Compare how each candidate would combine public-safety spending, housing development and budget discipline, and which of the three would give way when they compete for the same dollars.
Draft; human review pending.
Key
Said
A campaign statement, in our summary or their words.
Voted
A recorded Council roll call.
— Not found
Not in the sources we reviewed. A research gap, not a position.
Wants road maintenance, public spaces and long-term planning prioritized.
Summaries are our one-line readings of what each candidate says. Issue lines are short forms of the positions in each brief, AI-drafted and awaiting human review; “—” means not found in the sources we reviewed.
Four votes that split this Council
No candidate in this race sits on Council today.
— Not foundNo featured votes are selected for this race yet.
Candidate briefs, A–Z
Council · Position 2 candidate · City of Gresham · November 3, 2026
Heather Coleman-Cox
Network engineer; school-board director and city advisory-committee leader.
Said: Heather Coleman-Cox has spent years serving Gresham listening to residents, bringing people together, and solving problems affecting Gresham families every day.
Pamphlet p. 42
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims. The tagline “EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. A STRONGER GRESHAM.” (no predicate) is skipped.
The verbatim opening of their voters’ pamphlet statement, the same rule for every candidate. We chose nothing.
What they say they would do
Our summary of their platform, in our words
Proposes public-safety investment, neighborhood redevelopment and more opportunities for local businesses.
Put vacant properties back into use and expand housing choices.
Invest in utilities and parks.
Support first responders and community approaches to safety.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Neighborhood revitalization
Safety with trust
She connects housing, infrastructure and safety investment to economic opportunity; delivering all four priorities means choosing among competing capital needs she has not ranked.
Said: Put vacant properties back to productive use, expand housing opportunities and plan responsibly for growth; her platform adds affordable-homeownership pathways, home repairs and weatherization, preserving existing affordable housing and preventing displacement.
How
Said: Build on programs the city’s Community Development and Housing Committee already runs: home-repair, accessibility and weatherization help, homeownership pathways and responsible development offering a range of housing choices.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Camps, crime and who responds
Police plus community
What
Said: Support firefighters, police officers and community-based approaches that make every neighborhood safer, with transparent reporting on public-safety funding and results.
How
Said: Neighborhood-based violence-prevention programs, expanded behavioral-health and crisis-response partnerships, and transparent reporting on how public-safety levy dollars are spent, drawing on her levy-subcommittee chairmanship.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Your bills and taxes
Accountable spending
What
Said: Protect taxpayer dollars by bringing accountability, transparency and sound decision-making to city government, and invest in utilities and parks.
How
Said: As chair of the Public Safety Levy Committee: quarterly meetings with city staff and police and fire leaders, public reports, and a check that each levy dollar matches the ballot language voters passed.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Streets, buses and air
Green responsible growth
What
Said: Growth should improve infrastructure, protect natural resources and promote environmentally responsible development.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 6 questions. Heather Coleman-Cox is on record on 6. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
On record
Keep the Police, Fire and Parks Fee at $15 a month, now that the council can change it by resolution?
Said: Supports keeping the Police, Fire and Parks Fee at $15 a month; if Council considers changing it, residents should get a say and see how it would affect bills and services.
Renew the $1.35 public-safety levy before it expires in 2029, and keep Gresham’s own fire department rather than join a district?
Said: Supports renewing the levy, and supports moving toward a fire district shared with Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale, saying shared responsibility would make funding more sustainable while keeping strong fire service.
Keep drawing reserves to cover a $10 million general-fund gap, or cut services or raise revenue?
Said: Would not keep using reserves for a gap that returns every year, nor jump to cutting services; wants staff to lay out the causes, savings and revenue options, then decide in public.
Stay on the new groundwater system and fix the taste and hardness complaints, with water rates rising 5% a year from 2028?
Said: Says the investment in moving from Bull Run to groundwater is too great to reverse and the switch looks logical on cost; wants residents to report sight, smell or taste problems, and says the switch needed louder notice.
Keep the camping ban with housing-focused outreach, and allow pod shelters only under the new permit code?
Said: Supports keeping parks and public spaces safe and available with continued outreach toward shelter and housing; open to pod shelters under the new permit code once operator, siting, neighbor impact and housing results are clear.
Go beyond the January 2026 rule-of-law resolution and declare an immigration-enforcement emergency, as residents asked?
Said: Was part of a community group that backed the rule-of-law resolution; open to an emergency declaration if it would give the City a practical way to better protect residents.
