Congrats to Sam! He's done better than his predecessors, winning outright without a run-off and making history! I have met him once or twice, and he is certainly a great guy and the best suited to the job out of the whole lineup on the ballot. I am very happy, as that under Potter, big things were stalled under his lackluster leadership as he pushed his "big-mayor" plan. Vera got things rolling that mattered with the powers granted currently to a Portland Mayor, and now Sam will do the same with the existing rules, not go on a crusade to change the way the city is set up.
BTW, his election night party rocked. It was such a blowout that they ran out of plates for all the excellent food (best campaign party food, btw!).
Maybe we'll see I-405 capped, or I-5's eastbank monstrosity fixed. However, I prognosticate that he's going to get the Portland Streetcar expanded. It'd be nice to have all those things, but he'll have an easier time getting streetcars to more places and getting the Burnside/Couch couplet done. It's going to be tough to get the I-405 and I-5 issues toward a definite resolution. I feel, at the least, if he doesn't take the lead in getting one of those done, Sam will likely get the process started on one of 'em if enough people get passionate about doing something about the two biggest eyesores in town.
Transportation and development fans scored a big win (despite chris Smith losing the city council spot
) on the 20th!