Ted Wheeler is Oregon’s state treasurer. He is a former chairman of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
Wheeler is running for mayor of Portland. Here are his responses to Street Roots' candidates pop quiz — a mix of short-answer, yes-or-no, and multiple-choice questions. (Read other candidates' responses.)
QUESTION 1
You only have $10 million to spend. The fire bureau says that without $5 million, call times for critical services will be hampered, potentially costing people’s lives. Social-service agencies need $5 million because rent increases mean they can’t place people into housing, creating a backlog of people waiting to get off the streets. Both the police and the parks bureaus need critical support for services totaling $7 million. What do you do? (150 words or less)
When you only have $10 million to deal with $17 worth of needs, your approach needs to be diligent, rigorous and creative. That’s the approach I took as chair of Multnomah County when we were faced with massive budget shortfalls as the result of the Great Recession. Among the strategies we employed:
• We focused on the core mission of county government, which was services for our most vulnerable citizens.
• We examined whether county leadership and manager ranks could absorb cuts in order to protect front line workers.
• We asked our front line workers to tell us what tools and resources were most important to their job duties, and protected them.
• We looked for technology innovations to decrease the cost of providing services.
The city will increasingly be in a resource constrained environment, and the next mayor must have the budgetary experience and expertise to navigate these challenges.
QUESTION 2
The Portland Police Bureau’s contract with the city says police officers involved in an incident using deadly force must receive 48 hours’ notice before being compelled to speak to bureau investigators. Average citizens, however, are questioned often immediately on the grounds of capturing the best memory of events. Yes or No: Would you abolish the 48-hour rule?
Yes.
QUESTION 3
Yes or No: As mayor, will you end the practice of contracting for military and militarized equipment for use by our police bureau?
Yes.
QUESTION 4
Please place the following items in order of priority as mayor. Note with 1, 2 and 3.
• Increase parking
• Bike infrastructure
• Low or no-fare public transit
1. Low- or no-fare public transit
2. Bike infrastructure
3. Increase parking
QUESTION 5
Choose the item in each pairing that is more suited to you:
1. Uber or Radio Cab
2. Raincoat or Umbrella
3. Adidas or Nike
4. Maple Bacon Doughnut or Kale
1. Radio Cab
2. Raincoat
3. Nike
4. Maple Bacon Doughnut
QUESTION 6
Complete this sentence with the following options: I smoke marijuana ____________
a. For medicinal purposes only.
b. To decompress after a stressful day.
c. Recreationally. Hey, it’s legal.
d. Rarely.
e. Never.
e. Never.
QUESTION 7
Make one promise to the city’s people of color that you will deliver on as mayor. Street Roots will check on its status every year.
I will work to increase the percentage of minority- and women-owned businesses that receive public contracts.
QUESTION 8
How will you ensure young people of color will succeed in Portland?
I will help ensure young people of color will succeed in Portland by promoting policies that connect them to the education and training they will need to compete for the high-skill, high-wage jobs of the future.
QUESTION 9
In one sentence, state something you will do as mayor to ease the burden on Portland’s small businesses.
I will create an Office of Small Business Expansion to consolidate, streamline and reduce the costs of the permitting and inspection process.
QUESTION 10
Pair the issue with the sentiment. Use each sentiment only once:
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law
2. Public campaign finance option
3. Expanded light rail transit into Washington St.
4. PPB Horse Patrol
a. Great idea
b. Good idea
c. Needs work
d. Nope
1. Sit-lie sidewalk law – d. Nope
2. Public campaign finance – b. Good idea
3. Expanded light rail – a. Great idea
4. PPB Horse Patrol – c. Needs work
QUESTION 11
Portland is losing significant, large trees at a rapid pace to development. In 50 words or less, what will you do to save these legacy trees?
The Portland Plan says we’re supposed to keep tree canopy for a bunch of good reasons yet our big trees are being hacked down as the city develops. I want to see an end to indiscriminate tree downing, and I pledge to increase tree canopy in East Portland by 10 percent by the end of my third year in office.
QUESTION 12
Yes or No: Understanding we’re going to have street homelessness, do you support tent cities?
In my opinion, pop-up tent camps are at best a short-term solution, but there may be other community options besides pop-up tent camps that are viable solutions. I will work with homeless advocates to explore those options.
QUESTION 13
Select a local artist – professional or amateur – to draw your favorite thing about Portland.