UPDATE 8:23am
An open letter from Hayden Island activist Ed Garren.  He states he's running for office, not against Saltzman, as Saltzman has not declared his intentions on re-election.  Garren makes his case below:

To my many friends and supporters.

This has been a whirlwind day.  After a busy morning, I went to city hall to declare my candidacy for seat #3 on the Portland City Commission.  This evening, I hosted a meeting of my neighborhood association and the Willamette University Sustainability Clinic, which is producing an Environmental Justice workshop in my community next Saturday the 14th.

I want to be very clear that I am NOT running against Dan Saltzman.  Mr. Saltzman has not declared if he will seek re-election, his only commitment on the subject is that he will announce his decision in January of 2010. 

Any publicly financed candidate must turn in 1,000 five dollar contributions on January 31 of 2010, so waiting for Dan to declare or not declare is not an option.   I think that Dan has done many wonderful things for this city, and my declaring for seat #3 is about offering the voters genuine choice next year. 

A lot of folks have encouraged me to run, as varied as environmental justice and sustainability activists, members of the press, homeless persons and their advocates, organized labor, cyclists, students, persons who care about people.  I have been honored by their encouragement, and ultimately, this bid is about them.

The first part of the election process begins with gathering at least 1,000 five dollar contributions to qualify for public financing.  Over the next week we will begin that process.   We are in the process of arranging house parties and other events and opportunities for folks to meet me, and make a contribution if they believe that I am a viable alternative to the status quo.  If I cannot get this basic grassroots support, then I have no business running, so the next eleven weeks will be significant in answering that question.

If you are interested in hosting an event on my behalf please let me know. 

The campaign can also accept "Seed Money" checks of up to $100 as a part of the Public Financing process.   Seed money contributions can be made out to "Ed for PDX 2010" and mailed to 813 SW Alder St., #004, Portland, OR 97205.  Please include disclosure information (Full name, address, occupation, phone #) with any donations. 

One other important milestone occurred today.  My mother Edna turned 97.  Born the day Woodrow Wilson was elected president, she was almost named Woodrow.  She is an amazing and strong woman, who left the abandoned train station she grew up in to complete high school on scholarship, (in the hills of north Georgia) and make a life as a legal secretary, business owner, and economic justice activist.  From her I learned the importance of education, hard work, enjoying the fruits of one's labor, caring for animals and people less fortunate, and the importance of having a sense of humor about the unexpected challenges life throws at us.  

A photo of her at her 90th birthday party, with my nephew Michael Lee Garren is attached.

Both of my parents instilled a strong ethic that with blessing comes responsibility, that any gifts I received from my creator are to be shared with this broken world, and that patience in the face of injustice is NEVER a virtue.

I myself will turn 60 on the 21st of this month, and we are planning a campaign kick off event that day, as soon as a suitable location can be identified.  This will be an afternoon "meet and greet" as well as contribution gathering and social mixing event.

Please feel free to forward this to your friends.  If you, or they want any information about who I am and what I stand for, simply do a "Google" search for "Ed Garren."

Regards,  Edward "Ed" Garren