Written by Board Member Laura Angyus with the help of Board President Becky Burnett and Past-President Dabney Tompkins
On Thursday, September 12th, Portland residents gathered in St. Johns to attend the Host2Host City Council Candidate Forum. As Portland prepares to expand its city council this fall, attendees had a valuable opportunity to hear directly from 10 different candidates representing various districts. These are the leaders who will shape the future of our community and influence short-term rental policies.
After a brief introduction of the organization, Host2Host President Becky Burnett turned the microphone over to Diana Nunez, COO of HaciendaCDC, a Portland Latino-led community development corporation with a focus on affordable housing and economic advancement. Host2Host was proud to contribute a donation to support the important work their organization is doing in our community.
After hearing from Hacienda, Becky introduced Past-President Dabney Tompkins who moderated the rest of the evening. Candidates in attendance that evening included those from Districts 2, 3, and 4 including:
District 2
District 3
District 4
Each candidate was given three minutes to speak, and the audience was captivated as they shared their agendas. A lively discussion followed during the Q&A session, where key issues such as permitting challenges, taxes, ADU restrictions, and the city’s broader housing concerns were addressed. We even heard from several hosts who relied upon the supplemental income they receive from hosting a room in their home to be able to continue to afford living there which made a powerful impact.
Many candidates expressed their gratitude for the chance to engage directly with the hosting community, allowing them to better understand the concerns and needs of this group and to hear directly from one another in a friendly, welcoming and non-confrontational environment. The event left many feeling hopeful about Portland’s new organizational structure post-election. Seeing a team of passionate leaders united in addressing various issues was truly inspiring.
A big thank you to La Paloma for the space to meet, Descansa Property Management for ensuring a smooth process, La Tienda Santa Cruz for the delicious food, Ruby Jewel for the ice cream, and to our sponsors for their financial support throughout the year, all of which contributed to a successful event.
