Carmen Rubio Announces Campaign for Portland Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Contact: Carmen for Portland Campaign
[email protected]
In a time of transition, Rubio brings a record of building consensus and achieving results
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 (PORTLAND, ORE.) – Commissioner Carmen Rubio today announced her candidacy to be Portland’s next mayor. Her decision follows months of thoughtful conversations about what this city and community members need from their next mayor.
“I made my decision with the full recognition of where we are as a city. And we need a mayor who will take responsibility for the way forward. One with a track record of building bridges, focusing our city’s energy into a force for change, and getting results,” Carmen said. “Portlanders deserve a mayor who will take us into our future without drama – just hard, collaborative work, especially on community safety, homelessness and housing. That’s how I’ve led as a Commissioner, and how I will do so as Portland’s next mayor. This is our opportunity to do so much more.”
Portland is experiencing unprecedented community safety challenges and humanitarian and climate emergencies. It’s also a time of transition as the city’s form of government will change come 2025. This critical time in Portland’s history requires a mayor who can work diligently, cooperatively, and pragmatically with demonstrated success.
“I know that Portland’s best days are still ahead – that solutions are within reach. When government, nonprofits, businesses, and individual Portlanders work together, we can do amazing things for our amazing city,” Carmen said. “And building a vibrant, thriving, and economically healthy Portland must include all of our neighborhoods and communities aligned and moving forward in the same direction."
Because of the leadership she has demonstrated over the last three years, Carmen has already earned early endorsements from current and former elected officials, including:
Metro Councilors Juan Carlos Gonzalez and Duncan Hwang
State Senators Michael Dembrow and Kayse Jama
State Representatives Rob Nosse and Andrea Valderrama
former State Representative Ben Cannon
former PPS School Board Member Martin Gonzalez
In addition, she’s also earned the support from community members, representing various private and public sector entities:
Karla Elias, Miguel Elias, Ernesto Fonseca, Jeana Frazzini, Harry Goldstein, Randy Gragg
Marta Guembes, Karin Hansen, Phillip Hillaire, Mark Holloway, Don Krahmer, Antonio Lara Victoria Lara, Dani Ledezma, Jason Lim, Reyna Lopez, Paul Lumley, Jose Gonzalez
Danel Malan, Juan Martinez, Angel Medina, Marcus Mundy, Eddie Passadore, Lolenzo Poe
Shelli Romero, Maria Rubio, Lina Garcia Seabold, Peter Shanky, Bob Speltz, Bob Stoll
Lisa Watson, Homer Williams, Robin Wisner, Jeana Woolley, Winta Yohannes, Beckie Lee
COMMISSIONER RUBIO: Brief Summary of Accomplishments
Since 2021, Commissioner Rubio has served on the Portland City Council. For the first two years, she oversaw the City’s planning and climate work, parks and recreation, and arts and culture work. For the past year, she has continued to lead the City’s planning and climate work, and assumed leadership for the City’s work to expand housing and revitalize the economy.
Below are a summary of her accomplishments in these areas:
Bold action to address our housing and homeless crises
- Maximizing the Portland and Metro Housing Bonds
- Leading the charge for a single permitting authority
- Identifying and addressing barriers to housing production through regulatory reform
- Increasing homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families
- Shaping the city’s approach to adding more shelter capacity with on-site services
Historic investments to address the climate crisis
- Reforming the Portland Clean Energy Fund
- Passing the city’s first-ever Climate Investment Plan, in greater alignment with the Climate Emergency Work Plan
- Increasing our tree canopy, especially in underserved areas
- Passing the nation’s most aggressive renewable fuels requirements
Innovative initiatives for economic development
- Exploring TIF districts for Central City and East Portland
- Supporting stabilization and repair grants for small businesses
- Passing incentives to facilitate a faster downtown recovery
- Ensuring that nobody is left behind by advancing a plan to guide inclusive economic growth
Protection for our parks
- Secured local and state funding for a new North Portland Aquatic Center
- Expanded the city’s team of Park Rangers to better serve neighborhoods and keep parks safe
Leadership for arts and culture
- Launched a cultural planning process to shape how the city can better support the Portland’s art and culture community
- Passed an ordinance to build a stronger partnership with schools and the use of arts tax investments
A formal kick-off event will follow on Thursday, February 1. Details will be announced soon.
