http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/09/potter_..._plans_to_runno.html

Portland mayor Tom Potter announced Monday at city hall that he does not plan to run for a second term.

Potter, who turns 67 on Wednesday, is a former Portland police chief who came out of retirement in 2004 to campaign for mayor. He ran as an outsider, refusing large contributions and meeting voters through a series of coffees and small community meetings.

Potter stood next to his wife during the press conference, which filled the City Council Chambers with dozens of reporters and city employees. Potter, who's still sporting the beard he grew while on vacation last week, said one reason for not running again is because he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren.

Rather than a laundry list of tangible specifics, he promised to change the tone of city government, to include more groups in the conversation and make the bureaucracy more responsive.

He's done exactly what he said he would, forming diverse committees to study vexing issues such as racial profiling by police and what to do about the large number of day laborers, most illegal immigrants, who gather in Southeast Portland each morning looking for work.

At the same time, Potter nears the end of his first term with few specific accomplishments to show for his time.

His plan to change the form of government, the result of more than a year of work by another volunteer committee, died in a May election. His effort to craft a long-term strategic plan for the city, the $1.4 million "visioning process," has been widely derided as a waste of time and money.

In an interview last week, Potter said he was happy with what he's done so far.

"I've always supported all the things we're doing in the physical infrastructure, but I've been more concerned about rebuilding our human infrastructure. Those things aren't as easily definable as a building or a walkway or a street. But if you accept the premise that cities are about people, then they're the most important accomplishments I can make."

-- Anna Griffin and Ryan Knutson
annagriffin@news.oregonian.com

I hope Mayor Adams will be better to work with (and yes, it's his for the taking). Early indications were not good when working with him in the past (when he was running for city council against Fish), but who's to say if it were packaged equitably... plus the fact that he's a disciple of Vera can't hurt.

I know lots of people loved Potter but, I'm sorry, I couldn't stand the guy one iota.

Although this might be hyperbole, I think this news improves our chances of getting a 2nd team here.

It says volumes about the guy that his most noteworthy accomplishment in office has been the growth of his beard....he'd definitely be a million times better suited to being a Mayor in a town like Pocatello, Idaho...though I wouldn't wish that upon the good Idahoans there...buh bye, Dr. Do Little...man, no wonder there's a statue of Vera Katz in PDX these days--Potter makes her look like the Michael Jordan of politicians...

Potter was Mayor? I thought you had to accomplish things to get that title.

VisionPDX does not count as an "accomplishment".

I hope that every potential candidate is asked if they support the state stadium funding bill that was passed and if they would actively "work and support" bringing MLB to PDX.

The state funding bill passed and has no sunset date, so it really doesn't matter what the candidates think of that.

What I'm curious about is whether they would be willing to do anything to free up PGE Park for MLS/PSU Football/World Cup/X Games/etc., and help to move the Beavers into another (MLB upgradeable) stadium in the Rose Quarter (or other suitable location). I'm talking extension of hotel/rental car taxes, selling development rights, etc. - NO direct taxes of individuals or businesses that would not stand to benefit. If they package it right, it would help create some desperately needed synergy for a convention center hotel.

I don't care if they get up behind the microphone and say it during the campaign (in fact I'd prefer they lay low about the issue), I just want to know they would try to help if/when the opportunity arises.

I know you guys want MLB and so do I, but since that's a ways off, I'm more interested in how they lay the groundwork between now and then.

Geez....duh, I know the state funding bill passed...don't pass me off as a country bumkin'.... If you guys are not careful you are going to get another mayor who feels bringing MLB does not need their support... Tell me...what American city who has attracted, or trying to attract, a major sports franchise does not have their city leader as their strongest booster?

There are people in Portland who believe taking an "easy, laid back" approach is best. That has been the formula in the past and nothing has changed. That model of doing it "that way" appears to be broken. At least the Portland Beavers appear to have an owner/LEADER who has exciting plans...and guess what, he is not a local.

quote:

Originally posted by Siuslaw1:
Geez....duh, I know the state funding bill passed...don't pass me off as a country bumkin'....

Sorry, no offense meant. I'm parsing words, but a stadium nerd like me is more interested in exactly what they would be willing to support (in terms of funding sources) or not.

quote:

If you guys are not careful you are going to get another mayor who feels bringing MLB does not need their support... Tell me...what American city who has attracted, or trying to attract, a major sports franchise does not have their city leader as their strongest booster?

