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Fishing for Votes
Nick Fish Prepares for "Quick Sprint" Council Race
BY AMY J. RUIZ
Portland Mercury
February 13, 2008
Original Story
After his last run for city council—versus Sam Adams, in 2004—Nick Fish was exhausted and drained. "I was worn out from that experience," he says, sitting in his law firm's conference room overlooking Pioneer Courthouse Square. When Adams' seat opened up last fall—thanks to Adams' bid for mayor—Fish decided to sit this one out.
He had enough on his plate: family obligations, a busy labor law practice, and hosting duties for his Outlook Portland public affairs cable show.
But when a second open seat popped up last month, after Commissioner Erik Sten announced his resignation, Fish gave it some thought. "Maybe this is opportunity knocking," he considered. Buoyed by his wife's encouragement—she asked him if he'd regret sitting out a short special election campaign, he says—Fish jumped in, eager to win the seat and "carry on the housing legacy" left by Sten.
With the primary election a little over 90 days away, Fish is "trying to pull a campaign together," he says. "How do you go from zero to 60 with no warning?" His most formidable opponent to date is Sten's chief of staff, Jim Middaugh, who's expected to officially qualify for $150,000 in public campaign funds later this week. By comparison, Fish had raised $2,850 as of February 12, according to state elections records. "I need to raise $150,000," he acknowledges, and says he'll put a soft cap on that amount.
He's picked up endorsements from former Governor Barbara Roberts, Metro President David Bragdon, Gretchen Kafoury, among others, including several people who backed Adams when Fish ran against him, like Vera Katz, Terry Bean, and Bonnie McKnight. Fish says he's "building a coalition that can carry us through May" (though he'd like to win the seat in the primary after a "quick sprint").
In this short run, Fish is focusing on a theme of equity. "Too many people do not enjoy the benefits of living in our livable city," he says, outlining disparities in neighborhoods, schools, and transportation choices. In some parts of Portland, "the schools aren't great, roads aren't being well maintained, there's no MAX stop, and they're dealing with the challenge of crack houses."
During Fish's time as vice chair of the Housing Authority of Portland, he was part of the team "that conceived and developed New Columbia," and he was a community advocate for "supportive housing" in New York City. Fish says his years of work in affordable housing "have prepared me to be the person who helps continue the momentum of the last 18 years," referring to Sten and his predecessor's work.
Fish wants to close the minority homeownership gap, challenge Portland's private sector to "to do more to support our local plan" to end homelessness, create a countywide housing authority, and explore statewide funding solutions for affordable housing.
"What I'm really good at is helping people without power achieve some measure of justice," Fish says. Now, he wants to carry that baton into city hall.
BY AMY J. RUIZ
Portland Mercury
February 13, 2008
Original Story
After his last run for city council—versus Sam Adams, in 2004—Nick Fish was exhausted and drained. "I was worn out from that experience," he says, sitting in his law firm's conference room overlooking Pioneer Courthouse Square. When Adams' seat opened up last fall—thanks to Adams' bid for mayor—Fish decided to sit this one out.
He had enough on his plate: family obligations, a busy labor law practice, and hosting duties for his Outlook Portland public affairs cable show.
But when a second open seat popped up last month, after Commissioner Erik Sten announced his resignation, Fish gave it some thought. "Maybe this is opportunity knocking," he considered. Buoyed by his wife's encouragement—she asked him if he'd regret sitting out a short special election campaign, he says—Fish jumped in, eager to win the seat and "carry on the housing legacy" left by Sten.
With the primary election a little over 90 days away, Fish is "trying to pull a campaign together," he says. "How do you go from zero to 60 with no warning?" His most formidable opponent to date is Sten's chief of staff, Jim Middaugh, who's expected to officially qualify for $150,000 in public campaign funds later this week. By comparison, Fish had raised $2,850 as of February 12, according to state elections records. "I need to raise $150,000," he acknowledges, and says he'll put a soft cap on that amount.
He's picked up endorsements from former Governor Barbara Roberts, Metro President David Bragdon, Gretchen Kafoury, among others, including several people who backed Adams when Fish ran against him, like Vera Katz, Terry Bean, and Bonnie McKnight. Fish says he's "building a coalition that can carry us through May" (though he'd like to win the seat in the primary after a "quick sprint").
In this short run, Fish is focusing on a theme of equity. "Too many people do not enjoy the benefits of living in our livable city," he says, outlining disparities in neighborhoods, schools, and transportation choices. In some parts of Portland, "the schools aren't great, roads aren't being well maintained, there's no MAX stop, and they're dealing with the challenge of crack houses."
During Fish's time as vice chair of the Housing Authority of Portland, he was part of the team "that conceived and developed New Columbia," and he was a community advocate for "supportive housing" in New York City. Fish says his years of work in affordable housing "have prepared me to be the person who helps continue the momentum of the last 18 years," referring to Sten and his predecessor's work.
Fish wants to close the minority homeownership gap, challenge Portland's private sector to "to do more to support our local plan" to end homelessness, create a countywide housing authority, and explore statewide funding solutions for affordable housing.
"What I'm really good at is helping people without power achieve some measure of justice," Fish says. Now, he wants to carry that baton into city hall.