Finn To Sit This One Out

City Commissioner Dan Saltzman's chief of staff, Brendan Finn, has decided against running for Portland City Council.
Finn was planning on running for the seat being vacated by Commissioner Erik Sten.
"It really is a question of timing for me," Finn says. "With all the things we have going on, I can't see them out and run a winning campaign in such a short period of time."
Finn says he should have made up his mind sooner to go for public financing.
Meanwhile, Sten's chief of staff, Jim Middaugh, is set to turn in his over 1,600 signatures and $5 contributions to the City Auditor this afternoon, in order to qualify for public financing. Middaugh organized a campaign for his boss's seat in less than two weeks.
Finn is holding off on making an endorsement in the race. But he does plan on running at some time in the future.
"I'm a young guy. There's probably still time for me," says Finn, 35.
Also running for Sten's seat: Fred Stewart, Harold Williams Two, Nick Fish, Nick Popenuk, Ed Garren and Tamara DeRidder.

Update: Finn sent the following email to supporters this afternoon.

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Colleagues,

Thank you for your recent support and guidance while I contemplate running for Portland City Council. It is a decision that has provoked me to reflect on a wide variety of considerations. What has become clear over past month is that I have the desire and support to serve our community as an elected leader. What is not as clear is what is best in terms of timing, and as it has been so rightly said, timing is everything.

Currently, in my capacity as Dan Saltzman's Chief of Staff, I'm in the midst of a number of projects that will transform the landscape of our city for years to come:

• High Performance Green Building Policy- most aggressive in the nation- Portland will again plot the course for cities to address climate change.
• Portland's Parks- Council will consider a proposal this spring that will provide a much-needed sustainable funding mechanism for Park development.
• Portland's Digital Inclusion Policy- an effort that will focus on providing affordable technology services to all Portlanders.

With these initiatives in such essential stages, and the commitment that will be needed to run a winning campaign, I have decided not to run for the seat to be vacated by Erik Sten.

Each of you has played a role in providing me with the counsel needed to come to this challenging decision. I would particularly like to recognize Dan Saltzman and Jeff Cogen for their ongoing support and belief in my enthusiasm for Portland.

I hope to be contacting you again in the near future as the appropriate opportunity presents itself. In the mean time, I look forward to seeing through these ambitious projects under the admirable leadership of Dan.

Sincerely,

Brendan