FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Megan Doern, 503.552.6754

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Business Alliance Board of Directors decided in its monthly board meeting today to endorse Tom Hughes, the former mayor of Hillsboro, for Metro President.

Charles Wilhoite, chair of the Alliance board and managing director of Willamette Management Associates, made the following statement about the Alliance endorsement of Hughes:

“Because of Metro’s jurisdiction over land use decisions, transportation planning and a host of other issues that impact business and economic development, we felt it was pertinent to make an endorsement in this race.

“The board had a vigorous discussion this morning regarding all of the candidates and a difficult decision to make. Since our top priority is to help this region recover from the recession, the majority of our board members concluded that Tom Hughes has a proven ability to focus on job creation and economic development. His leadership in Washington County demonstrated an extraordinary ability to attract employers that provide family-wage jobs.”

Alliance board endorsements are based on a process that includes interviewing the viable candidates for the political office and presenting a recommendation to the board. Two-thirds of the board members present must agree before an endorsement is made.