District 3 candidate · Portland City Council · November 3, 2026
Esther León
Physical therapist and community-college professor.
Reach the campaign
- estherforportland.com (opens in a new tab)
- esther.for.portland@gmail.com
- Instagram (opens in a new tab)
As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
Campaign finance: sources, amounts and timing ↓
In their words
Said: As a healthcare provider who has worked directly in-home with Portlanders, and currently with inmates, I have a unique perspective on how societal structure impacts personal wellbeing.
Pamphlet p. 60
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 20, 2026
Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 60 ↗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 wordsProposes a larger public role in housing, utilities, climate protection and non-police crisis response.
- A corporate-landlord vacancy tax, social housing and simpler zoning.
- 24-hour citywide Street Response and supportive housing with treatment.
- A moratorium on AI data centers and a transition to public utilities.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsShe would shift more responsibility for affordability and care into public institutions. That requires funding and implementation across several governments; local proposals and changes to state-controlled systems are not interchangeable.
Where they stand
Rent and homes
Public housing and vacancy taxes- What
Would expand public or nonprofit affordable housing and simplify building rules. Proposes taxes on large landlords’ vacant properties to help fund housing and access to rentals.
Full position and context
Would expand social housing and simplify zoning; proposes vacancy taxes aimed at large landlords, with residential proceeds helping formerly unhoused tenants enter rentals.
- How
- Said: A residential vacancy tax on corporate landlords would subsidize down payments for formerly unhoused tenants; a commercial vacancy tax on large corporations would fund small-business rent assistance; simplified zoning categories.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Camps, crime and who responds
24-hour non-police crisis teams- What
Would expand non-police crisis response and reduce armed responses. Opposes clearing camps and favors housing paired with health or addiction support.
Full position and context
Would fund citywide 24/7 Street Response, expand the Police Bureau’s unarmed public safety support specialists and reduce armed responses; opposes sweeps and favors housing with health or addiction support.
- How
- Said: Commits to introducing budget amendments and voting for full Street Response funding in every budget cycle, and to expanding the Police Bureau’s unarmed support specialists.
- Measured by
- Said: Says success would look like 24/7 citywide Street Response coverage and a falling number of lethally armed responses.
Your bills and taxes
Tax land value and vacant property- What
Proposes taxes on land value and vacant property, and exploring basic income for artists. Costs and legal authority still need to be established.
Full position and context
Proposes land-value taxation, targeted vacancy taxes and exploration of basic income for artists. These are proposals, not established city revenue authority or costed programs.
- How
- Said: Would shift property tax toward a land-value tax, raise the annual impact fee on the ICE facility’s owner, fold the Arts Tax into other tax processes and audit city finances.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Streets, buses and air
Protected bike lanes; later transit- What
Supports protected bike lanes, car-free plazas and later transit service. Regional transit changes require cooperation beyond City Council.
Full position and context
Supports protected bikeways, car-free plazas, later transit service and a regional transit funding mechanism; opposes Waymo. Regional transit changes require cooperation beyond Council.
- How
- Said: Would raise the Clean Energy Fund surcharge for renewable projects, work with Metro on a regional TriMet funding mechanism, and expand the protected bike network on the 4th Avenue model.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 9 questions. Esther León is on record on 7, with 2 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could findKeep the monthly street repair fee?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Raise water bills to pay for the Bull Run filtration plant and system repairs?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Rezone the inner east side to allow apartment buildings off the main streets (the Inner Eastside Zoning Project)?
Said: Would vote to approve the project and then focus on expanding it around what she calls a “Holistic Zoning” plan.
Public money and terms for renovating the Moda Center?
Said: Calls the current proposal opaque; would require union local contractors, no Clean Energy Fund money, a larger ticket share, a significant rent and a guaranteed net return.
When, if ever, would they raise taxes or fees?
Said: Proposes residential and commercial vacancy taxes on large corporate owners, a higher Clean Energy Fund surcharge and a shift to land-value taxation.
Add police officers, expand non-police responders, or both?
Said: Says a policing approach does not make Portland safer; would expand Street Response and the bureau’s unarmed support specialists to reduce lethally armed responses. Her platform does not say whether to hire more sworn officers.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Keep funding camp removals at current levels?
Said: Would redirect effort away from city sweeps and hostile architecture toward long-term housing with treatment.
Restrict new AI data centers in the city?
Said: Would implement a moratorium on AI data centers to stop the takeover of natural resources.
Expand Portland Street Response to a full 24/7 role?
Said: Commits to budget amendments and votes for full 24/7 citywide Street Response funding in every budget cycle.
Council votes
No Council vote yet. That is not a judgment about experience.
A question the evidence leaves open
What would the housing and utility proposals cost, and which require state or regional approval?
Sources (3)
- Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 60Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
- Portland: Neighbors Welcome 2026 endorsement questionnaire · Esther León’s responsesCandidate statement · Responses posted September 22, 2026; reviewed October 14, 2026The candidate’s own written answers, published by a group that endorses in this race. Campaign position; claimed results have not been independently verified.
- León · issue platformCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 18, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.