Tough choices ahead for North, Northeast Portland voters amid overload of strong contenders for City Council

For each of the nearly two dozen candidates running to represent North and Northeast Portland's District 2 on the expanded City Council , a seat at the table offers a chance to realize their vision for a better Rose City and uplift one of its most bustling and diverse sectors.

Lifelong Portlander and city employee Tiffani Penson said it would be a chance to revive the city of her youth — a safer, vibrant hub for culture and arts. Former cider house owner and TriMet bus driver Nat West said he would wield his voice on the council to lay the groundwork for safer roads and curb the spike in traffic deaths the city has grappled with over the last several years.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney , a policy strategist and longtime union leader, said she envisions a more resilient Portland: economically, socially and physically in the event of a devastating earthquake. Union-backed Jonathan Tasini wants to uphold workers' rights and raise wages citywide. Current City Commissioner Dan Ryan said he'll work to restore Portland's entrepreneurial spirit and make it a top destination for families to settle down.

That's just a sampling of some of the front-runners, based on funds raised and endorsements secured, in the competitive 22-person race to represent District 2, which encompasses North and Northeast Portland from the Lloyd District to Hayden Island (a full list of candidates and their priorities can be found through The Oregonian/OregonLive's interactive map ). It is one of four districts that will elect members of the new 12-member city council, with each sending three representatives to City Hall.

The number of extremely strong candidates could make it hard for the district's voters to narrow their choices to just six, election watchers say.

The area is poised for an infusion of investment and community projects, including a proposed Albina Vision Trust rebuild of the area near the Rose Quarter and commercial developments in the Lloyd District . Despite this, community leaders say the city's northern area, which was a cultural hub for Portland's Black population before eminent domain, redlining and gentrification pushed people of color away, is oft-overlooked.

"That's been one of the challenges, even through gentrification, it felt like the infrastructure hadn't been upgraded and things hadn't been planned out," said Jona Davis, executive director of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods. "We've been underfunded and underserviced for so long, and that's how a lot of folks feel."

District 2 remains one of Portland's most diverse and is home to the highest population of Black residents at 10.3%, according to city data. Overall, 35% of the 160,716 residents identify as people of color. Candidates have highlighted the need to better serve the district's diverse population.

"This district suffers from this problem of gentrification and not necessarily meeting the needs of the Black community out here," Penson said.

The district boasts both the second highest average household income at $90,000 a year and second highest general election voter turnout from fall 2020, 72%. The district hugs the Willamette River from Interstate 84 up to Kelly Point and reaches as far east as the Cully neighborhood.

Persistent challenges have weighed on the area, Davis said. St. Johns neighbors continue to push back against plans for a new Bottle Drop center, following years of complaints over trash and crime at the Delta Park center currently offering bottle and can redemption services. The quaint neighborhood, not unlike others in Portland, has been beleaguered with theft and crime , which have put some small businesses in jeopardy of shuttering for good.

Both District 2 and District 4 border the Willamette, long polluted by industrialization in Northwest Portland, and candidates in both districts have raised concerns about the status of Portland's Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub on the river's west shore. That facility houses 90% of Oregon's liquid fuel and has been deemed vulnerable to earthquakes by local officials.

"When I think about resilience and preparing for natural disasters, I think there is a heightened concern for District 2," Pirtle-Guiney said.

Davis, who also serves as the chair of the NAACP's environmental justice committee, said air pollution from the Portland Harbor is an ongoing concern for neighbors in University Park, too.

Of the four districts, those casting ballots in District 2 may find they have a particularly difficult choice deciding who will best tackle the issues in their neighborhoods. Candidates in the race and political organizations dolling out endorsements agree that it is one of, if not the, most competitive of the district races.

It has the most candidates who qualified for the city's public matching funds, with 77% of them meeting the requirements. Organizations like Portland for All and business coalition United for Portland endorsed the highest number of candidates in District 2. Many of the top contenders bring business expertise, political savvy and professional or lived experience that might serve them well as city policymakers.

Also unique to the city's second district is Ryan, the only current city commissioner making a bid to sit on the reimagined council. In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive, he agreed that the race is saturated with viable candidates.

"I'm running with a lot of people that I think have a pretty balanced perspective with some seasoned life experience," Ryan, who has served on the current council since 2020, said. "The diversity of thinking and the diversity of leadership skills I'm experiencing in this District 2 race is very stimulating."

