Saturday September 13, I campaigned non-stop from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., all on the east side of the river. First, I helped with the kick-off for a Bus Project canvass celebrating women elected officials, in the company of State Representatives Diane Rosenbaum, Mary Nolan, and Jackie Dingfelder, who have all endorsed me. I was introduced to the crowd by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley. I live in her district, but I've never had a chance to talk with her before and greatly enjoyed meeting her.

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and Amanda at Bus Project kick-off event

Photograph by nice Bus Project volunteer using my camera phone

Too bad the wind on the Esplanade made my hair stick up. I get a lot of feedback on my hair from caring supporters. This is as good as it gets, folks. Like the rest of me, it isn't afraid to buck some traditional norms.

At the Bus Project canvass kick-off event, I spoke about the 56-day OHSU nurses strike in 2001-2. We (mostly women) university RNs stopped hospitals from laying off nurses and endangering patients' lives, and our strike gave Oregon nurses living wages. That strike was settled in part because of intervention by Governor Kitzhaber and the Legislature, illustrating why it is important for Oregonians to keep voting all the way down the ballot to State races ... and City Council.

From the riverfront, I hurried to the Green Dragon pub at SE 9th/Belmont for another Bus Project kick-off, this one for a Voter Registration drive. I talked about collecting $5 donations to qualify for Public Campaign Financing -- one donation at a time. We will win this election, one vote at a time. Have you told one new person about our campaign this week?

After the Bus Project events, I zoomed to the Foster Street Fair, meeting up with volunteers who staffed our campaign outreach there all day. Then, on to the Alberta Street Fair and parade, where many clapped and yelled, "Yay, Amanda!", and along one stretch of the route dozens of spectators burst into applause and cheers. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, folks.

Amanda in the Alberta Street parade

Photograph by Robert Wilson

My day in the community ended yesterday with a delightful walk knocking on doors in the Sullivan's Gulch neighborhood, with supporter David Galaty. Today, I'll be visiting the Lents, Arnold Creek, Healy Heights, and Northwest District Association neighborhoods.

Working on both winning the election and preparing to be in office is double the challenge, but it certainly makes for fascinating events over the course of a week. From Monday to Friday, just some of the engagements completed on my calendar:

* Business Owners and Managers Association
* Oregon Health Fund Board Community Forum
* Montavilla Neighborhood Association
* Portland Fire Fighters' Association membership meeting
* Belmont Area Business Association
* Historic Mississippi Avenue Business Association
* The Gathering, North Portland leaders, at Roosevelt High School
* Portland Area Business Association
* Meet-and-Greet at Reflections at MLK/Killingsworth
* Metro Policy Advisory Committee
* Kenton Neighborhood Association
* Portland Women's Crisis Line fundraiser
* Oregon Environmental Council 40th Anniversary celebration

On 9/11, I took off my campaign button, and attended just three events. I stopped by the Historic Belmont Fire Station at SE 35th and Belmont. I attended the Gateway Area Business Association's 9/11 tribute, hosting public safety officers at a lunch at 111th Square. Then I sat in on the City Council hearing for the Calcagno Measure 49 claim, a case I've followed since the zoning on the property was changed during the St. Johns Neighborhood Plan recommended by the Planning Commission in 2003. I wanted to see it through to the final decision. There are many issues currently being discussed in the community, for which I want to be a voting member of the Council when the final decisions are made. That's why I continue to work so hard, both to win the election and to be prepared in January.