Local Issues (City & Counties)
May 20, 2008 Primary Candidates Respond to Arts & Culture Questionnaire
The following candidates are running for Mayor & Commissioner for the City of Portland. Those with links responded to the RACC and Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts (NW/BCA) questionnaire on the arts sent out March 13. Responses were first posted on April 1st. Most candidates submitted their responses before that date, unless otherwise noted. The responses have been reproduced exactly as they were sent to us, and not edited in any way. The question is placed before each response. Those with no link have not yet responded.
WINNER - Refers to the winner of the May Primary on 5/20. They will take office January 2009.
NOV RUN-0ff - Two finalists selected in November 2008 election.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY
County Commissioner #1
Deborah Kafoury WINNER
Wes Soderback
Mark Newey
County Commissioner #3
Rob Milesnick
Judy Shiprack NOV RUN-0ff
Mike Delman NOV RUN-0ff
Roy Burkett
Bruce Barclay
Ron McCarty
County Commissioner #4
Carla Piluso NOV RUN-0ff
Diane Mckeel NOV RUN-0ff
Ken Quinby
John Winters
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County Commissioner #1
Deborah Kafoury WINNER
[Editor’s note: These answers were submitted to RACC on 3/31]
1) Arts and culture activities add measurable value to our region and quality of life, but the Portland metropolitan area lags behind the national average in public funding of the arts per capita. How much public funding do you believe is appropriate for arts and culture in the region, and what steps will you take to ensure increased public investment in Multnomah County.
I support RACC’s proposal for public funding at a level of $15 million per year. To reach that level of funding, I would support a dedicated funding source and will work with RACC and other interested parties to explore the possibility of such an initiative.
I strongly believe in the importance of art and culture in our community. As Commissioner Rojo de Steffey, the current County liaison to RACC is retiring this year, I will request to be appointed in her position.
2) A coalition of arts organizations, school districts, governments and private funders are working together to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the region’s school districts. If elected, what resources could you bring to this “Arts Partners” collaboration?
I am excited about the possibility of bringing arts and cultural education to every K-8 student in our region. My son attends Duniway Elementary School which has an award winning parent-led art program. I have been a volunteer with this program and would share our school’s experience with others.
3) In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture – as a private citizen, as a public or private employee, and/or as an elected official?
Arts and culture play a strong role in my life. My grandmother was an artist and she encouraged my interest in drawing and painting at an early age. In my adult life, I have had many opportunities to support arts and culture:
a. As a State Representative from North/Northeast Portland (1999-2004), I was a strong supporter of the legislation that created the Oregon Cultural Trust.
b. As a parent, I have been active in my son’s elementary school award winning parent-led art program. (Duniway Elementary School)
c. As a private citizen, I have had the privilege to take advantage of the many activities our great city has to offer.
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County Commissioner #3
Rob Milesnick
[Editor’s note: These answers were submitted to RACC on 3/31]
(1) Arts and culture activities add measurable value to our region and quality of life, but the Portland metropolitan area lags behind the national average in public funding of the arts per capita. How much public funding do you believe is appropriate for arts and culture in the region, and what steps will you take to ensure increased public investment in Multnomah County.
Currently, the majority of public funding for the arts comes from the City of Portland. As a County Commissioner I would like to take steps to change that. I believe that there is room for across-the-board increases in funding for the arts, and since I am most familiar with Multnomah County, I will address funding in that realm. In 1998-99, the Regional Arts and Culture Council was allocated over $600,000 in the Multnomah County budget. By combining donations from private supporters and other local governments, the RACC can maximize the reach of Multnomah County’s investment. Realizing that we are currently facing a budget crisis, I feel that by using priority-based budgeting to focus on program results, rather than line-item cuts, we can at least double the current funding provided to $376,000, opening the door to incremental increases from year-to-year until we reach and surpass the funding level of a decade ago. Further, I would encourage the incorporation of “arts and culture” elements into the budgets of other county departments.
The City of Portland has taken a lead in providing funding for the arts, and Multnomah County is lagging behind. I would propose that Multnomah County increase the “Percent for Art” ordinance from 1% (established in 1980) to 2%, to match the City of Portland’s requirement.
One of the primary ways in which we can encourage the development of the arts in Multnomah County is through our children. The County has the most influence in the SUN Community School Program. I would propose focusing on the SUN programs to find ways in which community art can be more fully incorporated into these after school curriculums. The now-famous Rock and Roll Camp for Girls, has been highly successful in motivating and inspiring young musicians by introducing them to the “real thing”, and I believe that local artists and musicians can be brought into SUN School Programs to conduct similar workshops and classes.
