East Portland Voters Aren't Pumped About the New 10-Cent Gas Tax

In no precinct east of 1-205 did the ballot measure get more than 44 percent of the vote.

By Nigel Jaquiss

East Portland is a land of cars. Judging from last month's election results, it's also a place that detests the city's new gas tax.

The 10-cent-per-gallon tax squeaked by 52 percent to 48 percent, one of the closest finishes on the May 17 primary ballot. A new map of precinct-level results shows the $64 million measure won despite a miserable performance east of I-205. In no East Portland precinct did the tax get more than 44 percent of the vote. In some precincts, it received as little as 21 percent.

Aaron Brown, manager for the yes campaign, notes the results came despite earmarks about $16 million for spending on projects in the areas where results were the poorest. "I wasn't expecting East Portland to vote for the tax in massive numbers. I'm just thrilled it passed," Brown says. "Now it's time to build some trust."

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