Jonathan Sauerwein, 56, has been involved in politics since he was 5. His mother has always urged him to run for office. But it didn’t occur to him to run for Vancouver mayor until this month.
“Friends and neighbors were complaining they didn’t have a choice because the other candidate dropped out,” Sauerwein said.
Anne McEnerny-Ogle’s opponent Steven Cox withdrew from the race Sept. 26 after he made false allegations against Councilor Jack Burkman.
Sauerwein filed as a declared write-in candidate Oct. 2.
“I’ve tried to do things over the years in different channels because I honestly believe we can get things done as individuals if we pick a topic and focus on it,” he said. “I’ve avoided running all my life even though I’ve been asked to. Now it’s the time.”
Sauerwein has a background in staff and project management. Most recently, he worked as a project manager for Project Access Now, where he coordinated Outreach, Enrollment and Access — a pilot project between the State of Oregon’s Governor’s Office, SEIU and major Portland hospitals to ensure low-income families had access to health care.
That background is why Sauerwein chose to run for mayor instead of City Council Position 1, another race where only one candidate remains. Scott Campbell died Sept. 17, leaving just Maureen McGoldrick vying for the position.
“I figure it’s a better position to be in to work with all the different council representatives and make a change,” he said.
With ballots hitting mail boxes Oct. 20, Sauerwein acknowledges he has a difficult road ahead of him. His campaign plans center around a website, as well as posters, flyers and maybe signs — if he gets to it.
Sauerwein’s position as the anti-status quo is his biggest selling point in a last-minute dash for mayor.
“(I want to) get things done immediately that will make a small difference instead of hearing, ‘Well, we’re working on that,'” he said.
Less than two weeks into his campaign, Sauerwein doesn’t have any endorsements. But he’s planning to ask for endorsements from Gov. Kate Brown and former Oregon Health Authority Director Lynne Saxton based on his work with them on Outreach, Enrollment and Access.
“I’m not too worried,” he said.
