I’m running for Portland City Council District 4 because Portland has an addiction crisis, and we need a recovery champion in City Hall to solve it. I have the critical legislative experience that Portland City Councilors need to effectively lead in our new form of government.
I’m endorsed by 28 elected officials, and nearly 30 organizations, including 21 unions, several business groups, and folks focused on improving housing affordability and public health. These organizations represent over 100,000 people, and our broad-based coalition includes Firefighters, Police Officers, Construction Workers, Small Business Owners, and Portlanders working hard to create a more livable city.
It’s an honor to earn so much community support, and together we’ll build a Portland that is safe, healthy, and housed. I’m running for Portland City Council to represent District 4 and to serve every Portlander.
I have extensive experience advocating for Oregonians confronting addiction, and I’ve worked tirelessly in the Legislature to improve recovery resources for those who need them most. I know from experience how government does and does not help Portlanders in crisis, and I will bring that knowledge to getting things done in our new form of government.
- City Council Entrance Interview: Tony Morse, Willamette Week, September 18, 2024
- Tony Morse: Portland City Council District 4, The Oregonian, September 16, 2024
- Endorsements begin to shape Portland city government races, OPB, September 10, 2024
- SEIU Issues Endorsements in City Council Races, Willamette Week, August 30, 2024
- Firefighters’ Union Makes Endorsements in City Council Races, Willamette Week, July 25, 2024
- Portland Police Union Endorsements Quietly Roll In, Willamette Week, July 8, 2024
- Northwest Oregon Labor Council Endorses City Council Candidates, Willamette Week, June 30,2024
- “Nothing about us without us.” Rose City Reform, March 20, 2024
- City Council Members Elected in Districts 3 and 4 Next Year Will Serve Only Two-Year Terms, Willamette Week, September 17, 2023
- Opinion: We need an emergency plan to end Oregon’s addiction crisis, The Oregonian, September 17, 2023
- The Political Machines That for Decades Dominated Portland Elections Must Start From Scratch, Willamette Week, September 13, 2023
- Meet the First Dozen Portland City Council Candidates to Throw Their Hats in the Ring, Willamette Week, September 13, 2023
- Murmurs: Campaign Season Begins for Expanded City Council, Willamette Week, August 30, 2023
- Two Leaders at Addiction Treatment Advocacy Group Oregon Recovers Will Run for Portland City Council, Willamette Week, August 29, 2023
- Portland’s addiction recovery services overwhelmed as drug overdoses spike, KATU, August 8, 2023
- What Happened When Oregon Decriminalized Hard Drugs, The Atlantic, July 19, 2023
- Fentanyl education bill heads to Gov. Kotek, Oregon Capital Chronicle, May 19, 2023
- Portland City Council District 4 Candidates Forum, OPB Think Out Loud, October 28, 2024
- “Leaders Who Can Walk and Chew Bubblegum at the Same Time,” Rose City Reform’s Stump Talk, October 3, 2024
- Running on Air: District 4, Episode 3, September 19, 2024
- Tony Morse for Portland City Council, District 4, Rational in Portland, September 7, 2024
- “F***ing Madness or a Great Civic Experiment?” Rose City Reform’s Stump Talk, September 1, 2024
- Tony Morse is the “recovery candidate” for Portland City Council, The Oregon Bridge, November 30, 2024
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tony Morse, 503-939-9672, [email protected]
PORTLAND — Yesterday Governor Tina Kotek signed legislation that significantly modifies Measure 110, and Portland City Council candidate Tony Morse praised the results.
“I applaud the Oregon Legislature and Governor Kotek for expanding pathways to treatment and recovery services for people struggling with addiction, and for equipping law enforcement with the intervention tools they need to stop public drug use and confiscate the dangerous drugs that are causing overdoses throughout our city,” Morse said. “During this year’s legislative session, Democrats and Republicans worked together to craft a promising new approach to solving the addiction crisis, and the framework they developed offers Portland an encouraging new route to recovery.”
