Yay, Sam Adams for Mayor!

I just returned from the announcement party for Sam Adams running for Mayor of Portland. Dozens of us didn’t get to hear the speech — even with those inside packed in like sardines, the crowds of supporters far exceeded the size of the venue. Double, I’d say. Actually, that worked out just fine for many of us outside, as we held impromptu discussions on various issues, and enjoyed meeting old and new friends. But still, interesting that Sam’s people would so underestimate his level of support.

Sam Adams in this year’s Starlight Parade

I like Sam Adams. When I was running for City Council two years ago, in the middle of Sam’s term, he was out visiting the same places I was. And that wasn’t the high-profile powerbrokers. Folks in the Foster Area Business Association greeted him like the friend he is. Neighbors in Cully know he listens to them. I saw people from neighborhoods all over the city today.

I wasn’t always a big Sam Adams fan. I became one about ten years ago, during the Subdivision Code rewrite. Mayor Vera Katz had the votes to pass the version the developers pushed through the Planning Commission, but she listened to neighborhood land use chairs and eventually allowed an extra year of work to make it slightly more neighborhood-friendly. Obviously, not a great deal. But I came to realize Sam Adams, as her chief-of-staff, not only genuinely cared about what neighbors think and want, but also was willing to help us achieve some of our agenda. I believe he still cares about what regular Portlanders want.

Sam Adams will be an excellent Mayor. Especially if someone is elected to his now-open Commissioner’s seat who will keep reminding him that all 95 neighborhoods and all City services deserve consideration when priotitizing City spending and actions.