Randy Leonard Endorses Jefferson Smith

Rep. Jefferson Smith
By NIGEL JAQUISS

City Commissioner Randy Leonard today became the first current member of the city council to weigh in on the mayor's race. Leonard, the former fire union boss who joined the council in 2002 is endorsing State Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-East Portland). Although Smith attended Harvard Law School after college and Leonard joined the Marines before enrolling at Portland State University, the two actually have a lot in common: they both graduated from Grant High School, both served in the Oregon Legislature and both live east of 82nd Avenue.

Although Leonard, who is retiring from politics when his term ends next January, has come under fire for his management of the Water Bureau, his endorsement will help Smith cement his position to the left of his two principal opponents, businesswoman Eileen Brady and former City Commissioner Charlie Hales (whose mid-term resignation in 2002 opened a vacancy for Leonard). 

Leonard's endorsement of Smith can be seen as something of a rejoinder to former Mayor Vera Katz, who earlier endorsed her former colleague, Hales, and pointedly said Smith was not ready for the position.

Here's what Leonard said in a statement this morning about Smith.

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