District 2: Robert O'Brien

Your Top Three Priorities

    1. Districting

    2. School Committee Structure / Election Cycle

    3. Elected Mayor debate

Please list prior applicable experience:

    Master's, Policy & Mgmt, Muskie School, 07

    Elected, Ptld School Cmmt, 06; Policy Chair, 07

    Facilities Task Force, School Cmmt, 08-09

    Supt Search, Ptld School Cmmt, 08-09

    Pres., West End N’hood Ass’n, 06

    Reiche Design Workshop, 06

What do you hope to accomplish as part of the commission?

    A professional, respectable and complete process.

What do you see as issues within the current structure of city government?

    Attracting, incentivizing and retaining good candidates to run and serve for several terms.

What are you thoughts on the 1986 charter report? What prior issues would be the most helpful for the current Commission to consider?

    Interesting debate on whether Council and Committee seats should be elected at-large, exclusively by districts, or a mix, as we currently have. Worth discussing again, but there's no strong imperative for change in my opinion.

What other city charters have you examined? How would it inform your approach to analyzing our city?s charter?

    Interested in Boston's use of an appointed School Board (pros and cons). Will explore more models in the coming weeks.

Would you support an elected mayor? If no, why not?

    Yes, but very concerned about potential cons: contentious 2 way races/divided city; many candidates, winner elected by small percentage; races becoming deeply partisan; the amount of money needed to run and who's paying; a strong mayor that could bypass planning process.

What parts of the current city charter do you feel are antiquated?

    Not much. It was less than 25 years ago that it was cleaned up, and only 32 years ago that it was revised before that. Yes, language should and will be updated, but I don’t see it being an overhaul of the Charter.

Would you consider re-districting the City of Portland? Why and how?

    Yes. Neighborhoods expand, evolve and mature over time, and the ability to group neighborhoods of the city with similar residential cultures and vested interests makes for stronger representation by their elected officials.
Would you modify the current relationship between the school committee and city council?
    Would like to examine. Would like to keep the two bodies autonomous with appropriate checks and balances.

What role do you think the charter commission should play to educate the public on changes made to the city charter?

    Minutes, research docs and drafts posted in timely manner on website. When a draft is ready, being able to package it for the press with significant changes highlighted is critical. Having talking points to be able to discuss it with Portland residents is also important.

What role is the charter commission for public engagement during the process of re-examining the charter?

    Public input is key. A representative public feedback group selected from various constituencies around the city makes for a great starting point to flesh out public concerns -- in addition to open meetings and public comment.