Proponents of a new ballot initiative want to dramatically reshape local government to guarantee a voice inside City Hall for east Portland residents.

Three east Portland neighbors have proposed ending the city's unique commission form of government, hoping to ensure that elected officials live closer to the residents they represent.

But their endeavor -- called the Portland Community Equality Act -- is an uphill battle. Portland voters have rejected eight proposals to change the city's form of government, most recently in 2002 and 2007.

And the proposal overwhelmingly rejected by voters in 2002 is all but identical to the new version being promoted today. Fully 76 percent of voters panned the previous effort.

The city auditor's office is expected to rule on the proposal by Wednesday. Opponents would have until May 15 to challenge the wording and refer the initiative to a Multnomah County judge for review.

After that, supporters would need to collect 31,345 valid signatures from voters to qualify for the November 2016 ballot.

The proposal comes from Collene Swenson, Elzy P. Edwards and Heather L. Sirr, who live in east Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood. Swenson and Edwards previously co-sponsored a legally flawed plan that would have allowed east Portland to secede from the rest of the city.

Swenson said the new proposal would ensure Portland politicians are "beholden and accountable to the neighborhoods they represent."

"We'll get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot," she said. "I guarantee it."

Their new proposal would scrap Portland's 102-year-old commission form of government.

Broken Promises

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Portland is the only big city in America that embraces the commission construct: a mayor and four commissioners - each elected through citywide elections - serve as legislators and administrators.

Similarly, only Portland and Columbus, Ohio, elect politicians exclusively through at-large elections. Every other big city offers - or will offer - some form of district representation.

The proposal, filed April 22, would concentrate executive powers while ensuring district representation.

First, it would extend executive and administrative authority only to the mayor. City Council members would be responsible for legislation.

Second, the proposal would expand the City Council to nine positions. Of those, two members would be selected through citywide elections. Seven positions would be elected from seven distinct geographies with equal populations.

"All we want is for them to do what's right for the neighborhoods," she said. "They don't really do that right now."

Status-quo proponents have previously argued that Portland's decentralized power structure promotes better decision-making and has helped make the city a desirable place to live.

Last year, The Oregonian reported that Portland's commission form of government has concentrated power in central city neighborhoods. Over a century, 25 of 49 City Council members won election while living in a seven-square-mile corridor.

In the three decades since Portland annexed most of the neighborhoods east of 82nd Avenue, just one city commissioner has been elected from the area.

-- Brad Schmidt

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch