John Branam: Strong Values, Bold Leadership
![[photo: Dancers in Rose Parade]](/img/ph06.jpg "Photograph by Mark Wyner")
April 28th, 2008
We had an eager group of people and the sun was out on Saturday for the Bike with Branam event. After meeting at the PSU Farmers Market, we rode through downtown — getting to use the new, green bike boxes — went across the Hawthorne Bridge to the Portland Boathouse and then on to have a beer at the Lucky Lab. We discussed the positive effects small businesses have on the Portland economy there and what they can do in cooperation with the City to leave a smaller carbon footprint. It was great to meet everyone sitting outside at the picnic tables.
One of the real treats of the day was getting a history lesson at the Lone Fir Cemetery with our friend Mary. Many of Portland’s founding families are buried there as well as an unknown number of Chinese workers who helped build the City in the nineteenth century. The trees were in bloom as well as the potted flowers at many of the beautiful plots of Russians in Portland. The cemetery is truly a place for all Portland, stop by some day and get to know some of the most colorful, important Portlanders.
www.friendsoflonefircemetery.org
From there we visited parks and got a bite to eat. Thank you to all who made it out on Saturday for the ride. We got to talk about what makes Portland special at the actual places that lend it that distinction.
John
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April 16th, 2008
Though it took a lot of takes, and fitting seven months of campaign material into a 60-second message isn’t easy, our first radio ad is finally ready to go on-air. Not only was this an enjoyable process, but informative. We all decided that there was time for only one message, and it had to be an important one. That’s why we settled on this: Portland is a wonderful city and I’m running to keep it that way.Working with some friends from the neighborhood, taking the time to decide what we would say, and then finally recording our voices was a good time. Thank you to those who helped. The final product sounds fantastic!
Keep an ear out for the ad on KINK 101.9 fm and KPOJ am 620 in a few weeks.
John
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April 11th, 2008
It’s remarkable how much times have changed since The Times of Harvey Milk. As part of my Political Film Series, my campaign is hosting a screening of the Oscar-winning film about assassinated San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, and the fallout from his killer’s sentencing.
The third installment in the Political Film Series is a free event open to the public (21+) at Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi Ave., this Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Too few know Harvey Milk’s story. With such a diverse field of candidates running for Portland office this year, now is an appropriate time to reflect on the progress we have made since his untimely death.I look forward to a lively discussion with supporters and those new to this campaign following the film.
I have been outspoken on LGBT rights since first working to defeat Measure 9 as a high school student in Oregon. My platform recognizes the state’s triumphs on this issue as well as the battles yet to be won. We are moving in the right direction in Oregon by securing important policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The City of Portland has taken some commendable steps, like the Equal Benefit Ordinance, which requires certain companies that contract with the City extend benefits to same-sex partners, and continuing the Sexual Minority Roundtable with the police bureau. Also, I support full legal recognition of same-sex relationships. These are important steps toward ourcommon goal, but we can do more.
I hope to see you at the movie!
John
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March 21st, 2008
My staff and I just got back from a morning with 13,000 Obama supporters at the Coliseum. It was great to see the man himself engage such a raucous, excited crowd with new endorser Gov. Bill Richardson by his side. Sen. Obama is amassing an impressive group going forward into the convention, including Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who represents Portland as only a man involved in local politics for as long as he has could. What a line-up!
I made sure to weigh-in on Think Out Loud this morning with an online comment. The topic was race relations in Portland and how we move forward following Barack Obama’s refreshing, moving speech in Philadelphia this week.
This is what I had to say on this morning’s show on OPB:
Re: Obama and Race in Oregon
Growing up as a bi-racial kid in Corvallis, Oregon was both fascinating and challenging. On the one hand, it was a study in how to get along with kids from different cultural backgrounds. On the other hand it was almost unbearable to go for months without seeing another student or teacher who looked like me. Any loneliness, however, was counterbalanced by my pride in seeing my black father – a janitor – as a well-respected City Council member.
Today, like my father some twenty years ago in Corvallis, I am a candidate for Portland’s city council. I’ve run my campaign on the issues that will most determine Portland’s future: education, the environment, and living-wage jobs. Most importantly, I’ve run my campaign on collaborative leadership. Leading by dividing people by race, sex, or class is no longer acceptable, nor is it the formula for America’s, or Portland’s success.
As Sen. Obama stated, “We cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.”
I do not think it is a coincidence that I have a chance to join city council in the same year that Barack Obama has a chance to be president of the United States. At all levels Americans are looking for leaders who are committed to harnessing the abilities, energy and vision of all citizens as we face the daunting challenges ahead. Sen. Obama’s speech gives America permission to talk in honest terms about race, an issue we too often discuss in sound bites. This is a crucial first step, and one Portlanders must take if we are to build a brighter future for our city.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your weekend,
John
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March 17th, 2008
It looks like our friends over at the Bus Project have added a little hurdle to this year’s Candidates Gone Wild — only three of the six contenders in my race will be invited. I’ve been looking forward to CGW since I decided to run and would appreciate a vote in their online poll so I can get on-stage and talk about the issues that affect Portland and why I’m the right person for the job.
Thanks for the support!
John
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