Doug brown Multnomah County District Attorney: Mike Schmidt campaign photo With the retirement of Multnomah County’s current District Attorney Rod Underhill, this office is wide open for the first time in nearly a decade. Both candidates—Ethan Knight, an assistant US attorney, and Mike Schmidt, director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (OCJC)—have a depth of […]
Election 2020
Posted inthe Mercury Endorsement Strike Force
Mercury 2020 Primary Endorsement: Portland City Council and Mayor
COSMONAUT / GETTY IMAGES Portland City Council, Position 1: Carmen Rubio Courtesy Carmen Rubio Campaign Carmen Rubio has been the decided front-runner in this City Council race from the start, easily collecting endorsements from local leaders and coalitions. But our decision to endorse her in the race to replace outgoing City Commissioner Amanda Fritz wasn’t […]
Posted inthe Mercury Endorsement Strike Force
Mercury 2020 Primary Endorsements: Oregon Legislature and Secretary of State
4NADIA / GETTY IMAGES Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan campaign photo We were thrilled when Shemia Fagan, a civil rights lawyer and former member of the Oregon House, joined the Oregon Senate in 2018 as a no-bullshit advocate for tenants’ rights representing East Portland. She’s accomplished a considerable amount in her brief tenure: In the […]
Posted inthe Mercury Endorsement Strike Force
Mercury 2020 Primary Endorsements: US Representatives and President
Evgeniia Ozerkina / Getty images US Representative, District 1: Suzanne Bonamici campaign photo Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has represented Oregon’s first congressional district—which includes Washington County and a slice of southwestern Multnomah County—since 2012. In those eight years, she’s been a reliably low-drama, hardworking politician who shows up for the issues our region cares about, particularly […]
Posted inMercury staff
Mercury 2020 Primary Endorsements: Metro Council
metro Metro Councilor, District 5: Chris Smith campaign photo The Portland Metro Council is the only governing body of its kind in the United States. The council is in charge of land use, transportation, and environmental stewardship for our tri-county region—and Chris Smith is particularly suited to this task. Smith’s track record on transportation and […]
Posted inthe Mercury Endorsement Strike Force
Mercury 2020 Primary Endorsements: Local Ballot Measures
boonchai wedmakawand / Getty Images, Doug Brown Portland Gas Tax Renewal, Measure 26-209: Vote Yes It doesn’t matter if you experience Portland streets as a pedestrian, bicyclist, transit rider, or driver: One shared reality for all these commute modes is that too many of our streets are unpleasant, uncomfortable, and downright unsafe. In fact, the […]