Officials throw their support behind Sanders at rally

Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba and Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick endorsed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders Saturday during the campaigns downtown Portland rally.

Gamba and Novick were among more than a dozen officials and others who spoke at the Pioneer Courthouse Square rally before a crowd of several hundred people who waved signs and cheered.

Bernie Sanders is the first presidential candidate in my 56 years that has spoken truth regarding the widening disparity between the ultra wealthy and everyone else and the fact that they are no longer taxed accordingly, Gamba told the cheering crowd.

Novick said he has long been a fan of Bernie Sanders.

Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is one of three contenders for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Saturdays rally was part of the campaigns push just nine days before the Iowa caucuses, where Sanders leads his rival former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in polls.

Saturdays rally included speeches by state Rep. Rob Nosse, Novick, rally organizer Devan Anderson, Portland school teacher Greg Burrill, Latinos for Bernie activist Juan Rogel, retired Planned Parenthood worker Barbara Van Raalte, Gamba, Realtor Nick Krautter, animator and former Marine Kyle Rossi, Portland school teacher Aubrey Pagenstacher, Dont Shoot Portland organizer Teressa Raiford, Know Your City Executive Director Cameron Whitten, environmental activist Nick Caleb, universal health care advocate Dr. Paul Gorman and small-business owner Emma Easley Darden.

The rally was a prelude to a video speech by Sanders that was broadcast across the country to supporters.