Said: I serve as VChair on the City of Gresham Community Development and Housing Committee. In this role we identify programs that support pathways to homeownership, rental assistance, home mending, adapting and DIY programs. [...] I would like to support bringing the vacant storefronts back to life with thriving new business or the expansion of existing business.
Received 2026-09-23
Camps, crime and who responds
Said: I strongly support equipping our first responders with all of the tools, resources and personnel they need to keep our city safe; in addition supporting community partners that work with law enforcement to identify what strategies work to decrease crime, and listen to the professionals combatting homelessness and understand what strategies they recommend to aid in housing our houseless residents.
Received 2026-09-23
Your bills and taxes
Said: As Chair of the City of Gresham Public Safety Levy Committee it is the task of this committee to hold the city accountable for the tax dollars they are collecting to fund this levy. This is accomplished through quarterly meetings with city staff and first responder leaders. We then take this information and report out to the public. We ensure each dollar spent is directly tied to the language of the levy that voters passed.
Received 2026-09-23
Streets, buses and air
Said: When I talk about sustainable growth, I mean bringing good jobs to Gresham while making sure our roads and other infrastructure can support that growth and our natural resources are protected.
Received 2026-09-23
Levy and fire district
Said: I wholeheartedly support renewing the levy and beginning to make the case transparent for residents right now as to why we need to continually fund the public safety levy.
Received 2026-09-23
Groundwater and rates
Said: The financial investment to move from Bull Run water to groundwater is much too great to retract. I encourage residents to sound the alarm if something is terribly off with their water (sight, smell, taste) so the city can remedy it. [...] The move to groundwater seems logical. Nonetheless, the notification of the switch should have come with a lot more noise and information.
Received 2026-09-23
Public-safety fee
Said: I support keeping the Police, Fire and Parks Fee at $15 a month. Residents deserve to know what they are paying for and how this fee works alongside the fire and police levy. If Council considers changing the amount, I believe residents should have a chance to weigh in.
Received 2026-09-23
General-fund gap
Said: I would not continue using reserves to cover a gap that comes back every year. That money will run out, and we still need it for unexpected needs. I also would not jump to cutting services residents rely on. I would want staff to walk us through what is causing the gap, where we can save money, and what other revenue options would mean for residents. Then Council needs to make those decisions in public and explain them clearly.
Received 2026-09-23
Camping and shelters
Said: I support keeping our parks and public spaces safe and available for all residents. I also understand the need to keep reaching out to people experiencing homelessness and help connect them with shelter and a path to stable housing. I am open to pod shelters under the new permit process, but I would want to know who would run them, where they would go, how they would affect nearby residents, and whether they would help people move into housing.
Received 2026-09-23
Keep Gresham’s own fire department, or join a district?
Said: I have met with Gresham Fire, who is currently outsourced to Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale. I also met with the Mayor of Wood Village, Jairo Rios-Campos; I support moving toward a fire district. A committee is already formed with this endeavor in mind. I believe sharing the responsibilities across the communities being served will produce more sustainable funding while maintaining strong fire and emergency services.
Received 2026-09-23
Immigration enforcement
Said: I am a part of one of the community groups that supported the mayor and city council to produce the rule of law resolution. I support our local police focusing on keeping our city safe. I am open to an emergency declaration if it would give the City a practical way to better protect our residents.
Received 2026-09-23
A question the evidence leaves open
Which vacant-property or infrastructure initiative would you prioritize and fund first?
Sources (3)
Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 42Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
Coleman-Cox · campaign homeCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
Coleman-Cox · campaign prioritiesCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
Council · Position 2 candidate · City of Gresham · November 3, 2026
Will DelPlato
Retired nurse, healthcare leader and Army veteran.
Said: I have spent my life serving others. As a U.S. Army veteran, registered nurse, and hospital leader, I’ve learned that leadership is about listening, solving problems, and putting people first.
Pamphlet p. 42
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims. The first sentence is under 12 words, so two are shown.
The verbatim opening of their voters’ pamphlet statement, the same rule for every candidate. We chose nothing.
What they say they would do
Our summary of their platform, in our words
Proposes early spending adjustments and more efficient permitting, alongside support for first responders.
Review programs for efficiency and accountability.
Streamline permitting for businesses.
Prioritize affordability, safety and economic growth.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Early budget fixes
Streamlined permitting
His premise is that small, early budget changes prevent painful cuts later; the statement does not quantify those changes or name the programs it would review.
Said: Promote smart development and efficient city management to help keep housing and daily living more affordable.
