PBA endorses Adams and Dozono
The Portland Business Alliance has endorsed both City Commissioner Sam Adams and Sho Dozono, considered the top mayoral candidates in a 13-person field, in the May 20 primary.
The PBA also opted to not endorse a candidate in one of the Portland City Council races and endorsed Nick Fish in the other. The group further endorsed Commissioner Randy Leonard, who's running for re-election.
Other endorsements include Deborah Kafoury for the Multnomah County Commission's first position and Carla Piluso for the commission's fourth position. The group issued no endorsement for the third position race.
In Clackamas County, the group endorsed current chair Lynn Peterson for re-election and Martha Schrader for re-election to the commission's third position. It did not endorse candidates for the county's open fourth and fifth positions.
Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder earned PBA's endorsement for the fifth position race.
Megan Doern, a PBA spokeswoman, said the dual endorsement of Adams and Dozono isn't that unusual because of the multi-candidate field running in the primary free credit report instantly.
"We have great relationships with both of them, we know them well and they both have a strong understanding of what business means to the Portland region and economy," Doern said.
"The Alliance has a positive working relationship with each candidate and has found that both candidates have a number of attributes that would benefit the city, said Sam Brooks, chairman of the group's board of directors, in a statement.
The PBA analyzed candidates' plans for building a strong economic base for the city and creating family-wage jobs, as well as their commitment to working with the business community.
Group members interviewed 29 candidates. Its endorsements must be ratified by at least two-thirds of PBA board members at the meeting where the board issues its choices.
PBA represents more than 1,300 businesses in the region.