What do the candidates for this race have to say about the question of the week?

In areas such as transparency, accessibility, and constituent relations and involvement, what can Portlanders expect from you if elected? How have you demonstrated those values in past roles, or in your campaign?

First up, Chris Smith. And now that everyone in this race has been certified in public financing (except for Mike Fahey, who didn’t participate, and has never responded to one of our questions), we’ll be tracking how they’re spending their dough.

Chris Smith
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: citizensmith.us
Financial status: $150,000 in public funding, $139,477.03 currently in the bank

I’ve been working to make Portland’s City Government open and transparent for years, and have followed those principles in my campaign.

I was part of the coalition that worked for the adoption of Voter Owned Elections (VOE), and I think we can see from the race I’m in that VOE has opened up the election process to a number of serious candidates who would have had difficulty raising sufficient money to be taken seriously in the traditional process dominated by contributions of $1,000 and more.

I was also a key member of the stakeholder group that developed the City Hall lobbying registration and reporting ordinance and lobbied (pun intended) City Council last year to lower the quarterly lobbying threshold for reporting from 16 hours to 8 hours to make the system even more transparent.

In my campaign we have worked diligently to report our transactions much earlier than required, often on the same day or within day or two (we are allowed 14 days under VOE, which is already stricter than the state’s 30-day standard).

Last year when I co-chaired the campaign to defend our form of Government with former Mayor Bud Clark, we received an award from Democracy Reform Oregon for the promptness of our campaign’s financial reporting.

As Commissioner, I’ll continue to apply these principles to my office and will work to make Portland’s Government even more accessible and transparent to citizens.

Charles Lewis
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: charleslewis.com
Financial status: $150,000 in public funding, $134,422.72 in the bank pending deposit of final $105,000 check from the city

Part of the reason I decided to run for office was because I felt a strong disconnected between City Hall and the average Portland citizen. In 2003, the non-profit I founded and currently direct, Ethos Music Center purchased the old Masonic Temple next to Jefferson High School. The building had suffered major damage due to a fire in 1981. We wanted to renovate it and turn it into a community center that would be used by underserved children and their families that are involved with Ethos.

The only way we could do this was with the help of tax credits through PDC. When we first went to PDC, they told us to raise a million dollars to show them that we were serious. A year later and with a million dollars in the bank, we went back to PDC only to be told that our board was "too community based" and that we needed to attract some heavy hitters. We hit the streets again and signed up two former Mayors, a former Governor, and tons of business leaders to serve on our board. We went back to PDC and asked where we need to sign. At that point, they told us that we actually needed $4 million in the bank in order to be considered for the tax credits! Needless to say I was outraged. This is not how government should work.

I firmly believe that how you run is linked to how you will govern. I am proud to be running as a Voter Owned Candidate. I was the second candidate in the City to qualify for VOE funds, despite the fact that I work two fulltime jobs (as Executive Director of Ethos and as owner of Portland Duck Tours). As a Voter Owned Council Member, I will be accountable only to the people of Portland and not to corporate interests. I also qualified for the ballot by gathering signatures, not by paying the filing fee. This wasn't because I wanted to save myself $30, but because I wanted to meet with as many Portlanders face to face as possible and discuss with them my vision for the City.

Our campaign office is located on the corner of Killingsworth and Williams in North Portland. Unless it's chilly out, our door will always be open. A number of people have already stopped by with questions, comments and concerns. Blogtown readers should feel free to swing by and say hello as well. Chances are that either myself, my staff or some volunteers will be there to greet you. As always, you can also contact us through our website: CharlesLewis.com.

John Branam
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: john4pdx.org
Financial status: $150,000 in public funding, $135,019.52 currently in the bank

When I’m elected to City Council Portlanders will discover a new and improved level of transparency, accessibility and constituent relations from me and from my staff. All are principles I take seriously and all are those that I’ve demonstrated both in my past work and on the campaign trail.

In terms of transparency, I believe strongly that taxpayers should know what their elected officials are doing and when they’re doing it, in real time. At Portland Public Schools every Administrative Assistant in the central office has access to my schedule. In this way people know where I’m at and what I’m up to, again, in real time. Similarly, I try to be as honest and transparent as possible about my thoughts on the issues even when my doing so may not prove popular. An example of this has been my early and consistent focus on education in this race, and the significant role I believe our City Council can and should play in ensuring Portland offers our children a competitive 21st century education. I didn’t poll to find out if taking this position would be popular, but rather have spoken plainly and with earnest about it because I believe it’s the right approach for Portland. This is an example transparency on the issues, and it also shows leadership.

