He got here before we did
By the time we really began paying attention to Portland city politics about a decade ago, Charles Jordan was starting to be referred to in the past tense. He spent 10 years on the City Council, starting in the Goldschmidt years, and another 14 as the director of the city's parks.
We do recall some folks saying that he was given the parks job, in 1989, on the condition that he not run for mayor. Apparently there had been some dispute about hiring him between then-Mayor Bud Clark and then-Commissioner Mike Lindberg.
Anyway, Jordan, now 74 years old, is being honored by having a community center renamed after him. This might be as good a time as any to fill in the gaps about him in our Portland history. Readers who were paying attention then, please help us out.
| Posted at 8:45 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (16)
Doesn't it look like a promo picture for a 70s TV series? "Starsky and Hutch" in the Rose City.
Posted by Bill McDonald | May 11, 2012 9:37 AM
Bill, you mean "Multnomah Vice" didn't pop into mind?
Posted by PMG | May 11, 2012 9:45 AM
Wow, so that's what a picture of Wyden in Oregon looks like.
You should save this, it's a collector's item due to its rarity.
Posted by Steve | May 11, 2012 10:09 AM
(Movie trailer voice) "In a town gone mad with political corruption, where even the craziest spending scheme was greased through without exception, two brave men said, 'Enough!'"
Posted by Bill McDonald | May 11, 2012 11:36 AM
Whenever there is no one I can vote for on the ballot for any city position I always write in Charles Jordan's name.
Posted by Ruth | May 11, 2012 11:38 AM
I think the Lindberg/Bud dispute was over the widespread suspicion that Jordan, who had left Portland to run the parks in Austin, TX, was coming back to run for mayor. Hence the agreement that Charles got the job, and would stay out of the race. I remember Jordan as a good fellow on a comparatively competent city council. Mildred Schwab would never put up with the nonsense we have today.
Posted by John | May 11, 2012 1:59 PM
Shaftzig!
Posted by Mojo | May 11, 2012 2:16 PM
I dunno...is that really Ron Wyden on or near the Willamette River?
Photo-shopping is so easy these days...
I recall that Charles Jordan was a pretty good guy.
Posted by portland native | May 11, 2012 3:57 PM
We should have drafted Jordan when we had the chance...
Posted by Tim | May 11, 2012 4:16 PM
We should have drafted Jordan when we had the chance...
If he and Wyden are relay standing side by side, Jordan would make an excellent center.
Posted by Allan L. | May 11, 2012 4:33 PM
I was on the boat that day. The photo op was staged for Geraldine Ferraro, who was in town stumping for Mondale. I think the top of her head is in the foreground of the picture. That was my first interaction with the Secret Service. It was quite an experience.
There were so many photographers taking pictures just a few feet away that it was difficult to hear Ferraro over the noise of the camera shutters clicking. After we had the little tugboat ride, which only lasted for about 20 minutes, we all got off at Waterfront Park and she gave her speech, then took off for Seattle.
I always felt Charles Jordan was a good man. I wish he would have gone further in local politics.
Posted by John Charles | May 11, 2012 6:12 PM
My only worry: From the looks of his mid-70s stud shot, linked to in my post, he was probably partying with Neil in that era. As we know, some of that went over at least one line, if not more.
Posted by Jack Bog | May 11, 2012 6:36 PM
No vice in Jordan, fashionable suit of the day notwithstanding. Good man. He has done more for Portland kids than any 100 of the usual suspects.
Posted by dyspeptic | May 11, 2012 7:03 PM
I don't know if it was the same campaign swing, but I met Geraldine Ferraro and shook hands with her at the Portland Hilton back in 1984. She was just glassy eyed from campaigning all day.
I've seen some politicians seriously loopy on the trail, but the thing I remember about Ferraro's visit was the national press.
They'd been on the road for God knows how long, and they were crazy from the grind. After they arrived in their bus, they came down the escalator to the ballroom level, and they were literally making barnyard animal noises. Simple language had escaped them by then. It was like a scene in "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" by the good doctor.
Sometimes I miss the hotel business.
Posted by Bill McDonald | May 11, 2012 7:19 PM
In all the times I appeared before Commissioner Jordan I will always remember his politeness, his carefully considered questions and comments, and his non-patronizing ways-compared to some other commissioners he excelled.
It's worth noting on his Parks heritage that he didn't have all the hyperbole of today's Council, Parks Bureau and the rest of Portland pols and bureaucrats about being an "environmentalist", or "Green", or "Sustainable". He used common sense and just did it. Back then, before he left the Council in 1984, he'd probably be a little embarrassed to be called or use those titles.
I wonder if he laughs at all the environmental words and little action. And the many city policies and codes that are contrary.
Thinking about it, he is modest; even though he is a foot taller. Our long serving neighborhood association Park Committee Chairperson Amanda Jacobson loved working with him and thought of him as always being fair. That says a lot, today.
Posted by Jerry | May 11, 2012 9:46 PM
I dealt with him on the threat of selling half of Powell Park to Fred Meyer for a store at SE 22nd and Powell.
I was impressed. He invited comment, privately. Listened. And the issue was dismissed. It didn't happen.
He was quiet and effective. And...seemed to have the interest of citizens at heart.
Posted by godfry | May 11, 2012 10:09 PM