Jules Bailey Announces He's Running for Portland Mayor

"Let's make Portland a place where jobs pay enough to put food on the table and owning a home of your own isn't just a fading memory from a previous generation," Bailey says.

By Beth Slovic

Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey announced Saturday what's been clear since November: He's challenging Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler to be Portland's next mayor.

"Let's make Portland a place where jobs pay enough to put food on the table and owning a home of your own isn't just a fading memory from a previous generation," Bailey told dozens of supporters gathered at his campaign kickoff Saturday.

"Let's make Portland a place where protecting our environment and confronting climate change is part of how we grow our economy, not at odds with it. Let's make Portland a place where no person of color ever needs to fear for their safety, or the loss of their community. Let's make Portland a place where we have safe streets and police we know. And let's show together that Portland already is a place where we can love our neighbor, and know they love us back."

Among his promises: Bailey says he'll work to lift Portland's minimum wage to $15 an hour; cut homelessness in half by the end of his first term; create a new city bureau of small business and economic development; and limit campaign contributions to $250 per person or entity.

Bailey's campaign also released a detailed, three-page platform Saturday, outlining the candidate's plans for everything from funding transportation improvements (he supports a city proposal for a 10-cent gas tax) to helping the homeless (he also wants to create a new source of funding for affordable housing).

"We are not the next San Francisco or even Seattle," he told supporters gathered at Hatch, a co-working space and nonprofit for entrepreneurs. "We are a community all our own."

Bailey first won election to the Oregon House in 2008 at the age of 28. (He turned 29 a few days later.) He served three terms before jumping ship to run for the Multnomah County Commission seat vacated by Deborah Kafoury when she became county chairwoman.

Mayor Charlie Hales announced in October he wouldn't run for a second term. Wheeler announced he would run in September, before Hales bailed.

Saturday, Bailey gathered signatures so he could file with Portland's elections office by nominating petition rather than pay the $50 fee—a symbolic gesture that points to Bailey's aspirations for running a grassroots campaign.

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