District 4 candidate · Portland City Council · November 3, 2026
Eric Zimmerman
Incumbent councilor; National Guard officer
Incumbent councilor, National Guard officer and former county commissioner’s chief of staff.
Reach the campaign
- ez4pdx.com (opens in a new tab)
- 971-910-0482
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As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
Campaign finance: sources, amounts and timing ↓
In their words
Said: It’s time to get Positive about Portland! Portland should be the City that says YES.
Pamphlet p. 64
Candidate statement · November 2026 edition; extracted September 20, 2026
Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 64 ↗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 wordsCombines support for housing production, policing, Street Response and camp cleanups with opposition to several tax increases.
- Protect police and fire while supporting Street Response.
- Build housing and restrain tax and fee increases.
- Combine shelter, enforcement, cleanups and treatment; restore maintenance.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsHe would maintain several forms of response while resisting tax and fee increases. The key choice is what to reduce or reallocate if existing revenue cannot sustain police, fire, shelter, unarmed response and maintenance together.
Where they stand
Rent and homes
Build more housing and shelter- What
Supports more housing construction and shelter capacity.
Full position and context
Supports housing production and shelter.
- How
- Said: Would add a five-year SDC grant program, 10-year tax abatements for ownership units sold at 125% MFI, “permit upon review” for proven developers, and open more TASS and pod shelter sites.
- Measured by
- Said: Permanently affordable projects over 50 units permitted in 90 days or less; unsanctioned camping ended “as quickly as possible,” with no date.
Camps, crime and who responds
Police, crisis teams and camp enforcement- What
Supports police, non-police Street Response, camp cleanups, enforcement and treatment.
Full position and context
Combines police, Street Response, camp cleanups, enforcement and treatment.
- How
- Said: Would expand patrol and detective units, trimming other support roles until fully staffed; let Street Response transport people to sobering and psychiatric care; add a 24/7 drop-off sobering center; seek SHS dollars for treatment.
- Measured by
- Said: A Police Bureau of 1,000 sworn officers and an end to unsanctioned camping; no dates are given.
Your bills and taxes
Resist tax and fee increases- What
Opposes several tax and fee increases while prioritizing police, fire and maintenance.
Full position and context
Opposes several tax and fee increases while prioritizing police, fire and maintenance.
- How
- Not found in the reviewed sources
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Streets, buses and air
Protected bike lanes and street cleaning- What
Supports curb-protected bike lanes where feasible, consistent lane designs and a guaranteed budget for street sweeping.
Full position and context
Supports curb-protected bike lanes where feasible, more consistent bike and car lane designs, and a guaranteed street-sweeping budget. Also proposes scooter safety education and district input on transportation projects.
- How
- Said: Would use curb protection where feasible, make bike and car lane designs more consistent and guarantee a street-sweeping budget.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 9 questions. Eric Zimmerman is on record on 8, with 1 still open. A question without an answer is a research gap, not a position.
No answer we could findRestrict new AI data centers in the city?
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: Answered the question with one word: yes.
Public money and terms for renovating the Moda Center?
Eric Zimmerman: YesVoted yes on Approve the Moda negotiating framework
No statement beyond the recorded vote.
When, if ever, would they raise taxes or fees?
Said: Says he passed tax cuts and voted against increases, and is focused on lowering housing costs rather than raising taxes.
Add police officers, expand non-police responders, or both?
Said: Would expand the Police Bureau to 1,000 sworn officers and grow patrol and investigations, and would consider a short-term reduction in other support roles until fully staffed.
Keep funding camp removals at current levels?
Eric Zimmerman: AbsentAbsent for the vote on Shift funding away from homeless-camp removals
Said: His statement says “YES to Camp Cleanups” and calls shelters, enforcement, camp cleanups and mental-health and addiction treatment all important.
Expand Portland Street Response to a full 24/7 role?
Eric Zimmerman: YesVoted yes on Expand Portland Street Response’s role
Said: Would let Street Response transport people to sobering centers and psychiatric emergency care; the page does not say whether it should run 24/7.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
Keep the monthly street repair fee?
Eric Zimmerman: NoVoted no on Create a monthly transportation utility fee
Said: Cites his vote against the new street fee as part of a record of opposing tax increases.
Raise water bills to pay for the Bull Run filtration plant and system repairs?
Eric Zimmerman: NoVoted no on Raise annual water rates
No statement beyond the recorded vote.
Council votes
Recorded vote · then our reading of the recordRaise water bills by about $5 a month?
NoOur reading: Supported construction borrowing; opposed higher utility charges
What Council decided
This increase would bring in more money for the water system. A typical monthly water charge would rise from about $66 to $71, before sewer and stormwater charges.
The typical-bill estimate assumes five hundred cubic feet of monthly water use. Actual bills depend on use, billing period and applicable assistance; this is not the total combined utility bill.
Add a monthly fee to help repair streets?
NoOur reading: Opposed the new charges, but helped direct the spending
What Council decided
The fee is $12 for a typical house or $8.40 per apartment. Most of the money goes to street repairs; the rest goes to safety improvements.
Approving a revenue source does not show that every promised repair has happened. The ordinance includes review of business charges and assistance for residents.
Use expected savings to help fund police and firefighters?
YesOur reading: Kept the proposed police increase; opposed the overall annual budget
What Council decided
The city expected the office that checks police conduct to have money left over. This proposal would use those expected savings for police and fire services. The savings were not guaranteed.
The tradeoff concerned using money allocated to the new oversight office. The proposal did not abolish that office, and expected underspending was a forecast.
Back these starting terms for renovating Moda Center?
YesOur reading: Supported the arena terms while opposing the higher proposed rent
What Council decided
The city proposed $120 million for renovations and $275 million for future building needs over 20 years. This vote approved terms for negotiations, not a final contract.
A negotiating framework, not a final construction contract. Support or opposition to this package is not a complete position on retaining the Trail Blazers.
A Term sheet. Starting terms for a negotiation. Approving one is not a final contract., not a final contract.
A question the evidence leaves open
Which spending would you reduce if existing revenue cannot sustain those services?
Sources (4)
- Multnomah County voters’ pamphlet · PDF page 64Candidate 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 · Eric Zimmerman’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.
- Council Lab · current-term record and official-source linksReporting · Current-term research indexIndependent, unofficial research aid. Follow the linked City records for authoritative votes. Automated transcript excerpts require recording verification before quotation.
- Eric Zimmerman · TransportationCandidate 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.