After nearly twenty years' active involvement in City of Portland issues, including seven years' service on the Portland Planning Commission, Amanda has the most in-depth knowledge and experience on multiple issues of concern to Portlanders, of the candidates for Position # 1.

The Oregonian's endorsement says:

"She has done her homework, immersed herself in service to the city, and would watchdog the city's dollars.... in this intriguing race, one candidate stands out as the strongest, most polished and most prepared to be a city commissioner -- especially of a city heading into a recession. That candidate is Amanda Fritz, 49, a psychiatric nurse, former planning commissioner, neighborhood activist and longtime schools volunteer."

Amanda Fritz believes Portland must:

1. Fund Basic Services First, in all 95 neighborhoods, and spend taxpayers' money wisely

Amanda believes we should pay for the things we need, before we start shopping for things that might be nice but aren't essential. Portland should prioritize our $3 billion budget to fund:

* Public Safety

Ensuring safe neighborhoods throughout the city will be Amanda's first priority. She will vote to fund community policing, training and support for citizens and staff, and effective programs with proven results.

* Streets and sidewalks

Every street in every neighborhood should be well-maintained and pleasant. Portland has too many gravel roads. Kids can't even walk to school safely. Amanda will vote to fund sidewalks before streetcars. She will find money in the existing budget to pay for infrastucture maintenance and improvements, and will push the Council to develop a long-term plan to make sure basic needs are met everywhere in the city.

* Affordable housing

Homebuyers and renters, developers and landlords all need fair, predictable, cost-effective housing policies with clear protections for citizens that are implemented and enforced. See Tenants' Rights on this site's blog for details of Amanda's plan to help renters. Amanda served on the Portland Planning Commission for seven years and has the most experience on housing policies, regulations,and advocacy of any candidate for Position 1.

* Parks and Community Centers

Amanda will work to create new parks and maintain those we have. She believes every neighborhood deserves parks and greenspaces. Amanda has a record of achievement saving forests and streams from development. She was a driving force in the purchase and improvement of Portland's newest playspace, the Holly Farm Park, and will press the Council to provide recreational facilities in every parks-deficient neighborhood.

2. Improve the Local Economy - Protect and Create Good Jobs

Amanda Fritz has plans that support

* Living wage jobs with benefits

* Health care coverage for all

* Small businesses and their employees

* Construction and preservation of affordable housing

* Well-educated workers

* Excellent neighborhood schools

See details on Amanda's Ten Point Plan to improve our local economy. It's all about prioritizing the budget, and spending taxpayers' money wisely.

3. Support our Schools, our neighborhoods, and all Portlanders, with meaningful Community Involvement and Actions

Amanda Fritz has a record of effective public service, practical accomplishments, and citizen leadership in Portland over more than 20 years. Amanda works hard and helps Portlanders get things done.

* See this blog post for an outline of how Amanda will improve transparency and accountability in City Hall.

* See this one for details on how Amanda will improve your access to information and ways to share opinions. Citizen involvement should be a conversation with ongoing participation.

* See the Community Service page on this site for a summary of some of Amanda's most significant contributions to improving life in Portland for Portlanders, over the past 20 years.

If this sounds like a campaign on issues that you care about, please Volunteer to help Amanda win the election!

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Click here for a five minute YouTube video of my speech summarizing who I am and why I'm running, given at the Rose City Park Neighborhood Association candidates' forum on 3/25/08. Thank you, RCPNA!

Do you want more information, and the opportunity to compare candidates for the Portland City Commissioner # 1 seat? Watch the 95 minute Willamette Week endorsement interview, unedited, with all six of us.

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Do you want more details on Amanda's policy positions?

Answers to questions Portlanders ask:

On promoting more efficient, effective government and services, saving taxpayers' money:

How will Amanda help the City of Portland and Multnomah County work together more efficiently?

What does Amanda think about Urban Renewal Areas?

What is the first problem Amanda wants to start work on, in January 2009?

How will Amanda provide information to citizens, and take your input?

What about solving public safety problems?

How will Amanda make city government more transparent and accountable?

Which bureaus would Amanda like to lead?

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On supporting Portlanders:

How will Amanda support the local economy and provide more good jobs?

What is the Real Wealth of Portland, and our most pressing problem?

What is Amanda's position on promoting Creative Arts?

What will Amanda do to help end homelessness?

How will Amanda help renters?

What did Amanda do to help resolve the Old Town Chinatown Resource Access Center siting?

Basic rights?

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On transportation and energy policy:

How will Amanda help Improve Security on TriMet?

Did Amanda take a position on TriMet's proposal to end Fareless Square?

What did/does Amanda think of the transportation maintenance/infrastructure fee proposed by Sam Adams?

What is Amanda's plan to address oil dependency?

What about that $4.2b bridge on I-5 over the Columbia? Amanda was working on raising public awareness of it back in November, and asking the right questions for years before.

Does Amanda support bicycling? (Yes, we even delivered campaign yard signs via bicycle!)

What does Amanda see as the pros and cons of biofuels? Is there really a link between biofuels and beer prices?

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On supporting our schools:

Amanda's record on showing up for Schools?

How about her views on school choice and neighborhood schools/magnet programs, and K-8 reconfigurations?

What was Amanda's proposed amendment to support public schools, resulting in improvement of the adopted VisionPDX?

[This link isn't a position - it's information Amanda posted on her blog last year, showing Metro area property tax rates for schools, and explaining how public K-12 schools are funded. Folks often don't ask these questions but we should all know the answers anyway]

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On controversial issues:

Why did Amanda seek and win both the Democratic and Republican party endorsements in the primary?

Public Campaign Financing - success or failure?

What did Amanda think about the Interstate Avenue renaming debacle? And what is her position on street renamings in general?

Is Amanda concerned about displacement and gentrification?

What does Amanda see as positive and negative in the VisionPDX process and product?

Did Amanda ever have her photograph taken with Dennis Kucinich?

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What issues would you like to bring to Amanda? Email Amanda to give her information.