Morse, a person in long-term recovery known for his legislative advocacy work in Salem, added that the success of the reforms will be up to local governments throughout the state. “This new framework offers renewed hope, but it’s important to recognize that it will be up to local leaders to make it work. And as your next Portland City Councilor, I bring extensive addiction policy experience, and the perspective of a person in long-term recovery.”
Oregon has one of the highest rates of addiction in the United States, while offering the lowest access to treatment. This situation results in large part from a fragmented and siloed approach 1 to addiction crisis response. A cornerstone of Morse’s platform seeks to resolve that problem.
“I’m proposing the creation of a new office that blends elements from the City of Portland, Multnomah County, the state, and behavioral health partners, because the lack of working together is falling short,” Morse said. “The purpose of the Coordinated Office of Addiction Response (COAR) is to leverage resources to coordinate care and support recovery. Portland has an opportunity to take the lead on addiction crisis response, and we can do so if District 4 elects a recovery advocate this November.”
To learn more about Tony and his growing list of endorsers, visit www.tonyforportland.com.
PORTLAND – Portland City Council Candidate Tony Morse, a longtime advocate for recovery and addiction services, has been endorsed by Democratic Nominee for Congress, Dr. Maxine Dexter.
“Having worked with Tony on addressing the fentanyl crisis, I’ve seen firsthand his commitment and integrity,” Dexter said. “I am confident he has the ability to effectively lead in our new form of government.” Dexter is the Democratic Nominee for Oregon’s Third Congressional District, the seat currently held by retiring Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
Morse, who has worked with Dexter in his role as a Recovery Advocate, was honored to receive her endorsement.
“Dr. Dexter and I are both focused on reducing overdoses in our communities, and her leadership on this issue in the Oregon Legislature has been outstanding,” Morse said. “I’m running for Portland City Council to put recovery into action, and to help solve our drug and addiction crisis. It’s an honor to be supported by such a strong leader who knows how to show up for her constituents and deliver,” Morse added. “Through collaboration with our partners in Congress, the state Legislature, and Multnomah County, Portland can build a system that gets more treatment to more people more quickly.”
Morse has been endorsed by a growing list of public officials, including Multnomah County District Attorney-Elect Nathan Vasquez, Portland City Commissioners and Mayoral Candidates Carmen Rubio and Rene Gonzalez, and Andy Mendenhall, MD, Addiction Medicine and Population Health.
To learn more about Tony and his endorsers, visit www.tonyforportland.com.
PORTLAND — Portland City Council Candidate Tony Morse, well known to many for his work as a Recovery Advocate, has been endorsed by Multnomah County District Attorney Elect Nathan Vasquez.
“Tony Morse has worked extensively in addiction policy, and he knows that supporting recovery is good for public safety,” Vasquez said. “I’m proud to endorse him for Portland City Council District 4.” Vasquez, who defeated incumbent Mike Schmidt in the May primary election, will play a significant role in responding to Portland’s addiction crisis when he takes office in January.
Pursuant to HB 4002, bipartisan legislation that Governor Kotek signed earlier this year, Multnomah County and the Multnomah County District Attorney are able to design and implement a “deflection” program to connect people in need of drug treatment with addiction services more directly. Deflection programs depend on collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals, and are intended to balance accountability and public safety with the need to expand pathways to addiction recovery.
Morse, a person in long-term recovery, expressed gratitude for Vasquez’s support. “The addiction crisis presents both public safety and public health challenges, and I’m honored to earn the support of District Attorney Elect Vasquez,” Morse said. “Improving access to addiction services requires a strong partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals, and I’m eager to work with both to help make sure Portland has a successful deflection program.”
Morse, who has also been endorsed by multiple addiction and recovery experts, including Andy Mendenhall, MD, Addiction Medicine and Population Health, and 4D Recovery Executive Director Tony Vezina, stressed his readiness to work on one of Portland’s most serious issues.
“I’m running for Portland City Council because Portland has an addiction crisis, and we need a recovery champion in City Hall to solve it.”
To learn more about Tony and his growing list of endorsers, visit www.tonyforportland.com.
