Tom Potter is the former Mayor of the city of Portland, Oregon in the United States. He was elected in 2004, and left office in January 2009. He was succeeded by City Commissioner Sam Adams. Prior to Potter's service as mayor, he was Portland's police chief.
On November 2, 2004, Potter defeated City Commissioner Jim Francesconi in the non-partisan Portland mayoral race. Potter was inaugurated on January 3, 2005, succeeding Mayor Vera Katz (who ha...
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Tom Potter is the former Mayor of the city of Portland, Oregon in the United States. He was elected in 2004, and left office in January 2009. He was succeeded by City Commissioner Sam Adams. Prior to Potter's service as mayor, he was Portland's police chief.
On November 2, 2004, Potter defeated City Commissioner Jim Francesconi in the non-partisan Portland mayoral race. Potter was inaugurated on January 3, 2005, succeeding Mayor Vera Katz (who had served for three terms, but did not run for a fourth.) Francesconi, who raised a city-record $1 million and outspent Potter 6 to 1, was an early favorite for Mayor; Potter, who limited campaign contributions to $25 in the primary and to $100 in the general election, defeated Francesconi in both elections.
Portland is unlike most large United States cities, in that the Portland City Council performs many duties that are more typically in a mayor's purview. Potter advocated for a change to that system, advocating for a "strong mayor"...
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