18 candidates have already filed to run in Portland’s May 15 primary election for mayor.
18 candidates have already filed to run in Portland’s May 15 primary election for mayor.
It sounds like a plot hook for a “Portlandia” episode, but Portlanders — most of them without prior experience in government or any name recognition at all — like to run for mayor.
“Democracy is alive and well,” says Jim Moore, a political science professor at Pacific University and longtime political analyst. “It is a time of real uncertainty in the city because of the economy. It’s a good time to put your hat in the ring and maybe get some of your ideas out there.”
This is shaping up to be a historic primary election. With six weeks left before the filing deadline, the number of mayoral candidates could surpass the city’s record of 23, set in the 2004 primary. That year, Mayor Vera Katz was retiring from office and the race attracted the likes of Extremo the Clown. Former Portland Police Chief Tom Potter ended up beating former City Commissioner Jim Francesconi in the general election.
Read more at The Portland Tribune.
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