In Lincoln’s dimly lit auditorium, a single spot light beating down on a solitary podium, framed by a ramshackle wood structure, two of the most prominent Lincoln graduates met to debate.

On Monday, mayoral candidates Ted Wheeler, Class of ‘81, and Jules Bailey, Class, of ’97, talked about their policies, aspirations for Portland and, of course, their time as Cardinals.

Not only are both mayoral hopefuls Lincoln graduates, but, as one might expect, they both held elected office during their high school years. Wheeler was Senior Class president, and Bailey was Freshman Class treasurer – until the title was stolen from him sophomore year.

Now, Bailey is a Multnomah County Commissioner and has served three terms as a State Representative for Southeast Portland. Before that, he was an economist and a small business owner. Wheeler has been Oregon State Treasurer since 2010,  Multnomah County chairman three years prior to that and a successful businessman. Though they are not the only competitors in the Portland mayoral race – 15 candidates filed as of March 25 – they are the frontrunners.

Both candidates commented on a worrying trend that they noticed during a tour of the school led by Principal Peyton Chapman: the decrepit state of the building.

“It’s exactly the same bathroom, except in much worse condition,” said Wheeler. “This building today is a relic of the past. What it needs to be is a statement of the future.”

Bailey mentioned the cafeteria as the space most changed since his time. Namely, it is “even more crowded” now.

Wheeler and Bailey acknowledged the proposed School Building Improvement Bond, set to be voted on in November, would provide needed funds to rebuild Lincoln along with two other Portland Public  high schools. While both candidates would support the bond, Wheeler criticized the proposal for being an antiquated means of fundraising. Instead, he insisted upon “connecting growth directly to school infrastructure.”

Other hot topics were the candidates’ plans to combat homelessness. Bailey was completely confident in his plan.

“We can end homelessness in Multnomah County,” he said. “Not only can we do it, we know exactly how to do it.” He cited the county plan he helped with that  placed 695 homeless veterans in stable housing by the end of 2015.

Meanwhile, Wheeler focused his plans on mental health treatment. Health services in Oregon are provided by individual communities, as opposed  to the state, and suffer from a severe lack of funding. “It is utterly reprehensible that we allow people to live on our streets who are that fragile,” Wheeler said.

The most contentious question of the debate asked Wheeler and Bailey to reveal their favorite presidential candidates. Though neither fully endorsed any one person, Bailey finds many of Sen.Bernie Sanders’ policies resonant, while Wheeler expressed his long-held support for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Wheeler emphasized, however, that no candidate would receive his full support without acknowledging the national mental health crisis.

Both were adamant about their disapproval of a Donald Trump presidency. “Donald Trump cannot be elected president of the United States,” Wheeler said.  

Towards the end of the debate, both candidates couldn’t resist offering some sage advice for current Lincoln students. “Look at the people around you and remember who you’re sitting with here,” Bailey said. “You’re all going to do amazing things.”

Wheeler projected a different sentiment entirely. “Whoever you think you are, or whoever you think you’re going to become, you’re wrong,” he said. “You never know.”

Attendance at the debate was strong; the auditorium was filled nearly to capacity. Chapman encouraged all upperclassmen to attend in a school-wide email.

Senior Earnest Haycox-Case was excited to attend. “I wanted to see what’s going on in Portland,” he said. “I also wanted to see what an actual debate was like, to get a taste of what’s going to happen in November.”

The non-partisan primary election for Portland’s mayor will be May 17. If no candidate earns a majority of votes, the top two will continue on to the general election Nov. 8.