PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish isn’t backing down from his bid for reelection, despite a recent abdominal cancer diagnosis.
Fish, who is serving his second full term as city commissioner, oversees the Portland Water Bureau and the bureau of environmental services. He first joined the city council in 2008 and easily won reelection in 2014, with 73 percent of the vote during the primary election.
Last month, Fish announced that he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the abdomen. He is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for the disease.
Fish, however, continues to campaign. On Thursday he reached out to supporters, reaffirming his plan to win both the fight against cancer and reelection to a third full term on Portland City Council.
“The treatment for my cancer may slow me down a little this fall, but it will never diminish my passion for public service,” Fish wrote in an email to supporters.
Fish said he has more to accomplish on city council, including sponsoring new solutions to the housing crisis, supporting workers in the changing economy, and reforming public utilities.
Fish will face at least one other competitor in the May 2018 primary election.
Environmental advocate Julia DeGraw said she will run against Fish.
DeGraw, the Northwest Senior Organizer for the environmental advocacy organization Food & Water Watch, is running on a platform of environmental stewardship and fair housing practices.
So far, Nick Fish’s campaign has raised a little over $28,000 since he won reelection in 2014. DeGraw has raised $1,225 in cash donations since July. DeGraw said she will not accept corporate contributions during her campaign.
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman and City Auditor Mary Hull Caballero are also up for reelection in 2018.
Navy veteran and former Oregon State Representative Jo Ann Hardesty filed to run for
Saltzman's seat on Sept. 7, the first day candidates could file. Hardesty said affordable housing, equity and public safety are among her top priorities.
Hardesty has raised $20,036 since August 2017. Saltzman has raised about $70,000 since he won reelection in 2014 during the May primary.
No one has yet filed to run against Caballero.
The primary election in Portland is May 15, 2018. If one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, they win outright. If not, the top two candidates advance to the November general election.