Jefferson Smith Says He Wants a Coal Ban

WWeek:

<img src="http://www.wweek.com/portland/imgs/media.images/8295/lede_jefferson.t2.jpg"/>

Mayoral candidate <span>Rep. Jefferson Smith</span> (D-Portland) has been making noises since the May 15 primary about wading into the statewide debate on coal exports by passing<span> a Portland anti-coal resolution</span> similar to the one in Seattle. He's mentioned the issue in stump speeches, but without offering a firm stance.

Smith <span>made his anti-coal position official</span> this afternoon—in a comment on the website BlueOregon.

Commenting on an editorial about a coal train that derailed in Washington along the Columbia River, Smith briefly outlined <span>a platform to fight coal</span> in Oregon. 

"If surrounding areas say no, and Portland stays silent, it gets clear where the path of least resistance will be," Smith wrote, "and that means<span> tons (literally) of coal dust </span>moving by people and having potentially meaningful health impacts."

His plan starts with an anti-coal resolution modeled on Seattle's stance, calls for the city to support Gov. John Kitzhaber's efforts against coal terminals on the coast, and says the city should include <span>a ban on coal in its West Hayden Island deal. </span>

Smith tells <span>WW</span> he decided to make coal part of his campaign platform because he thinks it will be a major issue facing Oregon.

"It's coming up, and I don't see any particular reason to delay," he said. "No reason to keep it a secret."

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