District 4 candidate · Portland City Council · November 3, 2026
Jamey Evenstar
City Council chief of staff, policy director and analyst; renter and transit rider.
Reach the campaign
- evenstarforportland.com (opens in a new tab)
- evenstarforportland@gmail.com
- Instagram (opens in a new tab)
- Bluesky (opens in a new tab)
- YouTube (opens in a new tab)
As published in their pamphlet statement and campaign site.
Campaign finance: sources, amounts and timing ↓
In their words
Said: It’s time we had a City Council that believes in Portland. We need more working-class voices on Council to stand up to a fascist regime, have a backbone against special monied interests, and refuse to accept the status quo.
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 wordsArgues for progressive leadership grounded in housing stability and more accessible transportation.
- Build on work on tenant protections and housing access.
- Make buses faster and easier to use.
- Defend residents against federal overreach and concentrated financial influence.
Our reading
Our interpretation, not their wordsEvenstar’s platform treats housing and transport costs as linked barriers to staying in Portland. Social housing and improved transit need financing, and city spending cannot alone determine regional fares or service levels.
Where they stand
Rent and homes
Finance more homes; protect renters- What
Proposes a fund to build and preserve affordable homes, faster permits, and a fee on homes that are not primary residences. Also proposes renter purchase rights and limits on application fees.
Full position and context
His Community Housing Plan proposes low-cost construction financing, faster permits for pre-approved plans, more housing near transit and a fee on homes that are not primary residences. He would seed a housing fund with an existing $17.5 million, the new fee and a larger share of urban-renewal money. The plan also proposes renter purchase rights, a 5% relocation-assistance trigger and a $10 application-fee cap. These are proposals, not adopted rules.
Earlier sourced position: Would establish a foundation for permanently affordable social housing and housing stability.
- How
- Said: Would seed a Portland Community Housing Fund with the existing $17.5M plus a new Housing Supply Impact Fee on non-primary residences, raise urban-renewal housing share from 45% to 75%, and use PCEF dollars.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Camps, crime and who responds
Expand non-police crisis response- What
Supports more unarmed crisis response and stronger mental-health services from the state and county.
Full position and context
Supports expanded unarmed crisis response and stronger state and county mental-health services.
- How
- Not found in the reviewed sources
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Your bills and taxes
Earlier budgets; residents choose some spending- What
Supports earlier, clearer budgets and letting residents decide some spending. Also favors worker-owned businesses and investment in neighborhood business districts.
Full position and context
Favors earlier transparent budgets, participatory budgeting, worker-owned businesses and investment across commercial corridors.
- How
- Said: Would give Council independent staff capacity for budget oversight, address top-heavy management and executive pay, and back the participatory-budgeting initiative for a share of general-fund spending.
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
Streets, buses and air
Cheaper youth fares; dedicated bus lanes- What
Proposes cheaper transit for people under 25, buses separated from traffic and more transit in Southwest Portland. Climate protections would focus on vulnerable residents.
Full position and context
Proposes lower-cost transit for people under 25, buses separated from traffic, more southwest transit options and climate resilience focused on vulnerable residents.
- How
- Not found in the reviewed sources
- Measured by
- Not found in the reviewed sources
The choices this office faces
Every candidate in this race is asked the same 9 questions. Jamey Evenstar 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 findAdd police officers, expand non-police responders, or both?
Nothing on this exact choice in the sources we reviewed.
Keep funding camp removals at current levels?
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.
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.
Rezone the inner east side to allow apartment buildings off the main streets (the Inner Eastside Zoning Project)?
Said: Yes; calls the inner east side ideal for upzoning given its amenities, and says she was part of the council office that worked with the group on the April resolution that sped up the project.
Public money and terms for renovating the Moda Center?
Said: Called the original Moda term sheet a terrible deal and the August 12 amendments a big improvement; other posts ask for Albina community benefits and escalating rent; she does not say whether public money should go in.
On the topic; the exact choice is unsaid.
When, if ever, would they raise taxes or fees?
Said: Proposes a Housing Supply Impact Fee on homes not used as a primary residence, with revenue building permanently affordable homes.
Expand Portland Street Response to a full 24/7 role?
Said: Would expand unarmed crisis response for behavioral-health and quality-of-life calls and, in a July post, backed approving a lease for Portland Street Response; she does not say whether it should run 24/7 citywide.
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
Which tenant protections and bus improvements would you introduce first?
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 · Jamey Evenstar’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.
- Evenstar · six-part platformCandidate statement · Website reviewed September 18, 2026Campaign position. Claimed results and numerical premises have not automatically been independently verified.
- Jamey Evenstar · Community Housing PlanCandidate 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.