The Street Trust makes first ever political endorsements

Since their start in 1990, the local nonprofit advocacy group The Street Trust (formerly known as The Bicycle Transportation Alliance) was prohibited by law from endorsing candidates for elected office. That changed earlier this year when they announced the formation of a spin-off 501(c)4 entity known as the Street Trust Action Fund.

Now the group has released its first-ever endorsements in two local races: Jo Ann Hardesty for Portland City Council and Kathryn Harrington for Washington County Chair.

Here’s more from their statement:

The Street Trust Action Fund chose to conduct a candidate endorsement process in the open Portland City Council race and in the Washington County Chair’s race because the winners of these races have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the safety and convenience of walking, bike and transit.

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The Street Trust Action Fund Board President Leslie Carlson explained, “Portland is the largest city in the region and Washington County is urbanizing and changing its orientation to transit and active transportation,” she said. “Working together, elected leaders from the City and County can advocate for active transportation choices and projects across the region that increase safety, help low-income households, promote public health and reduce pollution.”

The Street Trust Action Fund endorsement interviews focused on candidates’ positions on expanding walking, biking and transit through new investments in infrastructure and policy choices such as how public streets are designed. Candidates were also asked how they would end deaths and serious injuries from traffic violence and how they will ensure new transportation technology benefits low income communities and communities of color.

“Hardesty and Harrington demonstrated the best knowledge of the transportation challenges we face and the greatest willingness to take on the changes we can make to improve transportation choices for everyone in the region.” Carlson said. “The Street Trust Action Fund urges voters to elect Jo Ann Hardesty to the Portland City Council and Kathryn Harrington to the Chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.”

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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