All three major candidates for mayor are good people with similar values, but go with Charlie Hales.

Brady is like an over-achieving soccer Mom - energetic, eager to please everyone, and good at fundraising. But her naivety shows when she accepts contributions that reflect a conflict of interest or poor judgement. And when she speaks off the cuff, it's clear she's not exactly a policy wonk. Being mayor would be a learning experience for her.

Jefferson Smith has some great things to say about East Portland and economic justice. I'm glad he's in the race. But like Brady, he's new to city government, and it's hard not to wonder if his campaign is a more a stepping-stone along a path to a larger career in politics. Negotiating a majority among 5 city councilors is very different than standing out in the state legislature as a progressive voice.

Hales has 10 years on the city council and he's mostly responsible for bringing the streetcar to Portland. He's critical of the CRC, and voted for allowing skateboarders to travel on city streets, which shows chutzpah. He has that rare combination of experience and boldness. His campaign for mayor strikes me as the most sincere and most qualified. Vote for him.