Kent Landgraver: Candidate questionnaire for Portland City Council District 3

General information:

Name : Kent Landgraver
Age : 64
Profession : Scientific Instrument Technician
Pronouns : He/Him

Questionnaire:

What is the biggest problem facing the City of Portland as it transitions to a new form of government?

The crisis of homelessness, addiction, and policing. Imagine if you will. The Cascadia event just happened: the shaking has stopped. Thousands of Portlanders are homeless, there is an epidemic, and businesses are closing up shop because there is too much crime. Blink twice because Cascadia didn’t happen, this is our reality. What should we do? Wringing our hands and hoping the county, state and federal governments come to our rescue? Of course, we would respond right now and with the whole of government. I propose the mayor declares an emergency, mobilize a whole government response and we the council would facilitate this with emergency policies that both enable the mayor to do this and craft guard rails, so they do not overstep their authority. I fully expect the county, state and the federal government to pay for this, but we will not wait to act. A side effect of this is that we will now be prepared for a Cascadia or Cascadia-esque event.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish as a member of the Portland City Council?

I would like to bring to life the voter’s vision of a useful working City government by way of a useful working city council. I want a weaker president; they who control the agenda control the council. I want individual councilors to be able to add agenda items at least occasionally. I want all policies and decisions that affect the city to be unanimous. Consensus or compromise! A 11-1 vote means 55,000 Portlanders were disenfranchised. When we break for lunch can be a simple majority. I do not want to recreate the old bureau system by way of council committees. I want a city council: Maker of public policy, not leveled up politicians in the game of Portlandia. And I would like the council to help Portlanders live their lives fully and safely.

In what ways are you qualified to represent the citizens of Portland?

I have lived and worked in what is now District 3 for 41 years. I was born in Portland. I am a 5th generation Portlander and a 6th generation Oregonian, and even though that means my family is new here, it does demonstrate our commitment to the city. I have raised two children here. I own my home here (for 30 years I only owned a mortgage). I spent most of my life living paycheck to paycheck. I served my state and country in the Oregon Army National Guard for 31 years. I have been family in a family-owned computer manufacturer (back when that was possible). I have worked for the state of Oregon for 9 years. For over a decade I had the privilege and pleasure of walking to and from work. During the pandemic I lived with my mother, who also lives in District 3. (I saw all those elders with their faces pushed up against the window separating them from their families and I said “Not my Mom!”) I have been both a consumer and a server of public policy in District 3. I have no bad political habits to unlearn. I am best qualified to be in the Portland City council representing District 3.

What political figure(s) do you admire?

Chief Joseph, Bud Clark and Tom McCall.

What changes would you like to see in your district?

Less homelessness, more mental health services, policing of the appropriate type served safely for both the police and the denizens of Portland.

What do you love about Portland?

It is home. The climate (even with climate change). The culture, name another city that has a rave in a city park every Wednesday night. That same park has been named one of America’s quietest urban parks. And of course, the people; visualize the musical opening to Portlandia.

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