And And And Drummer Bim Ditson Is Running for Portland Mayor

Portland is still waiting to learn whether Oregon House Majority Leader Rep. Jennifer Williamson (D-Portland) or Multnomah County chief operating officer Marisa Madrigal will jump into the 2016 mayor's race.

But, another famous Portlander has announced he's challenging Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler for the mayor's seat.

Bim Ditson, drummer for Portland band And And And, announced Oct. 27 that he's angling for the seat.

Ditson told WW that the Facebook page promoting his candidacy was originally part of a long-running joke.

"And now we're taking it more seriously, because, why not?" he said.

Ditson says he'll hold an announcement party sometime before Thanksgiving.

"We're really only a few weeks into that whole part of the thing," he said, adding that his next objective is to gather signatures for a spot on the ballot.

Ditson says he'll focus his campaign on affordable housing.

"I want people to be able to afford their rent," he said. "Things like that are really important to me."

Ditson said that winning outright isn't necessarily his main goal.

"It's more a strategy of raising some questions and fitting them into the conversation," he said. "And if I get to be in that position, that's awesome, too."

Ditson has won votes before: Portland's music insiders chose And And And as the WW Best New Band in 2011.

Willamette Week