Beyond our schools, and public buildings, I believe that we can foster the development of local businesses that provide incentives for the establishment of jobs in the creative sector. This will improve economic viability for artists moving into our area. One way in which we can do this is by increasing live-work space and the development of mixed-use buildings, thereby creating an environment that is more supportive of the needs of the artistic community.
(2) A coalition of arts organizations, school districts, governments and private funders are working together to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the region’s school districts. If elected, what resources could you bring to this “Arts Partners” collaboration?
One of the platforms of my campaign is to make Multnomah County a healthier county, and, essential to that goal, is the strong and vibrant presence of art and music in our community. Participation in the arts has been proven to increase the educational success and contribute to the overall well-being of our children. Art installments and programs encourage and highlight the multiculturalism and diversity of our neighborhoods. These actions and programs bring people together, rather than divide them.
As I stated above, I believe one of the most effective ways the County can integrate arts and culture into an education curriculum is through the SUN Schools program. Bringing local artists, musicians, designers (the possibilities are endless) into SUN Schools as volunteers and program leaders would be invaluable. As County Commissioner, I will ask for support and involvement directly from members of the diverse and numerous artistic community of Portland.
(3) In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture – as a private citizen, as a public or private employee, and/or as an elected official?
I believe the benefits of the incorporation of the arts into a complete and holistic education model is indisputable.
For me, art, culture, and music have been three of most defining and vital aspects of who I am as a person, and I have benefited immensely from publicly funded art and performance programs.
In grade school I participated in the Gifted and Talented art programs of Boise, Idaho, I have been a “card carrying” member of the International Thespian Society (for drama and performance art) for 15 years, played the Tenor Saxophone in grade school, and I have played the acoustic guitar for the past 10 years. These art programs later helped me in math and science classes, and I believe that my decision to attend law school probably started early in life while learning to memorize lines for school plays and musicals!
We need a sincere and real commitment at the County level to fund and promote art, music, and culture. It is a commitment that I am looking forward to fulfilling with action.
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Mike Delman
[Editor’s note: These answers were submitted to RACC on 3/26]
1. Arts and culture activities add measurable value to our region and quality of life, but the Portland metropolitan area lags behind the national average in public funding of the arts per capita. How much public funding do you believe is appropriate for arts and culture in the region, and what steps will you take to ensure increased public investment in Multnomah County.
I’ve reviewed the RACC’s budget request for FY 2009, and I would gladly support it if I currently served as a Multnomah County Commissioner. I would like to see more arts and culture funding in all government budgets in the region, but when Multnomah County is facing an $18 million budget shortfall, it may be difficult to argue that arts funding is more important than funding for public health or safety. However, if I’m elected, I will do everything I can to at least maintain the current left of funding for arts and culture programs in the Multnomah County budget. And when the county faces a brighter funding picture, I’ll do my best to ensure that budgets for arts and culture programs are among the first budgets restored, since they’ve traditionally been among the first budgets cut in lean years. If Multnomah County cannot restore RACC’s funding to the level it was ten years ago, I’d at least like to see funding restored to half that – somewhere around $300,000 per year. Additionally, I would support Multnomah County match its employees Work for Art program contributions.
2. A coalition of arts organizations, school districts, governments and private funders are working together to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the region’s school districts. If elected, what resources could you bring to this “Arts Partners” collaboration?
I would bring a proven ability to accomplish major projects and efforts. For example, when I previously worked for Multnomah County, I managed the public-private partnerships that allowed McMenamins to purchase and renovate the Kennedy School property, and I helped found both the Portland Area HIV Planning Council and the Auto Theft Task Force. I would also bring strong connections to various stakeholders in county government based on my endorsements from key organizations and individuals (please see my website for a complete list). In short, I have demonstrated experience in the mechanics of county government, I know the political players, and I have proven that I can bring people together to accomplish real work. I would also work with our regional government partners in Clackamas, Washington and Clark counties to work collaboratively on arts funding through the private sector and foundations, especially with the many organizations in Multnomah County who are providing arts education to children in adjacent counties.
3. In what specific ways have you supported arts and culture - as a private citizen, as a public or private employee, and/or as an elected official?
My wife, Lori, and I have been avid fans of (and sometimes financial contributors to) local theatre organizations since 1985, including Artists Repertory Theatre, Interstate Firehouse Theatre and Oregon Childrens Theatre. We also regularly take our daughters to the Jefferson Dancers and our parents to Chamber Music Northwest. However, much of my support has been within public schools. I’ve been a strong supporter of arts programs in schools as a previous member of the Fernwood site council and the Parent-Teacher Association of my daughters schools.
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County Commissioner #4
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RACC Staff to Contact
Mary Bauer
Communications Associate
503.823.5426
mbauer@racc.org
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