Portland is a community of extraordinary potential. At our best, we are one of the best places to live in the world. We have strong, vibrant neighborhoods that are a great place to raise a family. We have a diverse economy that embraces sustainability with high-paying sectors that we can continue to grow in the decades to come. And we attract innovators, pioneers, and creative people of all types who love our quirky, unique community. That was part of what attracted Debbie Kitchin to Portland and why she’s been so blessed to raise her family here.

But the truth is that we have a number of problems that have festered for too long. The rising cost of housing has hit working people hard, pushing them out and contributing to rising homelessness. We’ve faced a surge in addiction and behavioral health issues. And we continue to struggle to reckon with the legacies of racism and inequality that continue to harm our community. The need for effective city government is acute and we need it now.

Our new city council has a unique opportunity to get things right – if we elect the right leaders. Debbie Kitchin is the clear top choice in District 2. For over 40 years, Debbie has worked with local governments, organizations, and businesses to strengthen our community and our economy. She brings a deeply held commitment to social justice and sustainability, with the experience to translate those values into policies that will work to improve our community. We can trust her to deliver because that is what she has been doing as a community leader and small business owner for decades. On the City Council, she will be committed to:

• Creating more housing that is affordable for people at all income levels and providing more pathways to self-reliance for our unhoused neighbors.
• Ensuring everyone is safe through strategies like expanded Portland Street Response to help those in crisis; quicker 9-1-1 response times; gun violence prevention, safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists; and greater police accountability.
• Acting now to address climate change including accelerating the transition to clean energy, changing zoning to increase density, expanding tree canopies, and protecting the Portland Clean Energy Fund.
• Building effective government through greater transparency and responsiveness, as well as partnerships with regional, state, and federal governments.
• Championing our local small businesses – they are the heart and soul of our community

Now is the time, with our new city government, to push for progress on the issues that will define our future. We can’t afford to leave this in the hands of inexperienced leaders or those unable to design policies that actually work. 

Debbie Kitchin’s ability to translate our values and vision into clear plans for action to rebuild our community and restore Portland’s promise makes her the best choice for District 2. Join us in electing Debbie Kitchin to Portland City Council!