Seeking to represent: District 4 (west side and parts of the southeast)

Age: 44

Pronouns: she/her

Job: full time candidate

Fun fact: For 20 years, he has written funny quotes from his family and friends. His family reads the quotes aloud on birthdays.

Lisa Freeman specializes in the peaceful transition of power. He has worked for the United States Agency for International Development helping countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Syria change governments. Most recently, he worked for two years on the city of Portland’s community safety decision, seeking to stem the wave of shootings. She says those two credentials position her well to guide a new form of government.

Why are you running for office?

I have spent my career working on difficult problems, through crisis and transition. I spent a decade supporting government transitions in more than a dozen countries abroad – including Afghanistan, Syria and Nigeria – and building trust in new political systems. I am the only candidate in the race with experience in government transition. In the city, I led successful programs to reduce gun violence and efforts to modernize our public safety system through programs like Portland Street Response. I am uniquely qualified to ensure our government transition is successful and to address our safety, homelessness, and climate crises.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

The most important priority for our new City Council will be to implement a smooth government transition and build trust in the new political system. This will require an intentional effort to communicate clearly and transparently, and to establish equitable systems for community outreach and participation. It will also mean demonstrating tangible progress on issues that matter to Portlanders, which is why my second and third priorities are investing in community safety, especially community programs like Portland Street Response and the Office of Violence Prevention, and addressing our climate emergency.

How would you foster economic growth in Portland?

Like many US cities, Portland was hit during the COVID pandemic, and while we have been recovering, perceptions lag behind reality. An important way our next City Council can foster economic growth is by promoting stability in our new form of government and addressing lagging negative perceptions by telling a better story about Portland and its future. I will also focus on supporting small businesses, workers and families to ensure that they, the economic engine of our city, can earn a living wage and pay their rent.

The city of Portland will face budget cuts next year. Where would you cut money from the city’s current budget? Please point to a specific program, office or location.

I would review all consulting contracts, especially contracts to develop plans and strategies. I have heard climate activists call Portland “The City That Plans” because of its reputation for constantly investing in new studies without investing in implementing recommendations from studies it has already completed. We often pay outside consultants to repeatedly reproduce public, readily available data and to create PDF files that sit on bureaucratic shelves. I would like to suspend all consulting contracts until we have implemented the plans we have already made.

Where is the city currently wasting money, or is it using money in a way that you consider inefficient or unnecessary? Where is the swelling?

When I worked in the city, I led a call assignment study that found that at least a third of incoming 911 calls could be diverted to existing non-traditional first responders who are often less expensive. For example, sending a Community Health Assessment and Treatment (CHAT) vehicle to a sprained ankle is much more cost effective than sending a fire truck. We should do the work to modernize our first aid system and make sure we are sending the right first responder to the right call.

What is the Joint Office of Homeless Services doing wrong and what things do you think can right the ship?

JOHS has a tough job, but has not acted with the urgency that this emergency demands. I would bring my experience working in emergencies and crises to push JOHS to act faster, with greater tolerance for imperfect solutions. When I worked abroad, we said: “It is better to be 80% right at the right time than 100% right too late”, and this is the attitude we need at JOHS. This is the approach I brought to our gun violence emergency, when I managed a program that distributed $2.4 million to community partners in record time to reduce summer gun violence.

Is the tax rate in Multnomah County (with PCEF, Preschool for All, and Supportive Housing Services taxes) too high or at an appropriate level? If it is too high, what do you suggest be done about it?

I am proud to live in a city that is making these critical investments in our health and safety to create the climate and family communities our children deserve. Like any investment, there is an initial cost, but over time these investments will pay for themselves and produce dividends for the health, safety and vitality of our city. As a parent, I know how important it is that we build the city we want to leave for our children NOW. We need to invest in Portland’s future and these investments will benefit everyone.

What is the first policy you would bring to the City Council?

Linnton residents deserve District 4 representatives who will defend their years of work to address the risks of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Center. The CEI Facility, where 90% of our state’s liquid fuel is stored, is a blight on our climate and a disaster waiting to happen. The fact that there has not been more progress to address these risks is a failure of our current form of government. The first policy I would present to City Council would be to rescind Zenith Oil’s Land Use Compatibility Statement and commit to working to relocate the tanks.

Beyond policing, what steps would you take to improve public safety in Portland neighborhoods and where would you get the money to do it?

Improving public safety requires many different types of professionals working together to respond when emergencies occur and prevent them from happening in the first place. Police are essential, but they cannot do it alone. I led and advocated for essential community responses to public safety in the city, such as violence prevention programs, crime prevention through environmental design, and self-defense and personal security training. I would invest significantly more in these highly effective and cost-effective initiatives, which currently account for about $5 million of Portland’s $560 million public safety budget. These investments pay for themselves by preventing crime and violence.

What experience can you point to that you think would make you a wise policymaker on the City Council?

I have been a public servant for 20 years and as administrator of public funds, I take seriously the values ​​of transparency and fiscal responsibility. I have worked in agencies internationally, federally, and locally to implement programs, manage budgets, and shape policy in complex environments. With a graduate degree in conflict resolution, I know how to collaborate across multiple interests and center the perspectives of those most affected by any policy or decision. My decades of working in times of change have taught me that stable, collaborative and reflective leadership is key to any successful transition.