A vote for Betsy Johnson is a vote for Drazen. Hard to admit, but even if Betsy could win, a vote for her is a vote for Christine Drazan because Betsy and Drazan have remarkably similar records and platforms — on reproductive rights, voting access, climate, gun safety, health care, housing. A vote for Betsy is a step backwards for Oregon. Invest in our future with Tina Kotek's policies.
Phil Gilbertson, Southwest Portland
Let's vote 'yes' for Portland charter change
Measure 26-228 will reform our city government and create a government for the people. Measure 26-228 creates a City Council that is more democratic. People from all over the city will have a representation from their neighborhood. Everyone has an opportunity to be represented and have a voice in City Hall. Ranked choice voting gives people more choice and more voice in elections. The process of instant runoff finds who most voters want to represent them. Gone will be the primaries when few people vote. Council members will all be elected in the general election, and will represent more voters and more Portlanders.
Portland's current council members must run city bureaus and develop city policy. This doesn't work. Measure 26-228 takes the day-to-day work of running the city and puts in the hands of people hired to do that. It gives council members the responsibility for making city policy. We will get better policy when they can focus their time and energy on this important task.
Let's all vote "yes" on Measure 26-228 and make our city a city for the people.