There are people in Portland who believe taking an "easy, laid back" approach is best. That has been the formula in the past and nothing has changed. That model of doing it "that way" appears to be broken. At least the Portland Beavers appear to have an owner/LEADER who has exciting plans...and guess what, he is not a local.

Those are fair points. I guess for me, I'm more concerned about what they do with PGE Park and the Beavers at the moment. I know MLB isn't happening in the near term no matter how aggressive the mayor and the ownership is, and in the meantime, I'm worried that the politicians will do something really dumb that screws things up for the time when MLB becomes possible (like lose the stadium sites, dedicate potential funding sources to other projects, or commit PGE and/or the Beavers into something that is difficult to unravel).

I didn't mean to sound like such a pacifist in my prior post... I just don't think MLB2PDX is a winnable platform for a mayoral candidate when there is no team and no ownership. These deals almost always get done by people already in office and/or lame ducks

Yeah, MLS is a heckuva lot more realistic in the here and now than MLB for PDX...I'm chomping at the bit in anticipation of when(if?!) MLS finally makes a decision r.e. PDX vs. SEA for expansion...really, the two cities are much more than large and rabid enough for MLS, so both cities should've been in MLS a long time ago...

Latest rumor is that, by end of this year (possibly MLS Cup), MLS wants to announce two cities for 2009 or, more likely, 2010.

People swear that MLS is going to stick at 16 for a while, one person being Don Garber. If the Beckham mania returns and leads to other things, I doubt it will remain that way. There's also the potential of MLS awarding Seattle and Merritt Paulson following up by, say, poaching Kansas City. (BTW- a St. Louis suburb in Illinois has OK'd preliminary work on a stadium / development proposal... some think this will net them MLS expansion, but they'll also be preparing for the "reborn" women's league that just delayed re-launch until 2009).

They should really start seriously thinking about a way of instituting a promotion/relegation system. At the very least this would give several USL cities a decent chance of seeing top-flight soccer and maybe even work out some of the issues with several franchises.

quote:

Originally posted by Transic:
They should really start seriously thinking about a way of instituting a promotion/relegation system. At the very least this would give several USL cities a decent chance of seeing top-flight soccer and maybe even work out some of the issues with several franchises.

Congratulations, Phil Anschutz. You hired David Beckham for about $30 million over 5 years (plus full ownership of his endorsements, which is why the $50 million a year number came out), he's sold out most of the games he played and a few he hasn't, and we're going to relegate you for your fine efforts and the ineptitude of your team.

Know what I'm saying?

Of course, HECK YES, a lot of American soccer fans (really, me among them) DO want to see promotion and relegation. I can't find a post I made at soccercityusa.com (in a quick manner), but the gist of it...

...boycott until implemented, make sure a majority of fans are part of the boycott, AND THIS HAS TO APPLY TO EVERY SPORT IN AMERICA. If only the soccer fans do it, the owners will suddenly find lacrosse appealing, and the infrastructure is easily converted.

Anyone up for a boycott?

I am so thankful that Potter is going to be out of here. He was a huge disgrace. Hit the road, Jack (Tom)...

Now with that said, you guys have to vote for the candidate who is most likely to support MLB 2 PDX. Every single one of you. I know it's a way off for that, but whenever the oppurtunity arrives (the Marlins are having such a great time...), you need somebody to take that chance a la Vera Katz. No joke.

quote:

Originally posted by Knick_9:
I am so thankful that Potter is going to be out of here. He was a huge disgrace. Hit the road, Jack (Tom)...

Now with that said, you guys have to vote for the candidate who is most likely to support MLB 2 PDX. Every single one of you. I know it's a way off for that, but whenever the oppurtunity arrives (the Marlins are having such a great time...), you need somebody to take that chance a la Vera Katz. No joke.

well, I'm voting for the best candidate, regardless of their stance on baseball. I hope that the best candidate has a very good stance about baseball, but I won't vote for a weaker candidate if they're for baseball and the stronger one isn't.

Well I live in Hillsboro so I don't have a vote, but really it doesn't matter because the next mayor is going to be Sam Adams. The only potential candidate who could beat him is Earl Blumenauer and there is no way he is leaving Congress now that the Democrats are in power.

If you want to know what Adams cares about and would probably focus on as mayor, check out his blog at www.commissionersam.com. Although you won't find MLB2PDX in there much, you will find a willingness to creatively fund economic development projects.

I have this funny feeling that when the time comes, it will be the county that finds money under the couch cushions, with either the city or the Port of Portland pitching in with land, development rights, and/or possibly some transportation improvements. In other words, whoever is the next mayor will not make or break MLB2PDX in this generation.