Thus far it appears that there will be two exciting races in the Portland metropolitan area during the upcoming election cycle. The first is for the Mayor's office in Portland to replace the retiring Sam Adams. Since there are no poll numbers publicly available, I have listed how many people on Facebook "like" each of the declared candidates to serve as a very rough proxy:
Mayor
Eileen Brady - 619
Charlie Hales - 331
Results as of 5pm PDT on August 8.
In Portland the field of viable candidates is becoming smaller than initially forecasted, especially with incumbent Sam Adams opting to retire rather than run for re-election. State Rep. Jefferson Smith has publicly mulled running and has not formally announced his intentions. Jeff Cogen, the Multnomah County Chair considered entering the race but ultimately declined. This may have been partially due to County rules stating that he must give up his Chair position that he won in 2010 in order to run for another elected office..
If I were still a Portland resident come next May, I would be voting for Brady for Mayor. I like Brady's business credentials and how New Seasons, the local grocery chain she helped co-found, employs a friendly, efficient workforce without the need for unionization or the bureaucracy that goes along with it. I understand that some people will have a problem with the lack of unionization, but it seems to me that the employees are essentially getting many of the benefits that would normally come with that. On the other hand, I am unsure about Charlie Hales. I am not a fan of politicians leaving elected positions for job offers in the private sector before their term is over. I also think that the streetcar's success downtown and in the Pearl District will not be replicated elsewhere throughout the city and am wary of a candidate that is associated with lobbying for it. A mayor, like any other executive needs to be able to look at the big picture and not get stuck on just a few issues. Brady's experience in the business community as a co-founder of New Seasons gives her that background. Hales' experience as a city commissioner and streetcar advocate better set up him up for a legislative position where he would be allowed to focus on just a few issues, rather than an executive one like mayor.