Though there are certainly many factors to
take into account when deciding whom to support for mayor of Portland
in this week’s election, if you read this column, one of the issues
that likely figures into your vote is the candidates’ positions on
local arts and culture policy. With this in mind, I asked the two
leading contenders for mayor—Sho Dozono and Sam Adams—to
answer a question about their plans for our city’s music community. I
have printed my question and their answers below. Remember to cast your
ballot by Tuesday, May 20!

As mayor, what would you do to support
local music and musicians? Inversely, how would you partner with
Portland’s many musicians and music educators to improve the quality of
life in our city?

SAM ADAMS: I’d work to ensure both the change in OLCC [Oregon
Liquor Control Commission] rules allowing minors to enjoy music in
local venues, and a reversal in the Oregon Employment Department’s
[OED] outdated rules on how musicians are classified when they perform
locally are implemented. This means lobbying the 2009 state legislature
for OED changes and working with venues to ensure any city barriers to
implementation of the new OLCC rules are removed.

I don’t know that the OLCC rule changes will be enough to expand
access for underage citizens to our incredible music scene. While
groups like PDX Pop Now! and Exit Only are emerging to serve this gap,
we need a citywide discussion about how to create, adapt, or expand a
venue for people of all ages to enjoy Portland’s music scene. We’ll
have that discussion when I’m mayor.

I have spent the last three years trying to strengthen the ties
between the arts and music community with city hall. We have featured
local musicians at our community First Thursdays and twice held PDX Pop
Now! showcases on the steps of city hall. As mayor, we will expand Arts
Partners, to equitably integrate arts and music education into our
classrooms. We will look for opportunities for increased rehearsal
spaces, expanding local/national exposure, and simplifying assembly
code.

SHO DOZONO: Music is an important part of our community. As a
private citizen and as a business owner, I have been involved with
funding and supporting musicians. I believe that music is not only a
source of entertainment but can also be a link to one’s
heritage—that is why I continue to support groups like the
Portland Taiko that bring cultural awareness.

When I led a “Flight of Friendship” trip to New Orleans to help
victims of Hurricane Katrina, I reached out to local artists. I was
able to inspire jazz musicians to share their talents with
Portland—the most well known being Devin Phillips, who now lives
here.

In the fall of 2007, I also sponsored Marv Ross’ musical production
of The Ghosts of Celilo with the Artists Repertory Theatre at
the Newmark Theatre in the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.

As mayor, I would continue to support local musicians and music
educators. I believe in Charles Lewis’ Ethos Music Center and programs
that bring music back into schools. I would continue to find ways to
get the private and public sector involved to fund these programs to
improve the quality of life in our city.