Sam Sachs touts anti-hate message in District 2 campaign

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- To date, 71 people are running for the 12 seats on the new Portland City Council. Three candidates will be elected by ranked-choice voting in each of the four city districts.

In District 2, which represents North and Northeast Portland, 23 candidates are running.. So far, it's the greatest number of candidates in any of the districts.

Candidate Sam Sachs, founder of the non-profit the No Hate Zone, was this week's guest on Eye on Northwest Politics. The nonprofit promotes and advocates for racial equality and minority rights.

Over his career, Sachs has been a human rights commissioner for the City of Portland, a diversity instructor with the Oregon Department of Public Safety and Standards, as well as a park ranger, among other roles.

When asked about the origin of the No Hate Zone and its mission, Sachs explained it came from firsthand experience with antisemitism when growing up in a predominantly Christian environment.

"In my younger years, I would use violence to deal with antisemitism or hate," he said. "Then I got to a point in my life where I realized that violence wasn't the answer, that I can't have hate in my heart for those who have hate for me. And as a reminder to me not to have hate, I created the No Hate Zone."

Sachs added that his current campaign for Portland City Council is ultimately a culmination of his life's work, which included serving with Avel Gordly, the first African-American woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate.

"I saw the way she carried herself with grace and character and compassion," he recalled. "I also noticed that it wasn't about her. It was about the community and what the community needs and how to we bring people together. That's kind of been an inspiration in my work."

In 2021, the No Hate Zone put up billboards in the city against gun violence. Although this received mixed opinions on both sides of the issue, Sachs argues it achieved the goal of bringing attention to the rash of gun violence Portland continues to see. Even though the campaign spurred city funding to multiple nonprofits, as well as a state of emergency declared by Mayor Ted Wheeler, Sachs noted the fight is not over yet.

"Too many Black and brown people, too many people in our community of colors are dying from gun violence and we have to make it a priority," he emphasized. "We can't let the foot off the pedal, so to speak."

Sachs, who majored in African American studies at Portland State University, has frequently spoken out on issues related to the Black community in Portland. District 2, which he is looking to represent, has also traditionally been African-American. He says his investment in the fate and future of the community comes from him knowing how it feels to be the focus of hate, due to his Jewish heritage.

"If you want people to speak up for you, you have to speak up for others as well," he said. "I recognize the influence and the privilege I have as a white guy to be able to try to change or have an impact in moving all of those issues forward to make the world a better place for everyone - not just them - but for all of us."

With District 2's ballot being a crowded field, Sachs notes that what separates him from the other candidates is his ability to bring people together from both sides to find solutions - such as communities of color and police - and his lobbying to pass legislation still in effect today.

"I can really only speak to my qualifications," he concluded.

Watch the full interview in the video above.