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Amanda's other sites:
Amanda's official City of Portland site
Amanda's 2008 Campaign site -- much still relevant, many lessons learned since then
Dear Portlander,
Welcome to the Re-elect Commissioner Amanda 2012 web site! Thank you for visiting.
"In her progression from outsider to City Council insider, Fritz has built a reputation as a quick and tenacious study. She's passionate, well-prepared and detail-oriented. She routinely asks the toughest questions and is an expert on land use. She's also a tireless advocate for more openness in government, questioning the need for quick council votes and pushing for night meetings so working Portlanders can participate."
--The Oregonian, 09/03/09
I ask for your support and assistance winning re-election to the Portland City Council on May 15, so that I can continue to be a forceful and effective advocate for spending taxpayers' money more wisely. I am proud of the achievements and results I've accomplished as your City Commissioner since January 2009, despite the challenges of the recession. With the active help of the community, in just three years I have made a real difference for Portland taxpayers and ratepayers.
In 2009, I saved ratepayers a projected total of $500 million by persuading the Council to pursue a less expensive compliance mechanism if the City is required to treat Bull Run drinking water. I partnered with neighborhood and business advocates to get this done. The result was a unanimous vote reversing the Water Bureau's previous plan. That vote decreased the rate increase in 2009 by over 6%, saving ratepayers $6 million in 2009-10 and each year thereafter. I recently secured another 5-0 Council vote to avoid paying any costs in this year's budget related to more storage for Bull Run water, saving ratepayers more money. If re-elected, I will continue to be the ratepayers' champion on the Council.
I work hard for people in every part of Portland. In my first three years, I attended 971 community events, and read and responded personally to over 20,000 emails. Since embarking on the path of public service, I have volunteered in hands-on projects in 90 of Portland's 95 neighborhoods.
I listen to neighbors and business leaders, and collaborate with all to solve problems and empower citizens.
And together, Portlanders and I have achieved results.
The effects of the recession have been deep and long lasting. As a city, state, and nation, we are still struggling together to revive a vibrant economy. In these hard times, instead of improving services in 2009 and 2010, we had to cut the City budget significantly. I supported deep spending cuts in both years, and the City of Portland's budget in 2011 was much more robust than the State's. In part because of actions by your City Council, the number of jobs in Multnomah County grew by 6,800 in 2011, despite public sector job cuts of 1,700. And still I know we must do more, because so many Portlanders are still suffering unemployment and underemployment, and this recession affects everyone. We are not out of it yet, and we face more cuts to City services in 2012-13. I will continue to work to attract and retain jobs in both small businesses and large corporations, support schools, and maintain basic services, as I have throughout my first term.
I push the Council and City processes to operate more efficiently, and I pursue equity and justice in every decision. I ask the questions Portlanders want answered: "What is the true cost of this project? Who is going to pay for it, who benefits, and is that fair?". I watch over the details to save taxpayers' money. And I ask if it's a truly important priority now, relative to the other important competing needs we must also consider. Whenever feasible, I have done so in a way that fosters partnerships and public participation, and helps further the understanding that we are all in this community together. I coordinated the Council's consensus and 5-0 votes on the Tree Protection policy, the West Hayden Island resolution setting a process to decide whether to develop a Port facility there, and funding the right budget for inclusive community involvement all three years. I secured funding for projects at Roosevelt and Parkrose High Schools, and I was East Portland's Gateway Area Business Association Citizen of the Year in 2011.
The most important priorities for Portland haven't changed since you elected me three years ago. You and I still want taxpayers money to be spent wisely paying for basic services; well-paying jobs for more Portlanders; great schools; and citizens' voices heard and respected. Please volunteer to participate in the campaign to re-elect me, to continue this work. If you are able to give money, I will be grateful if you can contribute a donation of up to $50 per person per year. Even $5 helps. I am not taking larger contributions than $50 ($100 per couple), and I am not accepting any donations from corporations, groups, or other entities that aren't individual people. I want Portlanders to continue to know that I act and vote based on values, facts, and the needs of the people of Portland, rather than influence by affluent campaign donors.
Significant changes often take time and principled, collaborative partnerships to accomplish. Let's continue to work together to deal with the problems that affect citizens' everyday lives.
Sincerely,
Amanda
