The city commissioner said the death of her husband altered circumstances, encouraging her to eschew retirement.
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
The city commissioner said the death of her husband changed the circumstances that made her believe she would retire after this term.
The Portland Tribune reported on the lawmaker’s decision:
Her husband worked at the Oregon State Hospital and was killed while carpooling there with mental health specialist Cary Fairchild, who also died. A car crossed the median on Interstate 5 and struck his distinctive zebra-painted car head-on.
Fritz says she will run on her record of accomplishments, which includes convincing the City Council to enact Portland’s paid sick leave policy, establish an independent City Budget Office, and increase spending on infrastructure maintenance.
OregonLive.com reported what her decision means for other city council hopefuls:
Fritz’s early decision is likely to deter would-be candidates and may turn the 2016 election cycle into an otherwise quiet affair. No City Council incumbent has lost a re-election bid since 1992, creating early conjecture about who might have run for what would have been a rare open seat. (Commissioner Steve Novick said he’ll run again in 2016, and Mayor Charlie Hales is expected to seek re-election). …
“Incumbents in Portland tend to win. Clearly it would make a difference who would line up against her,” said John Horvick, political director for polling firm DHM Research. “Sitting here right now, it’d be difficult for me to see somebody who could successfully challenge her.”
