Mayor Sam Adams released another statement today urging Occupy Portland participants to keep it peaceful and positive. He’s still seems a bit irked that the organizers didn’t get a permit, but he also stressed, unlike some other big-city mayors, that the protesters are “there to voice their legitimate concerns about national issues.”

Noting the mayor’s pretty balanced tone, we wondered how the major candidates trying to succeed Adams next year would have handled all the hubbub. Here’s what they had to say (a day after their first joint appearance, coincidentally), in the order of their replies to the Mercury:

Update 5PM: I finally heard back from Eileen Brady’s campaign with a comment from Brady. It’s below the cut.

At this point, the most important thing is that we make sure to have a peaceful demonstration. And I’ll amplify by saying that people feeling frustration about economic inequities is real and justified.

Something like this is a relatively rare thing. Normally, most of these events, most of the demonstrations that happen, in their course will go through regular permitting. this feels more like what Tom McCall faced with the Oregon Vortex. It’s something that’s going to happen. So how do we react smartly to make sure we get the best parts of it and not create needless stupidity. And so I think that by making sure we work with organizers, and by making sure the parks and police bureaus are being cool, we can make sure it’s peaceful and that the real points are made without extraneous garbage.

—Jefferson Smith

Corporations have a choice in how they choose to operate; I support the people’s right to organize and conduct lawful protests. I understand the frustrations, fears and anger that motivate these protests when so many families, across the country and right here in Portland, are living one paycheck away from poverty. That’s why we need to act, shop and invest locally. We’re fortunate here in Portland to have so many businesses that have chosen to operate with a community-values mission. As Mayor, I plan to encourage these environmentally, socially responsible businesses by reducing the Business License Fee for B Corporation certified companies by 50 percent. City Hall will acknowledge the work people put into being a good neighbor and a better business by using the Business License Fee to put our money where our values are. And by doing so we can broadcast to socially responsible entrepreneurs across the country and around the world- set up shop here in Portland.

—Charlie Hales (sidestepping the messier aspects of Occupy Portland and taking the opportunity to reuse a talking point from last night’s joint appearance)

Eileen Brady? We’re still waiting to hear back—I’m told she has a long afternoon of meetings. And here it is.

Main Street has taken a major hit over the last few years and our local economy has suffered. It will be the people on the streets today and our local community leaders that will need to rebuild our economy and put people back to work. I am an old protester from way back, and I firmly believe Democracy is a verb. I understand the frustration and outrage driving these peaceful protests. The real work to re-build our local economy is ahead of us.

Denis C. Theriault is the Portland Mercury's News Editor. He writes stories about City Hall and the Portland Police Bureau, focusing on issues like homelessness, police oversight, insider politics, and...

13 replies on “Occupy Portland: What the Mayoral Candidates Are Saying”

  2. sad to say, the Brady campaign is trying to be vague, so as to not offend anyone, while using some Obama campaign tactics which ignore hard stances on the issues. Oh well.

  3. Dennis, thanks for asking the question. I was wondering if local media would reach out to the folks running to get their take.

    I don’t fault Charlie for talking about public policy toward the end of his answer, but give Jefferson extra points for the Oregon Vortex reference.

  4. I’d be curious what Brady would say.
    In my eyes, she screwed up about the so-called ‘leaf tax’ the other day.
    I’d like her to explain why she thinks it is OK for me to clean up my own leaves, as I don’t live in a ‘leaf district’, but my taxes pay to clean up leaves in front of her house, as she lives in a ‘leaf district’.
    She is cool with that.
    This is one issue that Adams was 100% correct on.

  5. I might have been a bit hard on the Hales campaign—the statement a bit heavy-handed—campaign-ese—but it *does* answer at least the greater issue in play here.

  6. Also: I’m still expecting to hear from the Brady camp. I think they meant it when they said she’d be in meetings much of the day.

  8. Ms Brady, really? “Democracy is a verb”? As in, He democracies you?

    I firmly believe in a mayor who has a firm grasp of the English language, as opposed to one flailing around for a good soundbite so hard that they fall on their backside…

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  10. I like Brady’s response. She is articulate, clear and brief! Most politicians cannot do one of those things! I think she understand the English language very well. Personally, I like phrase “Democracy is a verb”!

  11. Mary Ellen:

    Personally, some of us like phrases that include definite articles such as “the”.
    What?
    Are you Russian?

  13. Paraphrasing the candidates:

    “Elect me and I’ll regulate us into a better economy. Wanting to deregulate is selfish and racist” —Jefferson Smith

    “Elect me and I’ll build a tram between Occupy Portland, Dignity Village and Right to Dream 2” —Charlie Hales

    “Don’t you know who i am? I am an old protester from way back” -Eileen Brady

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