Ted Wheeler

“Wishful thinking did not give Oregonians the bottle bill. Wishful thinking did not give the public access to beaches. Nor can we expect wishful thinking to turn around a decades-long disinvestment in our higher education system.”

“The trading mechanism proposed in Clean Energy Jobs is based upon sound free-market principles. It will allow emitters to find the most cost-effective ways to meet emissions reduction goals.”

“I am mindful of my responsibilities as state treasurer, and I will not shirk those responsibilities.”

“Violence is not and has never been a legitimate means to a political end.”

“When Oregon was founded as a state in 1857, its constitution explicitly banned Black people from visiting, living and owning property here.”

“Portland has a proud history of protest.”

“I'm willing to take criticism all day long from Fox News. But I'm not willing to accept criticism from Fox News of the men and women of the Portland Police Bureau.”

“We have an obligation at the local level to do everything we can with the resources we have. And we do those things. But we're never going to solve homelessness - not here in Portland, not here in any major city in America - if we keep assuming that it is purely a local issue.”

“The porridge is either two hot or too cold. At any given moment in this city the police are being criticized for being heavy handed and intervening too quickly, or they're being criticized for being standoffish and not intervening quickly enough.”

“Is Portland worse off than other cities? Is Portland really 'Tent City U.S.A.?' I want to be clear: The answer is no. While the homeless situation in Portland is significant and unacceptable, it is not unique.”

“There's no question that, in nearly seven weeks of nightly demonstrations, the police have done many things right, and they've done some things wrong as well.”

“If you can't create a world-class university, why not invite one in?”

“We have to nurture and support the idea of pluralism.”

“I said I wanted to lay the foundation for my governance and that included building relations with the City Council, with bureau directors, making sure we had the right leaders in place, making sure we're communicating with community groups that have an interest in of policymaking. I feel that we did that.”

“I didn't get into politics so that I could take little bites around the edges.”

“The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.”

“The changing climate is pushing already vulnerable communities into crisis situations. Children with asthma are forced to miss school and stay inside due to poor air quality. Day laborers and construction workers must work outside in dangerous temperatures. People without homes are unable to escape the impacts of hotter summers and wetter winters.”

“There is a national climate here. We're seeing a rise in hate speech, in intolerance, in racism, in division.”

“I have a beautiful desk. I rarely sit behind it. That's not where my job is. My job is in the community.”

“It sends the wrong message to participate in hosted golf and other entertainment activities while thousands of Oregonians face foreclosure, unemployment or are simply struggling.”