September 14, 2020

Campaign Deserves Coverage

The following letter to the editor was published in The Oregonian.

Many have asked why I would want the job of Portland mayor at this stressful time. Here’s why: I love Portland and know we can do better. Despite my historic grass-roots campaign forcing a runoff, The Oregonian/OregonLive has published multiple articles about this race without including comment from my team. Multiple polls show our current mayor’s approval ratings continually plummeting. Team Sarah boasts thousands of volunteers, small dollar donors and endorsers. My campaign is breaking grass-roots fund-raising records. In any election, these are key metrics to demonstrate viability, and I surpass Wheeler.

I want to ensure that voters know where I stand on the issues we face. The mayor recently stated in The Oregonian/OregonLive (Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on city protests, police violence, lack of clarity about his stance, Sept. 6), that I refuse to condemn violence. This is untrue. Since the first George Floyd protests back in May, I have stated repeatedly and unequivocally that violence and hatred are wrong, no matter who does it. I have, however, condemned the Portland Police Bureau’s violence most vocally because police brutality has sparked over 100 days of mostly-peaceful protests demanding change. Mayor Wheeler’s response to these demonstrations? Refusing even common-sense reforms like assigning Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty police oversight, which I’ve pledged to do on Day One. Now is the time to rally behind Black Lives Matter and youth activists, not tear-gas families in their homes.

Wheeler recently admitted failure because he’s been going it alone. Now he’s asking for four more years to get the hang of the job, which I believe would be irresponsible of us to give him. Change, led by the community, is coming to City Hall. I ask you to fairly cover the viable progressive challenger in this election.

Sarah Iannarone, Portland