After over seven years under Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Lincoln graduate, class of 1981, Portland will soon welcome a new mayor. On Dec. 18, Keith Wilson will be sworn in and serve as Portland’s next mayor. Wilson is the CEO of Titan Freight Systems, a fossil-fuel-free trucking company. He has no former political experience.
This year’s mayoral election utilized ranked-choice voting for the first time. Lincoln students had varied opinions about the use of ranked-choice voting.
Senior Katelyn Simpson, a co-leader of the Women in Politics club says that rank-choice voting is a good solution to the voting-related issues that plague the United States today.
“I love ranked choice voting,” said Simpson, “because I think one of the biggest problems, not only in our state, but in our country, is polarization, and ranked-choice voting increases moderation of candidates because they have to appeal to such a wide base of voters. I think it’s the best thing that could happen, considering the current climate.”
Sophomore Rangan Krishna, who is a member of the Lincoln Constitution thinks rank-choice voting adds another layer of complexity to the voting process.
“Ranked-choice voting itself, I’m very against it. … It’s proven to be more or less bipartisan, but I feel that it’s an extra complication that you add to the voting process,” said Krishna. “I know that many voters in the United States are already uneducated, and when you add this extra complication, it makes the long process of voting incredibly difficult.”
According to the Oregonian, the voter turnout in Portland was 75%. However, they reported that out of those who voted, 11% did not rank a single candidate for the mayoral race.
19 candidates ran for mayor, and after the 17 other candidates were defeated, Keith Wilson and Carmen Rubio faced off for the final vote. Wilson won with 62% of the vote, while Rubio received 38%.
While campaigning, Wilson emphasized his goal of ending unsheltered homelessness within one year. According to KGW8, Wilson plans to expand his Shelter Portland nonprofit to create emergency shelters for both night and day. In addition, he plans to enforce restrictions on camping and makeshift shelters.
Krishna doubts Wilson’s ability to implement his proposed policies.
“I just don’t think [Wilson’s policies] are going to be productive,” said Krishna. “I think if you’d had a more educated and a more focused-oriented person, then you’d have someone who has outlined very specific plans for the legislature to pass.”
Simpson agrees with Krishna; she is not confident Wilson will successfully enact his proposed policy. Simpson feels strongly about ending homelessness and doesn’t think Wilson’s proposed plans are a feasible solution to Portland’s homelessness crisis.
“I think that there’s a lot of evidence that points to long-term housing and the opening of new rehab centers [as] what the long-term solution is for homelessness, not the emergency shelters that he’s proposing,” said Simpson.
Senior Theo McCormick hopes that the mayor will solve the issue of homelessness. However, he worries that Wilson’s policy will uphold the status quo rather than create change.
Portland’s current homelessness policy, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, permits camping on public property if there are no beds available at shelters.
“I fear that [Wilson] will continue that trend where the action that we will take will be mitigating and not actually stopping the issue [of homelessness],” McCormick said.
Sophomore Ian Conine Reyes, a member of the Lincoln Constitution Team, hopes to witness several changes in Portland during Keith Wilson’s term.
“[I’d like to see] a revitalized downtown and a more livable city,” said Reyes.
Mitch Green, a City Council-elect for District Four, the district that represents Lincoln, says that he agrees with Wilson’s urgency in implementing policy for homelessness.
“[Wilson] wants to take urgent action on unsheltered homelessness in the city, and I think that’s something that we should be taking urgent action on as well. I think that we can do it in a way that’s humane, and I think he’s willing to go along with that. I’m looking forward to a really cooperative relationship with him.”
To see how Lincoln students responded to 2024 elections read articles by Cardinal Times reporters on The Cardinal Times website.
