While proposals from two commissioners to alter the new form of government approved by voters last year were premature, Portlanders should recognize that building a better government may take adjustments and revisions to the original ballot measure, the editorial board writes.

Portland City Council members will consider next week whether to place three separate measures on a November ballot. Each of the proposals, discussed Tuesday at a work session, would alter voter-approved changes to the city’s form of government.

A draft proposal by the five-person salary commission proposes a pay hike for officials elected to Portland’s new form of government in 2025, which will expand the size of City Council from four to 12 members.

Portland leaders will consider updating the city’s publicly-funded campaign finance program Wednesday in preparation for an unprecedented 2024 election.

“I just want to hear if we think we have enough money to cover what’s coming up.”

Portland needs to make both short-term and long-term changes to the Small Donor Elections Program to ensure it remains free of political interference, write Amy Sample Ward, Berk Nelson and Cristina Nieves, who serve on the Portland Elections Commission.

It’s been nearly five months since Portland voters approved substantial changes to the city’s government. With a long list of critical tasks to complete by next fall, it begs the question: Can they get it all accomplished in time? Here's what's happened so far.

They include provisions that would require the city to consider the environmental impact of all municipal decisions, allow Portland residents to decide how to spend millions of city dollars each year and potentially expand voting rights to noncitizens.

The Portland City Auditor on Wednesday reversed its October determination that Rene Gonzalez’s city council campaign violated campaign finance limits by accepting a subsidized $250 monthly rent for over 3,000 square feet of office space and two designated parking spots in downtown Portland owned by campaign supporter and real estate mogul Jordan Schnitzer.

The group gave more than $131,000 to the largest committee opposing the Measure 26-228 between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, constituting nearly 40% of the total $332,000 the committee raised.

Susan Mottet, director of Portland’s Small Donor Elections program, wrote in an Oct. 10 letter to Gonzalez that the city, under administrative rules, can withhold public funds in cases of “high outstanding penalty amounts” or “egregious violations.”

A measure on the November ballot that would radically transform Portland city government would install a City Council structure unused by any city in the nation, make it harder to hold City Council members accountable and open the door for fringe candidates to win a seat, the editorial board writes. Voters should vote no on Measure 26-228 and look to an alternative from Commissioner Mingus Mapps next year.

A newly formed political committee will seek to raise and spend six figures to hammer Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and help her opponent Rene Gonzalez in next month’s election.

The boost in Gonzalez donors cuts into one of Hardesty's touted political strengths throughout much of the race.

The political campaign promoting a contested ballot measure to change Portland’s form of government and election system continues to draw big bucks from a small cluster of non-profit advocacy groups and wealthy backers.

The political campaign promoting a contested ballot measure to change Portland’s form of government and election system continues to draw big bucks from a small cluster of non-profit advocacy groups and wealthy backers.

“Sadly, City Club’s partisan email demonstrates that ideological advocacy has become more important than a debate on the merits."

Nearly two-thirds of likely Portland voters say they’ll back a contested ballot measure this fall to radically reshape the city’s form of government and election system, according to a new poll commissioned by the metro area’s most influential business organization and several industry groups.

Since May, Gonzalez’s campaign has paid a mere $250 a month to rent more than 3,000 square feet in a Southwest 11th Avenue office building owned by Jordan Schnitzer, a real estate mogul and philanthropist who also donated the most money allowed by law, $250, to the candidate, according to city elections officials and campaign finance reports.

Amid deepening dissatisfaction with how Portland runs, or too often fails to, a proposed measure to transform city government is among the most consequential to appear on ballots in recent memory.