Transportation advocacy group rescinds endorsement of Portland mayoral candidate Carmen Rubio

A Portland group that advocates for a safe, low-carbon, transit friendly transportation system announced Thursday that it rescinded its endorsement of mayoral candidate Carmen Rubio after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the Portland city commissioner damaged a parked Tesla and then walked away.

The Street Trust Action Fund wrote on Instagram that it was withdrawing its endorsement of Rubio despite continuing to support her policy positions because it felt her actions fly "in the face" of the group's values.

"As Oregon's only complete streets and transportation safety action fund, we cannot say that we will endorse candidates to hold them accountable and then not do so," leaders of the group wrote. "For this reason, in light of allegations that last week Rubio damaged a parked car and walked away, we are withholding further support of her campaign until we see real change."

The Oregonian/OregonLive broke the news last week that Rubio had racked up 150 parking and driving tickets , failed to show up to court appearances, had her license suspended six times and had her car towed due to failing to pay thousands of dollars in fines and fees. It subsequently broke the story that Rubio had dinged a parked car, acknowledged she felt she'd bumped it but walked away without leaving a note.

Street Trust leaders wrote the group would focus for the rest of the election cycle on "our statewide, regional, and city council champions for our mission."

The Street Trust's decision came only days after it said it would retain its support of Rubio despite The Oregonian/OregonLive reporting on her history of dodging accountability for her many parking and driving infractions.

The transportation advocacy group said at the time that it was disappointed in Rubio but that it would stand behind her and that she had promised to take concrete steps to create safer streets as mayor.

That changed after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Wednesday that Rubio scraped the bumper and wheel rim of a parked 2022 Tesla when she pulled up next to it last Friday, surveyed the damage and then walked away, according to video footage captured by the Tesla's security system.

The Street Trust is among the few groups or people that have pulled their endorsements from Rubio following the reports of her driving record and Friday's incident.

Many of Rubio's most prominent endorsers, including Gov. Tina Kotek, continued to voice full-throated support Thursday. Others stayed silent amid the reports, but did not pull their endorsements.

One other group, LiUNA Local 737, a union that represents 3,000 construction workers and laborers in the Portland area, previously yanked its endorsement of Rubio after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported on her driving record .