Print edition · Portland City Council · November 3, 2026
Oregon City Commission
4 candidates · Two commission seats · follow the official ballot’s voting instructions · Research reviewed September 18, 2026 · Lines edition 2026-09-19.1
Official list checked. Candidates appear alphabetically by displayed name and receive the same structure. We do not endorse, rank or score.
Two seats. The candidates differ on urban renewal, business incentives, parks and how City Hall is run. Compare the mechanism and the funding behind each promise.
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.
Supports business growth and tourism, better services, disaster preparation and resource protection.
—not found in the sources we reviewed
Strengthens the city’s existing disaster-preparedness program.
Grows the tax base with business incentives; fills vacant buildings with taxpaying businesses.
Protects the city’s natural resources.
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
Commission candidate · City of Oregon City · November 3, 2026
Betty Mumm
Former city commissioner and small-business owner.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: As a resident of Oregon City for more than 45 years, I have watched our community grow and change.
Pamphlet p. 39
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Skipped the “Committed to Serving the Citizens of Oregon City” heading. Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims.
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
Emphasizes core services, cautious consideration of higher resident costs and business growth.
Protect public safety, parks, streets and library services.
Attract another hotel and strengthen the tax base.
Improve public involvement and regional cooperation.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Core services
Careful with residents’ costs
Prudent budgeting and growth carry the plan; no incentive package or service trade-off is specified.
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
Camps, crime and who responds
Public safety a priority
What
Said: Would keep public safety a budget priority alongside parks, streets, sewers and the library.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Your bills and taxes
Careful with new costs
What
Said: Would review carefully any proposal that raises residents’ costs, protect essential services, and grow the tax base, starting with another hotel.
How
Said: Attract another hotel to welcome visitors and support the local economy and tax base.
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Streets, buses and air
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 6 questions. Betty Mumm is on record on 2, with 4 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could find
Adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers while the city rewrites its code?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Keep the urban-renewal district (about $3.2 million a year in tax increment) and try again to loosen the charter’s voter-approval rule, or wind it down?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Give ODOT five more years, to 2031, to stage I-205 bridge work in two riverfront parks, and keep pressing the state to strike tolling from statute?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Ask voters for a parks bond to build a new aquatic center and rebuild the End of the Oregon Trail center?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
On record
Close the general fund’s structural gap by raising the property-tax rate or the $6.50-a-month public-safety fee, or by cutting?
Said: Says proposals that increase residents’ financial burden deserve careful review and taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely while protecting essential services; the rate, the fee and any cuts are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Move the city’s Caring Court into the Caring Place services hub, and keep the downtown civil-exclusion zone?
Said: Asked the commission October 15, 2025 to report the police hours spent on calls at The Father’s Heart so the Caring Place could see how much has been spent; the Caring Court move and the exclusion zone are unsaid.
Which development incentives would be justified, and what return would the city require?
Sources (1)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 39Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
Commission candidate · City of Oregon City · November 3, 2026
Gordon J Lawrence
Contracting-business owner and civic volunteer.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: Oregon City is at a crossroads. We face challenges, but we also have tremendous opportunities.
Pamphlet p. 40
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Skipped the “A Fresh Perspective for Oregon City” heading; the first sentence is under 12 words, so two are given. Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims.
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
Emphasizes fewer business barriers, stronger regional partnerships, housing and investment in parks.
Encourage new businesses and investment.
Improve housing opportunities and support services.
Connect historic preservation with revitalization and tourism.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Fresh perspective
Regional partnerships
A collaborative growth agenda; the regulatory and financing choices behind it are left open.
Said: Would pursue more housing opportunities and stronger services for people who are homeless.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Camps, crime and who responds
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
Your bills and taxes
Grow the tax base
What
Said: Would fund services by growing the tax base, removing barriers to business and welcoming development rather than blocking it.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Streets, buses and air
Parks and natural assets
What
Said: Would give more attention to parks, recreation and the city’s natural assets.
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. Gordon J Lawrence is on record on 3, with 3 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could find
Adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers while the city rewrites its code?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Keep the urban-renewal district (about $3.2 million a year in tax increment) and try again to loosen the charter’s voter-approval rule, or wind it down?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Give ODOT five more years, to 2031, to stage I-205 bridge work in two riverfront parks, and keep pressing the state to strike tolling from statute?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
On record
Close the general fund’s structural gap by raising the property-tax rate or the $6.50-a-month public-safety fee, or by cutting?
Said: Says the city cannot fund services without a tax base and cannot build one by blocking development; the rate, the fee and any cuts are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Move the city’s Caring Court into the Caring Place services hub, and keep the downtown civil-exclusion zone?
Said: Would pursue solutions that improve housing opportunities and strengthen services and community resources for people who are homeless; the Caring Court move and the exclusion zone are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Ask voters for a parks bond to build a new aquatic center and rebuild the End of the Oregon Trail center?
Said: Would give more attention to parks, recreation and the city’s natural assets; a bond for the pool and the trail center is unsaid.
