Erik Sten will be launching his campaign for re-election to the Portland City Council on February 23rd at The Wonder Ballroom. I’ll be there to show my support.
Erik has shown during his tenure at City Hall a determined effort to reflect the progressive values and spirit that have made Portland the great city it is. He has been a champion of the environmental cause, policies that help lift people out of homelessness, and a fighter for open government. Most politicians are timid leaders afraid of taking on big issues. You cannot say that about Erik. He has shown a willingness to make difficult decisions on behalf of the people of Portland no matter the political risk.
The downtown business community has their own candidate in this race: state senator Ginny Burdick. She was asked to run by groups associated with the Portland Business Alliance. Burdick is already running a dishonest to the core campaign – and is facing charges of “double-dipping” into both state coffers and her campaign fund to pay her own car insurance and gas mileage (a practice that is legal but ethically questionable). The only reason she is in the race is because downtown business interests want to own a seat on the City Council and Ginny Burdick jumped at the chance to win their support. She is backed by the same crowd that tried to overturn Portland's campaign finance law and that has worked to oppose city support for homeless programs.
I’ve known Erik since the first day he started working for then City Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury. Erik Sten has the kind of integrity and character that Portland needs now more than ever on the City Council. I hope you’ll join me in supporting his campaign.