It's a standard campaign question, asking candidates to identify City of Portland departments we would like to head if elected. See my response on Mercury Blogtown today. The short version was submitted there. Here, I will expand on my response.

As with many questions asked during a political campaign, the real answer isn't simple. In practice, longer-term Council members tend to retain their favorite bureau assignments, so despite my interest, I don't expect to be able to use my expertise in land use, schools, and environmental issues to head Development Services, Planning, Sustainability, Transportation, Environmental Services, or Housing immediately after winning the election. I will work respectfully and collegially with all City staff, Bureau Directors, and the four men likely to be on the Council in 2009, advocating for citizens' concerns and priorities in all areas of the City's work.

Further pragmatic consideration of the Mercury's question indicates that the Mayor almost always keeps the Police Bureau (and Portland Development Commission) in his/her portfolio. So, reframing the question into "What bureau do you most want to lead, of the ones you might get?", I believe I will have the greatest impact for citizens by leading the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI), and integrating its work with that of the other bureaus.

I would love to lead the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. My passion to serve on the Portland City Council grew from my community activism, seeing both great accomplishments by volunteers, and miserable failures when Council members failed to understand and honor neighborhood dynamics. The Office of Neighborhood Involvement is a service bureau, that has not been adequately funded. As the Commissioner for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, I will make sure that resources are adequate and equitably distributed, proper process is followed, and all citizens are respected, informed, and heard.

My goal is to engage more residents in local government. This includes the young idealist, wise pragmatist, renter, homeowner, homeless person, business owner, empty nesters and newly-committed couples... even the curmudgeons and nay-sayers can provide useful insights. Bureaus under my guidance will actively listen to all citizens, deliberate with neighborhoods and other community groups to find workable solutions, and act on recommendations of independent experts and volunteer committees that the City has commissioned. ONI should help coordinate those actions.

* I propose a return to the Neighborhood Needs process, where citizens direct some of their tax money to the improvements they most want to see in their neighborhood.

* I will advocate for funding for outreach and inclusion, within the current community involvement structure.

City bureaus must work together more, and I believe Neighborhood Involvement and the Portland Police Bureau should be closer allies. Whether my wish to lead the Police Bureau (see Blogtown) is granted or not, my goal will be to improve trust and collaboration between citizens and public safety officers. As a member of the City Council, I will work to revitalize the movement toward community policing. In addition to the strategies outlined on Blogtown,

* There should be incentives for police officers to live in the neighborhood where they serve.

* I will encourage more walking and bike beats that allow officers to be part of the neighborhood.

Over seven years serving on the Portland Planning Commission, I listened carefully to many diverse and difficult problems, and helped people find useful, workable solutions. Understanding the perspective of both front-line workers and citizens, I will bring a new kind of leadership to any bureau I am assigned. I will lead every bureau that the Mayor places in my portfolio with the democratic principles of transparency, accountability, and increased public involvement.