Ryan leads the pack in funds raised with $151,000 as of Friday, campaign finance records show. He also carries significant endorsements from elected officials including Gov. Tina Kotek, Multnomah County District Attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez and his fellow city commissioners and mayoral candidates . Ryan opened the city's first of several successful alternative homeless shelters known as "safe rest villages," which are now viewed as successful despite limited initial support.

West has pulled into second place at $124,000. He brings endorsements from private and public unions, former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and several small business owners. He owned the now closed Reverend Nat's Cider House and was a TriMet bus driver for eight months after that. West said that in addition to tackling issues of public safety and homelessness, he'd spend his time uplifting the city's small business community.

"There's a disconnect between what policies are passed in city government and the practical application of them in the real world, especially as it pertains to small business," West said.

Others in the race, including eye care clinic owner James Armstrong, have also stressed the needs of small business owners. Armstrong, who touts his experience as a forensic accountant, said running three eye care locations with his wife has helped him tune into Portland's needs.

"All three of my small businesses are in this district, so every day I'm driving out to one of those offices, I'm walking in the district and dealing with the issues that are pertinent to St. John's and Alberta Street and MLK," he said. "I'm really trying to focus on the neighborhood level issues that people want their voices heard on."

Armstrong and several others who spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive highlighted Penson as a strong candidate. She carries two decades of experience working for the city, beginning in 2006 when she was a public outreach coordinator. Penson rose through the ranks and now sits as the manager of people and culture.

"What sets me apart from pretty much everybody in this race is that I have so many years of experience in the city actually creating and passing policy that has really impacted the lives of people in our community," she said.

The 55-year-old has lived her entire life in Portland and now owns her family home in the Concordia neighborhood, she said. She's raised the third most in campaign contributions, $115,000, records show, and has been endorsed by a wide range of politicians past and present, the Portland Police Association, APANO action fund and the Native American Youth Association's political arm, among others.

Across the board, those running for the district expressed an interest in making this first crack at a new government successful. Each of them painted themselves as team players who could get along to make change in Portland. For Pirtle-Guiney, who has secured nearly $80,000 for her campaign, establishing a stable City Council is her top priority.

"The first thing we have to tackle is making this work," she said.

Pirtle-Guiney worked for six years in Gov. Kate Brown's office, first as the workforce and labor policy adviser and then as legislative director. Brown, several state representatives and a long list of organizations back Pirtle-Guiney.

Others with strong financial support and endorsements include Mariah Hudson, a communications specialist for Oregon Health & Science University; Business Advisor Bob Simril; former Portland Inclusive Policy Manager Sameer Kanal; and climate change activist and Portland Public Schools board vice chair Michelle DePass. Marnie Glickman, a self-described "public interest advocate," has also amassed significant financial backing.

Tasini, a long-time union activist, is no slouch in fundraising, with $91,000 raised. He said he's also canvassed the district day and night since the end of the May primary and has knocked on close to 10,000 doors.

This election comes at a time of continued strife for Portland. At least 60 people have died in homicides on the city's streets so far this year, and dozens more have died in car crashes. Portland and Multnomah County officials continue to butt heads in how to handle the region's homelessness crisis.

All of the candidates identified the same list of big ticket issues at the top of voters' minds, including homelessness, safety and drug addiction. In most instances, those running for District 2 oppose jailing homeless individuals who refuse shelter and services from the city under its camping ban.

Opinions diverge, however, on a proposal to expand Portland's police force. Ryan supports expansion outright while Penson acknowledges police numbers need bolstering, with caveats. Armstrong, Pirtle-Guiney, West and others said they would ask for a thorough evaluation of police staffing before making a final decision.

To secure a seat under the new election system, each of the district's three top vote-getters need just 25% of the vote after multiple rounds of ranked-choice vote redistribution to win. Voters can rank up to six candidates, and those elected will sit on the council for four years with a salary of $133,000 per year.

Whoever fills the three open seats will have an opportunity to represent the community they call home, and that responsibility has not been lost on the candidates, including Tasini.

"One of my favorite cliches is if you're not at the table, you're on the menu," Tasini said. "I believe that our job, and my role, if elected, on City Council is to be a voice for people in this city."