Wheeler Receives 11 New Endorsements

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

GoLocalPDX Politics Team

Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler (D), the lone candidate in the race to become the next Mayor of Portland, announced 11 more endorsements on Monday in an effort to sure up his campaign and ward off any potential challengers.

Rick Nitti, executive director of the Neighborhood House, said he chose to endorse Wheeler based on his experience with the State Treasurer.

“I’ve been able to watch Ted bring people together to help the children and families who need it most since he served on my board of directors a decade ago,” Nitti said. “I know that Ted will work hard to continue finding community-based solutions to lift people out of poverty. I believe the people of Portland deserve a great mayor - and Ted’s that guy.”

Deborah Steinkopf, executive director of Bradley Angle, said that “Ted has the kind of smart, fierce leadership Portland needs to solve our current housing crisis. I am honored to endorse him.”

Rukaiyah Adams, CIO of Meyer Memorial Trust, Robert McCullough, President of Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, Ed Blackburn, Executive Director of Central City Concern. Wajdi Said, co-founder of the Institute for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Teri Lorenz, Executive Director of the Raphael House, Doug Stamm, CEO of Meyer Memorial Trust, Avel Gordly, former Oregon State Senator and Representative, Clariner Boston, Executive Director of Better People and Duncan Campbell, founder of Friends of the Children, also pledged their support to Wheeler.

The Wheeler campaign noted that the endorsements were from individuals and were not necessarily endorsements from the organizations.

McCullough said he chose to endorse Wheeler based on his ability to govern with transparency and effectiveness.

“I have talked over the City and its needs extensively with Ted - down to the nuts and bolts of getting things done,” McCullough said. “We have also discussed transparency and public involvement. He understands the critical need to talk to the neighborhoods and return to our grassroots values. The bottom line is that Ted Wheeler will help our neighborhoods thrive from the ground up, and he has my full support.”

Rebecca Tweed

Suring Up Support

Rebecca Tweed, Political and Communications Director for State Street Solutions, told GoLocal that Wheeler is doing a good job of showing a strong campaign in order to keep potential challengers at bay. "It's not too late now," Tweed said about the possibility of a legitimate challenger running against Wheeler, "but if Wheeler continues on his current trajectory, it soon will be."

Jim Moore, Director of the Tom McCall Center for Policy Innovation, agreed.

"A strong challenger has until about Thanksgiving to make a public move into the mayoral race. That’s only about two weeks away," Moore said. "Wheeler’s endorsements by former mayors, his de facto endorsement by Hales in Hales’ decision not to run again, and the growing public support for him, make him a very strong candidate. A challenger would need to have a very strong counterargument to the momentum that Wheeler is building. It can be done, but the deadline is coming up very quickly."

Tweed said that in order for a new candidate to truly challenge Wheeler, he or she will have to be an established force in Portland politics, especially given the endorsements that Wheeler has swallowed up so far.

"At this stage, for a challenger to be competitive, they would need to be well-established with the Portland community and influencers. I don't think it is too late for someone to jump in, but it would be difficult to start from zero and catch up," Tweed said. "To be a successful opponent, they would need to have committed support, financial and otherwise, to make a case to be perceived as a strong candidate."

John Horvick, Vice President and Political Director of DHM Research, told GoLocal that Wheeler's lack of challengers should show his strength.

"The clock for that is ticking louder and louder each day. Add to that is that Ted Wheeler is doing everything a strong candidate should be to dissuade someone from challenging him," Horvick said. "He’s strong on fundraising, organizing, and securing endorsements.  That several names of several potential candidates have been floated, and they’ve all said no, suggests that they did not see the support that it would take mount a competitive campaign.

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Related Slideshow: SLIDESHOW: Ted Wheeler Announces Portland Mayoral Candidacy on Rooftop of Revolution Hall

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