Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler faces 18 challengers in the May 19 primary to retain his seat for a second four-year term.

If he secures a majority of votes, Wheeler will be the city’s first mayor since Vera Katz to earn a second consecutive term in office. His challengers include urban policy consultant Sarah Iannarone, TriMet board member Ozzie González and community organizer Teressa Raiford. The top two finishers will return to the ballot in November if none receives more than half of the votes.

Portland voters elected Wheeler, a former state treasurer and Multnomah County commissioner, to office in 2016. Wheeler has pledged to bring stability to Portland and to City Hall if elected to a second term, as the city recovers from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and continues to address the homelessness crisis. He also is pressing to change the City Council’s current at-large representative system as part of a charter review process that will begin next year.

Many other candidates also support the structural changes advocated by Wheeler. But several of the challengers seeking to unseat Wheeler say he hasn’t done enough to address homelessness during his first term.

Iannarone is the only candidate in the race who qualified for the city’s public campaign finance program, which matches donor contributions with city funds. Candidates who use the program cannot accept individual donations greater than $250. She also competed in the 2016 mayor’s race, placing third in the primary while Wheeler placed first and secured the mayor’s seat outright.

Fellow 2020 mayoral candidates Bruce Broussard and Lew Humble were also on the ballot in 2016. Broussard placed fourth and Humble finished 12th.

Iannarone’s political fundraising has outpaced all other candidates in the race. Iannarone reported raising $194,000 in 2019 and has so far raised another $105,000 in 2020.

Wheeler reported raising $73,000 in 2019 and $158,000 so far in 2020.

Wheeler, Iannarone and González have secured high-profile endorsements, including all three being endorsed by Oregon Smart Growth and Basic Rights Oregon.

The incumbent is backed by fellow Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty, Metro President Lynn Peterson and several labor groups, among other entities.

Iannarone’s supporters include several grassroots organizations and statewide groups, such as Sunrise Movement PDX.

González, who has reported raising $92,000, is also backed by supporters that include the LatinoBuilt trade association.

The winner’s term will begin in January and conclude in 2024.

Although 19 candidates will appear on the ballot, some have already dropped out of the race, including Nike executive Piper Crowell and climate activist Michael Burleson.

Eight of the 19 candidates submitted completed questionnaire forms to The Oregonian/OregonLive by the deadline. Questions asked, short biographic information about them and links to their answers on key questions are below. Surveys were also sent to candidates running for Position 1, Position 2 and Position 4.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reached out to candidates to get their thoughts on how they plan to address some of the top issues facing Portland such as coronavirus, homelessness and housing as well as why voters should give them their support.

Click each question to read the candidates’ responses. Some have been edited for length and clarity.

Questions:

-Why should Portlanders vote for you?

-If elected, what two changes in city policies do you plan to advocate for within your first 90 days in office?

-If the coronavirus pandemic ended today, what do you believe are two things that should be included in Portland’s long-term recovery plan?

-Name two inequities in the city that most concern you. How do you intend to address them if elected?

-What experiences would you bring to the job that will make you adept at managing the vast portfolio of city bureaus overseen by the mayor’s office?

-Would you support Portlanders voting to change the city’s form of government if it once again went to the ballot during your term?

-Is there anything significant the City of Portland isn’t currently doing to address housing and homelessness?

-Do you feel Portlanders are more divided now than in past years?

Candidates (in alphabetical order):

Cash Carter

Residence: Downtown

Occupation: Executive director, University of Change nonprofit; warehouse associate, Amazon

Occupational background: Former chef, Portland Timbers and Thorns; stand-up comedian; screenwriter; music producer and engineer.

Age: 39

Ozzie González

Residence: Homestead

Occupation: Sustainability and diversity consultant

Occupational background: Regional director of diversity and inclusion, Howard S. Wright; Global director of sustainability services, CH2M Hill; architectural project manager, RSA Architects; director of Sustainability Research Institute, Humboldt State University; park ranger naturalist, National Park Service.

Prior governmental experience: District 2 board of directors representative, TriMet; member, Oregon Department of Education career and technical education committee; renovation project diversity program director, City of Portland; member, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Task Force.

Age: 42

Sarah Iannarone

Residence: Mt. Scott-Arleta

Occupation: Teacher, urban policy and best practices consultant.

Occupational background: Small business owner; restaurant worker.

Prior governmental experience: Member, Portland Development Commission 2016-2020 Strategic Planning Committee; member, City of Portland Comprehensive Plan, Mixed Use Zones Project Advisory Committee; member, Portland Bureau of Transportation Bureau and Budget Advisory Committee; land use and transportation chair, Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association; member, City of Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Age: 47

Michael O’Callaghan

Residence: Sunnyside

Occupation: Self employed

Prior governmental experience: Advocated for environmental causes and organized free food program, among other experience.

Age: 76

Teressa Raiford

Residence: Alphabet District

Occupation: Business owner, community organizer

Occupational background: Banker and educator, among other experience.

Prior governmental experience: Founder, Don’t Shoot Portland; precinct committee person; candidate, Portland City Council Position 1; candidate, Multnomah County Commission; member, steering committee of community based organizations founded by Barbara Willer (Black Women For Peace); business and economic chair, Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs; co-chair, Ceasefire Oregon Books Not Bullets; member, Multnomah County Health Department STRYVE program steering committee.

Age: 49

Randy Rapaport

Residence: Division/Clinton

Occupation: Developer of multifamily housing, interior designer, artist and vintage tube amplifier technician

Age: 59

Ted Wheeler (incumbent)

Residence: Pearl District

Occupation: Mayor, Portland

Occupational background: Treasurer, state of Oregon; chair, Multnomah County Commission.

Prior governmental experience: Listed above.

Age: 57

Mark White

Residence: Powellhurst-Gilbert

Occupation: Semi-retired property manager

Occupational background: International account manager, Seagate Technology; senior program manager, McCarthy Medical Marketing; Owner and operator, South of Holgate food cart.

Prior governmental experience: President, Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association; co-chair, 2011 Charter Review Commission; member, Portland/Multnomah Food Policy Council.

Age: 60

Note: Candidates Willie Banks, Jarred Bepristis, Bruce Broussard, Michael Burleson, Piper Crowell, Daniel Hoffman, Lew Humble, Michael Jenkins, Sharon Joy, Floyd La Bar and Beryl McNair did not respond to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s request to complete a candidate questionnaire by the deadline.

The Multnomah County Voter’s Pamphlet offers more information about candidates.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

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