District 3 candidate · Portland City Council · November 3, 2026
Martin Ward
Candidate with a political-science master’s degree; no governmental experience listed.
Reach the campaign
- theprinceofpeace.net (opens in a new tab)
- thefreshprinceofpeace@gmail.com
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As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
Campaign finance: sources, amounts and timing ↓
In their words
Said: A Progressive Republican along the lines of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Susan B. Anthony, Fredrick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, and Harriet Tubman.
Pamphlet p. 55
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 20, 2026
Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 55 ↗Verbatim opening of the candidate's own statement; publication by the county does not verify the claims. The statement has no complete sentence before its labeled fragments begin: an unpunctuated pointer to his website is followed by this self-description, the first punctuated unit.
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 wordsCombines public housing and large proposed spending cuts with opposition to abortion, gender-related surgery and same-sex relationships.
- Test government-owned housing and build permanent shelter.
- Reject Moda renovations and the proposed Lloyd Center demolition.
- Pursue restrictions on several forms of reproductive care and sexual conduct.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsHis platform combines public provision with restrictions on reproductive care and consensual relationships. Those restrictions are substantive policy commitments; the guide does not adopt his classification of consensual conduct as crime or imply Council can enact all of them.
Where they stand
Rent and homes
Test public housing; build shelter- What
Would test government-owned housing, build permanent shelter and oppose demolition of Lloyd Center.
Full position and context
Would test government-owned housing, build permanent shelter and oppose demolition of Lloyd Center.
- How
- Said: Would have the city buy apartment buildings gradually, starting with buildings housing low-income residents and making further purchases only after rents are shown to fall.
- Measured by
- Said: Rents around 30 to 40 percent lower in government-owned buildings, and about $600 million of permanent shelter for all homeless residents.
Camps, crime and who responds
More police and intersection cameras- What
Would add officers and training, put video cameras at every intersection, and buy equipment he describes as non-lethal, including tranquilizers.
Full position and context
Would install video cameras at every intersection, buy non-lethal equipment such as tranquilizers, increase police training and add police officers.
- How
- Not found in the reviewed sources
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Your bills and taxes
Cut spending; reject arena renovation- What
Opposes Moda Center renovations and proposes large spending cuts. The guide has not verified his claimed savings.
Full position and context
Rejects Moda renovations and proposes large spending cuts. The reviewed statement does not substantiate the claimed savings.
- How
- Said: Lists the cuts: the Burnside Bridge replacement, the Keller Auditorium project, the police oversight system, the Council structure, the Design Commission and Moda Center renovations.
- Measured by
- Said: An estimated $1 billion to $1.5 billion of budget cuts.
Streets, buses and air
More car lanes; restrict bus lanes- What
Would repair and pave streets, add car lanes potentially at the expense of bike or parking lanes, and restrict bus-only lanes. Freeway changes need other agencies’ approval.
Full position and context
Would pave gravel streets and create a public pothole-reporting map. Proposes adding car lanes, potentially by removing bike or parking lanes, restricting bus-only lanes, and allowing speed bumps only near schools. Freeway changes would also require agencies beyond City Council.
- How
- Said: Would create a public pothole-reporting map and add car lanes, potentially by removing bike or parking lanes. Freeway changes need other agencies’ approval.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 9 questions. Martin Ward is on record on 4, with 5 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could findRezone the inner east side to allow apartment buildings off the main streets (the Inner Eastside Zoning Project)?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Restrict new AI data centers in the city?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Expand Portland Street Response to a full 24/7 role?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Keep 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.
Public money and terms for renovating the Moda Center?
Said: States flatly: no renovations on the Moda Center, none.
When, if ever, would they raise taxes or fees?
Said: Would eliminate the Arts Tax, gas tax, lodging tax, heavy-vehicle tax, paid parking and the Clean Energy Fund, and restructure two others.
Add police officers, expand non-police responders, or both?
Said: Would increase police officers, install cameras at every intersection and buy non-lethal equipment.
Keep funding camp removals at current levels?
Said: Says that until new shelters are built, people reported camping would return to their camp or a shelter as they prefer, then be moved into shelters; his page does not address current removal funding.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Council votes
No Council vote yet. That is not a judgment about experience.
A question the evidence leaves open
What legally available city actions would implement these proposals, and what supports the claimed savings?
Sources (2)
- Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 55Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; reviewed September 18, 2026Written by the candidate or campaign. Publication by the county does not verify the claims.
- Martin Ward · Construction ProjectsCandidate statement · Accessed November 2, 2026The candidate’s stated proposal, not a verified outcome or an endorsement. An undated page does not establish when the position was first adopted.