Being accessible to Portlanders is very important, and in this race I’ve proven to be the most accessible candidate. By gathering half of my signatures at Portlanders’ doors, far more than any of my competitors, I demonstrated my commitment to being available to Portlanders. Further, in my everyday work, I meet regularly with new Portlanders, young Portlanders and Portlanders wanting to change career fields who want to better understand how to get involved in education, non-profit management, law school or the Peace Corps, among other things. Being accessible in my mind, therefore, is about being happy to help folks even when, and especially when, there’s no obvious advantage to you, to your doing so.

Finally, constituent relations represents the essence of being a public servant. As a former neighborhood chair I spent a significant amount of time responding to neighbors concerns. Although many of the challenges were difficult, I thoroughly enjoyed working with them to address their concerns. Similarly I’ve done extensive “constituent relations” work in my various employment roles including working with the arts community on behalf of Portland Public Schools. When elected to City Council I look forward to, among other things, advocating for having one council meeting every other month in a different Portland neighborhood. Citizens ought not to always have to travel in to City Hall, let’s bring City Hall to our neighborhoods!

Jeff Bissonnette
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: portlandersforjeff.com
Financial status: $150,000 in public funding, $142,428.66 in the bank pending deposit of $139,855 check from the city

Portlanders expect a lot from their city. Too often these days, it seems that Portlanders don't understand how and why decisions are made. There's also some questioning about whether public resources are being used for the greatest good. Outer neighborhoods do not feel as though they are considered full partners in the life and operation of the city. Small businesses often believe they are ignored. The city council needs to demonstrate that it is focused on the needs of its residents.

My campaign is based on making sure that Portland works for all Portlanders. Here's some of the ways I will demonstrate that accountability:

• I will publish my calendar in real time so that constituents can see who I'm meeting with and how I'm spending my time.

• I will place field offices in different parts of the city where I will have staff and will spend office hours so that Portlanders do not have to make a pilgrimage downtown to City Hall to discuss city issues with me or get assistance from my office. I will start with at least three field offices, two east of 82nd Ave. - Avenue of Roses and one in St. Johns.

• I will advocate for the city council to hold its meetings in community locations outside City Hall at least once a quarter. The city council should meet now and then in schools, community centers, union halls and homeless shelters to demonstrate a closer connection to the community. Additionally, although the council does sometimes schedule evening meetings, it often cancels those sessions. Evening meetings should be regular as well as occasionally meeting on Saturdays so that a wider range of Portlanders can participate in city council meetings in person.

• I will advocate for a public ratemaking process to set water rates. While the public's perception of the water bureau has improved in the past several years, Portlanders are concerned about the upward pressure on water rates. The water bureau should have to defend its proposed rates, independent third parties should be able to present analysis of those rates and the city council should set rates based on the record created by this public ratemaking process. This will add a measure of confidence in the water rates that consumers pay.

• I will meet regularly with front-line employees of the bureaus that are in my portfolio so that I get a real-life report of how Portlanders are being served by those bureaus.

• I will seek to do a ride-along with police officers and firefighters about once a month so that I have a first-hand sense of the issues that our public safety employees encounter in the field and how well Portlanders are served by these officers.

I am trained professionally as an organizer. Among the earliest lessons I learned as an organizer is that I was always accountable to a constituency, whether a coalition or a grassroots membership. That lesson has always been important to me and I will strive to make that lesson even more front and center in my service as a city commissioner.

Amanda Fritz
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: amandafritzforcitycouncil.com
Financial status: $150,000 in public funding, $136,896 currently in the bank

Portlanders value ethical behavior, partnerships, and open communication. Furthering those virtues is one of the main reasons I want to serve on the City Council. I am a Queen's Guide, the equivalent of an Eagle Scout. The first Guide law is, "A Guide is honest, reliable, and can be trusted". That has been a fundamental principle in my life. If you elect me, I will make our City government more transparent by providing you with:

* Easy to find, accurate information about project planning, funding, and implementation
* Explanations about what is being proposed, what was decided, and what happens next
* Evaluations on whether the outcome achieved the goals, or not
* Timely reports on what happens in my office, in City Hall, and in the community

If you elect me, I will make our City government more accessible by:

* Pushing the City Council to meet at different times and places so that all citizens have the ability to be part of our government. Current code allows one meeting per month to be held on Wednesday evening, yet the Council rarely chooses to implement even that minimal change, and hardly ever meets outside City Hall.

* Continuing to attend community meetings at times and places set by neighbors and business groups, as I have for over 15 years. I will visit each Neighborhood District/Coalition board at least once each year.

* Volunteering in neighborhoods all over Portland, at least once per month. In the past four years, I have helped with projects in 87 of Portland's 95 neighborhoods. It's good to sit and talk; sometimes it's even better to plant trees and talk, or clean up a school and talk.

