Bike Walk Vote, which bills itself as “the political arm of the Portland area’s bicycling and walking movement”, has announced several more endorsements. This is their second round of choices, back in January they endorsed Chris Smith and Jeff Bissonnette.
For Portland City Council, they have chosen to endorse Jim Middaugh and Randy Leonard. In the mayoral race, the nod goes to (not surprisingly) Sam Adams. Here’s the full press release:
Bike Walk Vote Endorses Adams, Middaugh, Leonard, Dingfelder, Kopel-Bailey, Dembrow
Bike Walk Vote, the political arm of the Portland area’s bicycling and walking movement, has endorsed six candidates for the Portland City Commission and Oregon Legislature.
“We’re thrilled to see Oregon’s elected officials who support biking and walking running for higher offices. Commissioner Sam Adams has used his bully pulpit and role as Transportation Commissioner to stand up for biking and walking, and we’d love to have him be our mayor. Representative Jackie Dingfelder is the Oregon House’s leading voice for cycling, and we think she’ll be a great Senator,” said Bike Walk Vote board member Evan Manvel. “We also have some new candidates who show great promise.”
Candidates received the endorsement based on their records and their answers to an extensive questionnaire. Also receiving endorsements were Jim Middaugh (Portland City Commission District 2), Randy Leonard (Portland City Commission District 4), Jules Kopel-Bailey (House District 42) and Michael Dembrow (House District 45).
Nic Callero, Bike Walk Vote treasurer, said: “We’re glad so many people applied for our endorsement, and were forced to choose among worthy options. While many candidates would be good, those we’ve endorsed would be leaders in our efforts to improve our health, save money, and protect the environment.”
Past Bike Walk Vote endorsees have won 12 of 13 races. Formed in 2004, Bike Walk Vote helped elect Commissioner Sam Adams, helped Metro Councilor Robert Liberty oust an incumbent, and helped Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen win in a crowded race.
Bike Walk Vote’s board includes active members of the biking and walking community, including Evan Manvel, Scott Bricker, Dan Eisenbeis, Curt Dewees, Dat Nyguen, Ian Stude, Peter Welte, Nic Callero, Robin Denburg, Michael Dennis, and Carl Larson.
Chris Smith and Jeff Bissonnette were previously co-endorsed for the Portland City Commission District 1 opening.
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Anyone have any information about the Bike/Ped friendliness of the remaining presidential election candidates and our senate race candidates?
Well, Obama\’s known as the candidate who mentions biking in his platform.
In short, it\’s not high on the radar screen of any of the three major candidates.
Sen. Smith is a member of the Bike Caucus, but has not signed on to Blumenauer\’s Bicycle Commuter Act, one of the top bike issues nationally (unlike Sen. Wyden and several other Republican Senators).
Neither Merkley nor Novick are known for their biking, though Rep. Read gave Merkley a bike at the end of the 2007 session. That says more about Read than Merkley, however.