slides: 7 Things the Mayor Could Do By Reshuffling City Hall

Monday, January 26, 2015

Cornelius Swart, GoLocalPDX Director of Content

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales is pondering a major power play at City Hall. The Mayor’s office said Friday that Hales was considering bringing all the city’s 27 bureau’s back into his control temporarily while he writes the city budget. He could then reassign the bureaus to different city commissioners.

The ability to assign and take away bureaus from commissioners is the most powerful tool Hales has at his disposal. Reshuffling City Hall would be a way for the Mayor to reassert his leadership and hit the reset button on a number of issues that have soured with the public, such as the Portland Street Fee. It would also give him an opportunity to get relationships with other commissioners back on track.

Experts say it’s a risky and disruptive move, but one that might put him in the best possible position for a re-election campaign.

Related Slideshow: 7 Things the Mayor Could Do by Reorganizing City Hall

Here are some things a reshuffle might do for Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

Prev Next

7. Shake up the Bureau Directors

While commissioners come and go, the directors are in charge of their bureaus in the long term. Bringing all the bureaus under his control during the budgeting process would force the directors to answer to the Mayor, if only for a short time. This move would send a strong message to the bureaucracy that the Mayor, in fact, is in charge.

Prev Next

6. Change the Staffing

In the past, some Mayors took over the bureaus and reshuffled their staff, most notably, the directors. Mayor Tom Potter and others have used bureau reshuffles to oust directors and other staff.

Prev Next

5. Realign Bureaus with Commissioners' Interests

Each Commissioner has his or her own strengths and interests. Amanda Fritz has always been passionate about neighborhoods, while Nick Fish is equally focused on housing. Giving the Office of Neighborhood Involvement back to Fritz and the Housing Bureau back to Fish might build political capital.

Prev Next

4. Reset Relationships

It would take significant negotiating with commissioners to execute a reshuffle smoothly. The Mayor would have an opportunity to rebuild alliances or work to align commissioners with his vision of a city council that functions more like a board of directors than a gang of mini-mayors.

Prev Next

3. Take Over The Bureau of Transportation

Hales' boldest play would be to take the Bureau of Transportation for himself. While it lays the responsibility of the Portland Street Fee squarely on his shoulders, if he is successful, Hales could claim victory over an issue that has vexed him since he was on City Council more than a decade ago.

Prev Next

2. Look Like A Strong Mayor

While most Portlanders don’t pay much attention to City Hall intrigue, if the Mayor appears to be cleaning house, it’s bound to earn points with some voters.

Prev Next

1. Get into Position for Year Three

If the Mayor successfully pulls off a reshuffle, he could end up in a stronger political position. If he decides to run for re-election, the move would come just in time for this year’s critical window for political fundraising.