* Holding Meet-and-Greet events at coffee houses, playgroups, senior centers, and community events such as Farmers Markets and cultural performances, at least once every month throughout my service on the Council.

* Providing convenient mechanisms for input on line, while making sure that citizens' questions and comments receive a personal response within 48 hours.

As a registered nurse, as a community volunteer, and as a parent, I hold myself and the people I work with accountable for achieving results by pursuing the best possible course of action. In my campaign, I don't just ask, "Is it legal?", I demand the highest ethical behavior from myself and people helping me. I will continue to do so if you vote to elect me. When I served on the Planning Commission for seven years, I didn't allow people who might benefit from my votes to give me even a cup of coffee or a parking pass. I made statements at the beginning of hearings, reporting who I talked to before the meeting. I met with everyone who asked to meet with me, on all sides of issues. When I needed more information, I called staff and citizens I knew to be knowledgeable on projects. I listened and responded to public testimony at hearings, and I never made up my mind before those open meetings. Those are behaviors you will see from me if I am elected to the City Council.

In my first campaign in 2006, I posted links on my website to my campaign financing reporting at the Auditor's Office. I will do so again. I am the only candidate in this race who posted frequently-updated information on how many $5 donations my team collected each week, starting with 71 in the first report. Citizens should not have to dig for information from candidates or elected officials. If you have questions about me or my campaign, please call my office at 503-235-2295.

Mike Fahey
Position sought: Commissioner #1
Website: friendsofmikefahey.com
Financial status: $12,205.00 in contributions to day, $6,147.70 currently in the bank

Mike Fahey has yet to respond to our weekly questions, but he did send out this press release on March 2, officially announcing his candidacy. Maybe we'll start hearing from him now? You deserve to know who he is, since he'll be on your ballot this May. Here's what he had to say:

Mike Fahey, State Representative from 1995 to 1999 and life long Portland resident, announced his candidacy for the Portland City Council Position 1 seat at a press conference at City Hall.

“Being a council member will enable me to continue to give back to my community for the opportunities that Portland provided me. I am at a point in my life and career where it is possible for me to devote my time and energies to public service. My background includes work as a journeyman carpenter, small businessman, elective State Representative, union official, and Pension and Health Benefits trustee. I founded and continue to manage the Carpenters Union Food Bank which is now 25 years old and feeds hundreds of families every month.

“Portland is a city in transition. City officials face tough challenges as they seek ways to respond to the pressures of population growth, increasing demands for public services, need for additional and improved infrastructure, budgetary crunches, rising costs of living including housing, and demographic shifts that sometimes change the character of neighborhoods.

“My highest priority is the Portland economy. A healthy, growing local economy is the foundation for creating the good life for our community and our citizens. There is no simple, guaranteed way to strengthen our economy. We must be attentive to every opportunity to make our economy attractive to businesses, appealing to the growing number of tourists visiting here, and providing more jobs that pay a living wage and decent benefits.

“We need to make sure our streets, parks, and neighborhoods are safe places for residents and visitors. Expanding our Community Policing program is one way to provide additional safety.

“Local transportation is another growing problem. I will work for better street maintenance, expanded and upgraded mass transit, and safe and convenient bike and pedestrian traffic.

“Seniors, Disabled Persons, and people requiring Mental Health assistance need better services. One of my priorities will be to find means to enable Senior Citizens to live in their family home as long as they desire and are able to do so.”

Biographical Data on Mike Fahey:

Mike Fahey was born in Vanport and is a lifelong Portland resident. He has been married to Sandy for 35 years and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

At the age of 19 Mike was elected President of the United Paperworkers & Papermakers Local 689

Co-owner of Discover Mortgage, a Portland small business, from 1999-2007.

Two term State Representative from District 17 serving as Vice-Chair of House Labor Committee. Member Joint Senate/House Natural Resources Committee and House Economic Development Sub-Committee.

In 1998 received the Multnomah County Gladys McCoy Award for Citizen Involvement.

Twenty five years of service as a Trustee, Marine Carpenters Pension and Health and Welfare Funds.

Founded and served as Chair, Joint Labor/Management Shipwright Apprenticeship Program.

Participated in the Dislocated Workers Program as well as the Roosevelt High School Student-to-Work Program.

Past board member of Delaunay Family Services.

Journeyman Shipwright Carpenter.

Business Mgr., Shipwrights Local 611.

Executive Secretary, Metal Trades Council of Portland.

Executive Secretary, Pacific Coast Marine Carpenters.

Executive Board Member, NW Oregon Labor Council.