Portland voters will consider historic changes in it’s city government. Amendments on the list include district representation, ranked-choice voting, and creation of a new city administrator position. These proposed amendments include various charter changes that would reshape Portland’s government and elections. It all will be placed on the November ballot.
Changes will be researched by a 20-person volunteer group. It is tasked with crafting the changes. It will be called the Charter Commission. It voted last week to refer a collection of amendments to the city’s founding document to voters. These changes would expand the number of city council members from five to 12. They would also implement ranked-choice voting as well as hire a professional city administrator.
Portland is now the only major U.S. city with a commission form of government. Under the current system, council members are elected to represent the entire city and serve as both legislators and executives. They are responsible for the day-to-day management of a portfolio of bureaus assigned by the mayor.
Some believe that the commission form of government is used to keep power in the hands of wealthy and white residents. However, studies show that the at-large method of electing city leaders also concentrates political power with wealthy, white residents.
Supporters of the charter changes say this will be a good move with polls showing voters seeming to be ready for change. These are the biggest changes to be considered in November:
-Four multi-member districts with three council members elected per district will be created.
-The size of the city council would increase to 12 people.
-The mayor and city auditor would still be elected citywide.
-The mayor would no longer be part of the city council and would only cast a tie-breaking vote in the event of a 6-6 deadlock.
City leaders have been disproportionately white, rich men who live west of the Willamette River. Experts say that it was set up this way. However, some say that expanding the size of the council will create more opportunities for people from historically underrepresented communities to win public office. The current mayor will appoint an independent group to figure out how to split the city into four new districts if the city approves the changes
