It wasn't a complete slam dunk. Fritz, in her seven years on the council, has at times given us pause. She's convinced downtown cyclists are a potential menace, and was against bike share before she was for it. She's shown hints of opposing development standards that could actually help the city, as with a recent vote on relaxing regulations for accessory dwelling units. Mayor Hales apparently perceived her to be such a bad fit to oversee the city's zoning arm, the Portland Bureau of Development Services, that the assignment was snatched away from her (not that any of Hales' decisions can be seen as pristine, of course).
Even with those blemishes in mind, Fritz is a far bigger part of the solution than the problem—probably one reason she didn't see many challengers until just before the deadline to file for candidacy.
There's a lot we could talk about: Fritz has been a supporter in forming rational, compassionate responses to the homelessness crisis, and a champion for finding Right 2 Dream Too a new home. She worked with Hales to enact strong stances against fossil fuel activity in the city. She's ensured that half of Portland's surplus budget cash goes toward necessary maintenance—not flashy trinkets, as has been the case in the past. And as the only non-incumbent candidate in Portland to win office using public funds, she's planning to push "voter-owned" elections in Portland again, potentially vital if we want to see new faces making credible runs at city hall.
More than all that, she's an uncompromising voice on council. She's less interested in politics and deal-making than speaking and voting her conscience, as she's done with increasing conviction (to our delight).
Fritz's opponents are thoughtful, and clearly care about the future of Portland as much as she does. Lanita Duke, who runs a media production company, speaks passionately about the changes that have befallen Northeast Portland, and the "two Portlands"—rich and poor—that are increasingly obvious. She's a community-policing advocate who'd love to take control of a police bureau that, almost without exception, belongs to the mayor.
Ann Sanderson is a salon owner who got her start fighting off the street fees Commissioner Steve Novick and Hales concocted in 2014. She's concerned about homelessness, but she didn't convince us she had any new or interesting ideas to address the problem.
Sara Long may have been the most visible candidate on this race's campaign trail—largely owing to her repeated interruptions at mayoral forums. She's a dedicated activist who clearly cares deeply about the homeless, and offers interesting, inventive ideas for easing their plight (like an end to a city prohibition on backyard camping). She also says she wants Duke to win this race.
In the end, it's this simple: Despite various weak points, nothing in Fritz's record merits her being tossed from council, and plenty of things merit her continued work on your behalf.
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