research and learning more about the people we'll elect to lead our city. (more...)

Mayoral candidate Charlie Hales
is organizing a bike convergence
ride to his campaign kickoff
event Saturday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Two events this Saturday speak to how bikes are a part of politics here in Portland.

Two Oregon state representatives — House rep Michael Dembrow and Senator Jackie Dingfelder — will lead a bike tour of their Northeast Portland districts in their third annual "Bike Town Hall" event. Also on Saturday, candidate for Portland mayor Charlie Hales is organizing a massive "convergence" bike ride to his "Party in the Park" campaign kick-off party.

For Rep. Dembrow, his bike town hall is a "chance to encourage folks to utilize the great bike infrastructure that we have in Portland." The tour will include stops at the newly completed Cully Blvd. green street project and its state-of-the-art cycle track, various Safe Routes to Schools projects, and "an example of the latest pedestrian and bicycle-friendly intersections."
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