Eric Zimmerman

QUESTION 1: How will you engage with voters in SW Portland if elected? Please provide specifics on how your constituents will be able to communicate with you and how you will communicate with us.

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

As a resident of SW Portland, I'm in district everyday and I'll work from City Hall. I've appreciated our elected leaders who have met with residents both locally at coffee shops, neighborhood gatherings, and opened up their City Hall office for regular meetings constituent services. I hope to also create a a similar style for engagement. I want the District 4 voice to be included in the decisions made by the City Council and the city bureaus. Neighborhood plans, transportation changes, park activities and construction should all include the District 4 perspective and I'll work to make sure our district has an influential voice within City Hall.

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QUESTION 2: The transition to a purely legislative city council with geographical representation is a major shift from the current structure in which councilors oversee city bureaus. Under the old government structure, concerns about transportation or traffic circulation issues would be addressed to the commissioner in charge of PBOT; concerns about parks would go to the commissioner overseeing the Parks bureau; etc. Given the shift away from administrative powers on the council, how will you make sure constituent concerns are addressed? 

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

Having served in a similar form of government, I think our new form has the chance to be even better at constituent relations than our current form because solutions will be developed with all city services in mind instead of being completed in silos. I plan to center the District 4 perspective in City Hall discussions about our parks, transportation, developments, and provide a stronger mechanism for the District to inform how services are provided to us. Today, special interests can convince bureaus to implement projects exactly same across every corner of the city without local control and without local input. I'm looking forward to ending that practice.

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QUESTION 3: What role should neighborhood associations play in fostering residents’ engagement with city government and elected officials?

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

I think Neighborhood Associations will play a critical role in advancing the voice of their neighbors to the council and our elected representatives. The needs of different neighborhoods should get attention and support from city services and from the coalitions, but I recognize that neighbors expect their association to be able to represent their needs without filter from city bureaus and coalitions and I'm open to that ongoing communication.

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QUESTION 4: District 4 is large and covers many neighborhoods. What issues do you think are particularly important for SW Portland neighborhoods (not downtown)? What proposals would you make to address these issues?

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

We need a lot of attention from TriMet and PBOT when it comes to transportation assets and road safety in our district. We remain one of the districts that still has unpaved roads, many streets without reasonable sidewalks or pedestrian uses. We often get overlooked because of misrepresentations by the media, but my neighbors and I put gravel down every couple years to keep the mud at bay, improve our road, and create safer walking and parking areas. We aren't alone in that. Restoration of transit routes is critical to serve the Barbur corridor and the hills but we've seen reductions. I'd like to ensure Portland Solutions continues to hold neighborhood meetings to address problem areas and focus clean ups and safety improvements across the district. 

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QUESTION 5: How do you plan to work with your District 4 colleagues to ensure productive outcomes on district issues? 

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

Luckily I have gained some great colleagues already and I think the voters have some easy choices. I'm happy to be considered one of the "cross-over" candidates in the district who is being endorsed and supported by labor unions and business, public safety leaders and community members. Our working together to represent the needs of our district should prevail and I'm committed to working on cleaning up Portland, investing in public safety, delivering district based services, reforming our housing development program to increase units, and enforcing camping regulations toward shelter. 

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QUESTION 6: Why should voters in SW Portland give you a vote? 

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CANDIDATE RESPONSE:

I hope I gain voters' number #1 vote on their ballot because they know I am practical and experienced when it comes to tackling Portland's toughest problems. My record in the district and across the city speaks for itself. I've helped clean up much of the entrenched problems that current leaders failed to address. My experience working inside City Hall and with Multnomah County led to real enforcement of camping regulations and hundreds of camp clean ups, the creation of shelters with far better success rates than the old failed model, and helping stop dangerous drug enabling programs at the county, and preventing poorly timed fee increases against small business like local restaurants. I'm working to help make Portland's next chapter one we can all be proud of and I appreciate the support District 4 voters have given me in trying to bring about real outcomes and effectiveness at Portland City Hall.

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