ERIK STEN

OCCUPATION: Portland City Commissioner

OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Housing Advocate; Journalist

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Stanford University, BA; Portland Public Schools

PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: Chief of Staff — City Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury

Dear Neighbor,

As your City Commissioner, I continue to work hard on issues that will impact Portland’s future. Over the last six years, we’ve had some real successes. We are safer, cleaner and more prosperous — even given the recession. We’ve made progress on transportation, and were named the nation’s most child-friendly city.

I am also proud of the initiatives I have led. Here are a few:

  • Protecting Portland’s Water. Working with our congressional delegation, we helped pass the Little Sandy Watershed Protection Act. The forests that surround our drinking water are now protected from logging, sales or other intrusions.
  • Affordable Housing. Working to preserve buildings in the Central City. Implementing the nation’s first regional strategy for afforable housing. Helping families stay in the city and keep our schools strong.
  • Safe Communities. In a time when we are concerned about keeping our homes and families safe, I have worked with firefighters and police to protect funding for critical public safety services.
  • A More Efficient City Government. By targeting duplication in administration services, financial planning and information technology, we are saving over $10 million a year — money that is better spent on police, fire, parks and other services.

There is a lot of work to do. My goal is to steer Portland towards becoming the pre-eminent 21st century city. This means strong and vibrant neighborhoods, a robust economy and a responsive city government. I am asking for your vote so we can continue to meet these challenges together.
Sincerely,

Erik Sten

RE-ELECT CITY COMMISSIONER ERIK STEN

(This information furnished by Friends of Sten)