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I am one of the publicly financed candidates for Position One. Collecting the signatures was a wonderful and important part of the campaign. Unlike any other Voter Owned candidate, I collected more than half of my signatures by visiting neighbors door-to-door.

I believe that this is an important intent of VOE?to make sure that candidates connect personally with residents. It gave me a chance to listen to concerns and to explain my motivation for running. I collected a bulk of the remaining qualifying signatures by having friends host meet-and-greet parties; also a great way to connect personally with voters.

While it is impressive that candidates like Jim and Sho collected their signatures in a short period of time, I really enjoyed my experience knocking on doors and introducing myself (even if it took several months to complete the 1000 forms).

If part of the intent is to connect voters to these candidates, I hope that future VOE rules will encourage and/or require the candidate to hand collect and gather the signatures personally.

John Branam
John4PDX.org

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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Growing up as a bi-racial kid in Corvallis, Oregon was both fascinating and challenging. On the one hand, it was a study in how to get along with kids from different cultural backgrounds. On the other hand it was almost unbearable to go for months without seeing another student or teacher who looked like me. Any loneliness, however, was counterbalanced by my pride in seeing my black father ? a janitor ? as a well-respected City Council member.

Today, like my father some twenty years ago in Corvallis, I am a candidate for Portland?s city council. I?ve run my campaign on the issues that will most determine Portland?s future: education, the environment, and living-wage jobs. Most importantly, I?ve run my campaign on collaborative leadership. Leading by dividing people by race, sex, or class is no longer acceptable, nor is it the formula for America?s, or Portland?s success.

As Sen. Obama stated, ?We cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.?

I do not think it is a coincidence that I have a chance to join city council in the same year that Barack Obama has a chance to be president of the United States. At all levels Americans are looking for leaders who are committed to harnessing the abilities, energy and vision of all citizens as we face the daunting challenges ahead. Sen. Obama?s speech gives America permission to talk in honest terms about race, an issue we too often discuss in sound bites. This is a crucial first step, and one Portlanders must take if we are to build a brighter future for our city.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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