How
Said: Streamline permitting, add a business liaison to guide applicants, and adopt a pre-approved home design program modeled on Bend’s, which he says saves $5,000–$10,000 or more in design costs.
Measured by
Said: Shorter permit timelines and lower fees than neighboring cities.
Camps, crime and who responds
Police plus prevention
What
Said: Support the police and first responders, strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and neighborhoods, and invest in prevention programs to keep families safe.
How
Said: Protect police and fire as core services with the tools they need; no Portland-style permissive camping policies.
Measured by
Said: Faster response times.
Your bills and taxes
Small cuts early
What
Said: Gresham’s budget shortfall is growing; act now with small, early changes rather than waiting for painful ones, review city spending for efficiencies, hold programs accountable, and streamline permitting so red tape does not deter entrepreneurs.
How
Said: Review purchasing, contracts and technology for savings before new taxes or fees, review each major program’s cost against its results on a schedule, and pay ongoing costs with ongoing money.
Measured by
Said: A smaller structural gap in each adopted budget; he puts this year’s at about $12 million, growing to $30.8 million by 2031.
Streets, buses and air
Maintain roads
What
Said: Focus on road maintenance, public spaces and long-term planning to ensure safe and sustainable neighborhoods.
How
Said: Extend Gresham’s five-year Capital Improvement Program to a 10- to 20-year horizon so road and pipe replacement is budgeted before it becomes an emergency.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 6 questions. Will DelPlato is on record on 4, with 2 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could find
Keep the Police, Fire and Parks Fee at $15 a month, now that the council can change it by resolution?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Renew the $1.35 public-safety levy before it expires in 2029, and keep Gresham’s own fire department rather than join a district?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
On record
Keep drawing reserves to cover a $10 million general-fund gap, or cut services or raise revenue?
Said: Says the budget shortfall is growing and the city should “act now with small, early changes rather than waiting until we’re forced into painful ones,” reviewing spending for efficiencies rather than relying on reserves.
Stay on the new groundwater system and fix the taste and hardness complaints, with water rates rising 5% a year from 2028?
Said: Would keep the groundwater system, saying there is no viable alternative and costs will be better controlled than buying Portland’s water; wants honest answers on taste, odor and hardness, promotion of free testing and a responsive fix.
Keep the camping ban with housing-focused outreach, and allow pod shelters only under the new permit code?
Said: Does not support Portland-style permissive camping policies; he does not address outreach or the pod-shelter permit code.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Go beyond the January 2026 rule-of-law resolution and declare an immigration-enforcement emergency, as residents asked?
Said: Says he is keeping his focus local, on Gresham’s budget, safety and services; he does not say whether to declare an immigration-enforcement emergency.
Said: Gresham has some of the slowest permit approvals and highest permit fees in the area. I would streamline permitting, create a business liaison to help applicants through city red tape, and adopt a pre-approved home design program modeled on Bend’s, which saves homeowners $5,000–$10,000+ in design costs. Success: shorter permit timelines and lower fees than neighboring cities.
Received 2026-09-24
Camps, crime and who responds
Said: Police and Fire are core services I will protect, while making sure they have the tools and resources to do the job without red tape. I do not support Portland-style permissive camping policies. Success: faster response times.
Received 2026-09-24
Bills and taxes
Said: Gresham’s real structural shortfall is about $12 million this year, growing to $30.8 million by 2031. I would act early: review purchasing, contracts and technology for savings before adding new taxes or fees; review each major program’s cost against its results on a regular schedule; and match ongoing costs with ongoing money rather than one-time funds. Success: a shrinking structural gap in each adopted budget.
Received 2026-09-24
Streets, buses and air
Said: I would extend Gresham’s five-year Capital Improvement Program to a 10- to 20-year horizon, so we budget for road and pipe replacement before it becomes an emergency.
Received 2026-09-24
Groundwater and rates
Said: Keep the current groundwater system. There is no viable alternative today, and costs will be better controlled than buying Portland’s water, which is expected to become much higher than current prices. Residents also deserve honest answers and accountability on taste, odor and hardness concerns, and I support promoting the city’s free water testing and pushing for a responsive fix.
Received 2026-09-24
Public-safety fee
Said: Still reviewing.
Received 2026-09-24
Immigration enforcement
Said: I’m keeping my focus local, on Gresham’s budget, safety and services.
Received 2026-09-24
A question the evidence leaves open
What specific budget changes would you propose in your first year?
Sources (2)
Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 42Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
DelPlato · campaign home and issuesCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
