Last evening for almost three hours, six candidates running to become Portland’s next mayor spoke to a crowd of 60+ at Union Gospel Mission. Bill Russell, UGM’s Executive Director, moderated the topic of Portland’s 1,881 houseless and without shelter. The mayoral panel included Jules Bailey, Sean Davis, Sarah Iannarone, David Schor, Jessie Sponberg, and Ted Wheeler. The audience included many of Portland’s top advocates and activists despite necessarily having a roof over their head; they offered most insightful and intelligent questions throughout the evening. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, I cannot say that about the answers provided by the mayoral forum. As if knowing of the rarity of the provided social opportunity to speak on the topic, Jessie Sponberg and David Schor, seemed to take advantage of the speaking of their planning. The most excitement coming from Sponberg as he challenged those in the audience to just look outside (homeless souls were visible beyond the large floor to ceiling windows) ‘and try to imagine the coldest you’ve ever been, the most tired you’ve ever been.’ Of the six panelists, only Wheeler and Bailey were politicians, their answers to questions typically provided additional proof of this fact. However, between the two, I perceived and took notice that Wheeler spoke from his heart and with great honesty and integrity. I had the impression that despite being popular or not answer, it was truly what he believed was in the best interest of Portlanders. One example was Wheeler’s answer to if whether or not the homeless tent/camps were a viable long-term workable solution; he thought not. I thought it was especially telling that Wheeler was the only candidate that spoke of mental illness and its impact, symptom, and causal effect on the houseless of Portland. I was also impressed when Sarah Iannarone referred to the need to meet the houseless where they are. Extensively indicating an acknowledgment that every houseless soul has their story and is in a different place in their journey towards getting off the streets. Jules Bailey, second to Ted Wheeler as the most likely to take the office, seemed only interested in telling stories of his service to the houseless of Portland, including LGBT youth. I found his affect most disingenuous. His answers to many questions typically enlisted little to no reaction from the small, crowded room. Additionally, his telling of experience and being supportive of Multnomah County’s two primary community care provider nonprofits, Home Forward and A Home for Everyone, seemed to fall flat. It was clear that most in the room knew of their shortcomings and the fact that Portland is on its’ fourth, ten-year plan to end houselessness. The elephants in the room included the lack of any mention or question regarding the Portland Business Alliance’s latest anti-Multnomah County/Mayor Hales campaign, PDX CAN DO BETTER. Nor was there any questions regarding the highly dysfunctional relationship between the PBA, city, and county and their quid pro quo of resource, and monies finger pointing. Portland’s next mayor will only be successful if they are willing to do what is at the heart of our problem and barrier break. They must also be able to mend broken, dysfunctional, and co-dependent relationships between all of those within the county that can make true and real progress towards, at a minimum, the reduction of our county’s most fragile residents. Additionally, the next mayor cannot only be worried about one thing, winning reelection. And most of all, they must not be afraid to piss off a large number of people that have roofs over their heads. Remember, we all need each other. Jeff Woodward, February 2016