(Photo © J. Maus)
City Auditor Gary Blackmer has just issued the official notice (full text below) that Chris “Citizen” Smith has gathered the requisite signatures and donations in order to qualify for public funding of his campaign to grab a seat on Portland’s City Council.
By March 6th, Smith will be awarded $140,150 in public funds to run his campaign.
Smith hopes to fill position #1 which is being vacated by Commissioner Sam Adams (he’s running for mayor). Smith has been an ardent supporter of bicycle-friendly policies and he has a deep expertise in the field of transportation.
In addition to publishing PortlandTransport.com, Smith hosts the archives of the KBOO Bike Show and sits on many advisory boards and committees that focus on bike and traffic safety issues.
This City Council race is likely to be the most competitive in the May election. Smith is going up against Amanda Fritz, Charles Lewis, John Branam and Jeff Bissonnette.
I hope to interview all the contenders eventually and I’ll be doing a full election update soon.
For more background on Chris Smith, read my interview with him from back in September and check out all my Election 2008 coverage.
[Note: Upcoming election coverage will include an article on Nick Fish, who’s running against Jim Middaugh for the City Council seat vacated by Commissioner Erik Sten, and Rob Milesnick, who’s running for the Multnomah County Commission seat vacated by Lisa Naito. Stay tuned for those articles and more election coverage…]
Here’s the official release:
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR CITY OF PORTLAND
February 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chris Smith Certified
Today, the Auditor certified Chris Smith as a Campaign Finance Fund candidate for the May 20, 2008 Primary Election. Mr. Smith, candidate for Commissioner No. 1, achieved 1,145 verified qualifying contributions from Portland registered voters during the qualifying period. In addition, Mr. Smith has filed for office by perfected nominating petition. The Auditor has determined that Mr. Smith has complied with all applicable provisions of City Code Chapter 2.10.
Certified Candidates may only make expenditures from qualifying contributions, seed money contributions, in-kind contributions, and Campaign Finance Fund revenues during the primary election period. Candidates for Commissioner are limited to spending no more than $150,000 during the primary election period except for instances when matching funds apply.
Mr. Smith is eligible for $140,150 in public funds. This calculation is made by subtracting the $5,725 Mr. Smith collected in verified
qualifying contributions and the $4,125 Mr. Smith collected in seed money contributions from the $150,000 spending limit.The payment schedule to Mr. Smith’s principal campaign committee will be the following: $140,150 by March 6, 2008
All Campaign Finance Fund Certified Candidates are subject to limitations on the use of Campaign Finance Fund revenues in City Code Section 2.10.090 as well as all State campaign finance provisions.
Congratulations, Chris!
Go get \’em, Chris!
Does he have positions on things unrelated to transportation? What if Sho is elected and assigns him the Fire Bureau? Hopefully he spends some of that money and branches out a bit.
GLV: If Sho assigns him to the Fire Bureau, then that is a bad move on Sho\’s part…
That said, I\’ve heard him speak about other things, (housing in particular,) and he seemed knowledgeable about it as well. But you probably aren\’t going to read about that on bikeportland.org cause it doesn\’t have a lot to do with bicycling…
I was referring to his own website. Seriously, I like the guy, but he comes off as one-dimensional, which is not a good thing given our system of government.
Been on and off here lately so I\’m not sure — but has bikeportland.org endorsed this guy? Or are you not in the business of endorsements?
I like Chris, don\’t get me wrong! I just see a lot about him on this site.. not sure if he\’s simply the only candidate running or the only one with a very bike-centric mindset.
Housing, homeless services, land use, neighborhood livability, civic engagement … I\’m a multi-dimensional guy. But my passion is making Portland more sustainable.
I\’m also an experienced corporate manager (Tektronix, Xerox) and a quick learner. So even if the Mayor gives me the Fire Bureau, I\’ll do a good job.
\”has bikeportland.org endorsed this guy? Or are you not in the business of endorsements?\”
Hi Klixi,
I don\’t do endorsements. You see a lot about Chris Smith on this site because he is very involved with bike and transportation-related issues and I knew him and wrote about him long before he even declared his candidacy.
if the other candidates had bike-specific thoughts to share I would be covering them too. but on that note, my intention is to cover the campaigns closely and ask each one of the contenders to come on BikePortland.org and talk two-wheeled transportation. stay tuned…
Definitely, and I hope it didn\’t sound as if I was accusing you of anything. Hell, whoever can promise me they\’ll link up the corridor to the esplanade will get my vote 😛
GLV: Ahh. Yes, I agree. His website needs to be less one dimensional.
The web site is going through an overhaul right now 🙂
Way to go Chris!
Just remember all those good bikie things we saw in the NL!
Bakfiets for Chris!
as Bud Clark would say, \”Whoopwhoop!\”
I\’ve been impressed by the quality of engagement Chris has had over the past decade or so with Portland neighborhoods. The transit stuff just seems like icing on the cake…
Yeah Chris!
I just happened to meet Judy Shiprack yesterday and like her too. It looks like her and Milesnick are contending for Multnomah County District 3.
http://www.blueoregon.com/2007/11/why-im-runnin-2.html
Milesnick looks interesting. I wonder if he does any biking around Portland.