What barriers would you remove first, and how would you measure whether residents benefit?
Sources (2)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 40Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
Lawrence · meet Gordon (April 2026 interview)Candidate statement · Website reviewed September 21, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
Commission candidate · City of Oregon City · November 3, 2026
James Nicita
Historian, retired attorney and former city commissioner.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: In respectfully submitting my candidacy, I offer policy and design thinking informed by an historian’s long view of Oregon City’s remarkable history.
Pamphlet p. 39
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Nothing skipped: the statement opens with running prose. Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims.
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 changes to urban renewal, city legal services and economic development, with historic preservation and opposition to data centers.
Redirect urban-renewal tax resources toward police or smaller public-designed projects.
Create an independent charter office of city attorney.
Explore a food hub, solar district and Metro partnership for Water Board Park.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Right to vote on urban renewal
Historic preservation
His agenda changes both spending priorities and governance; charter changes, a Metro partnership and redirecting urban-renewal money need votes beyond one commissioner.
Said: Would defend the Park Place Concept Plan and develop its North Village, the planned neighborhood area on the city’s edge.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Camps, crime and who responds
Renewal money to police
What
Said: Would fully fund police by restoring tax dollars now diverted to urban renewal (a district that keeps part of property-tax growth for development projects).
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Your bills and taxes
Vote on urban renewal
What
Said: Would redirect urban-renewal tax dollars to police or to small citizen-designed projects, and keep residents’ right to vote on urban renewal.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Streets, buses and air
No data centers, solar
What
Said: Opposes data centers, would create a solar-generation district in the North End and build the Holly Lane Connector road.
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. James Nicita 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
Move the city’s Caring Court into the Caring Place services hub, and keep the downtown civil-exclusion zone?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Give ODOT five more years, to 2031, to stage I-205 bridge work in two riverfront parks, and keep pressing the state to strike tolling from statute?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
On record
Adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers while the city rewrites its code?
Said: Says “No to data centers” alongside yes to historic preservation, and would make the North End a solar-generation district.
Close the general fund’s structural gap by raising the property-tax rate or the $6.50-a-month public-safety fee, or by cutting?
Said: Would fully fund police by restoring tax dollars diverted to urban renewal; the tax rate, the $6.50 fee and any cuts are unsaid.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Keep the urban-renewal district (about $3.2 million a year in tax increment) and try again to loosen the charter’s voter-approval rule, or wind it down?
Said: Wrote the 2012 right-to-vote amendment and says he led the 2023 and 2025 opposition to agency plans to extinguish it; if urban renewal continues, would prioritize small citizen-designed projects. Closing the district is unsaid.
Ask voters for a parks bond to build a new aquatic center and rebuild the End of the Oregon Trail center?
Said: Wants first-rate parks and a partnership with Metro to make Water Board Park a regional park; a bond for the pool and the trail center is unsaid.
Which proposal comes first, and how would you handle existing urban-renewal obligations?
Sources (1)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 39Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
Commission candidate · City of Oregon City · November 3, 2026
Paul Espe
Urban planner and planning-commission chair.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo · 2026 Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet
In their words
Said: I have been very fortunate to raise my family in Oregon City and I want to maintain our quality of life and keep our city livable!
Pamphlet p. 40
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 21, 2026
Nothing skipped: the statement opens with running prose. Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims.
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
Supports business growth and tourism, better services, disaster preparation and resource protection.
Use incentives to attract and retain taxable businesses.
Maintain and improve parks and other services.
Evaluate government performance and strengthen emergency planning.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their words
Get stuff done
Business growth
He expects business growth to carry service capacity; the cost of the incentives and the revenue they would return are not estimated.
— Not foundNot found in the sources we reviewed. That is a research gap, not a position.
Camps, crime and who responds
Disaster preparedness
What
Said: Would strengthen the city’s existing disaster-preparedness program.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Your bills and taxes
Incentives for tax base
What
Said: Would grow the tax base with incentives to attract and keep businesses, and fill vacant buildings with taxpaying businesses rather than government services.
How
— Not in their sources
Measured by
— Not in their sources
Streets, buses and air
Protect natural resources
What
Said: Would protect the city’s natural resources.
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. Paul Espe is on record on 1, with 5 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could find
Adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers while the city rewrites its code?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Close the general fund’s structural gap by raising the property-tax rate or the $6.50-a-month public-safety fee, or by cutting?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Move the city’s Caring Court into the Caring Place services hub, and keep the downtown civil-exclusion zone?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Keep the urban-renewal district (about $3.2 million a year in tax increment) and try again to loosen the charter’s voter-approval rule, or wind it down?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Give ODOT five more years, to 2031, to stage I-205 bridge work in two riverfront parks, and keep pressing the state to strike tolling from statute?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
On record
Ask voters for a parks bond to build a new aquatic center and rebuild the End of the Oregon Trail center?
Said: Would maintain, improve and increase existing services including public parks; a bond for the pool and the trail center is unsaid.
Which incentives would generate a net public benefit, and how would you demonstrate it?
Sources (1)
Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 40Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
