PORTLAND, OR - Excerpt from Chris Smith campaign website: www.citizensmith.us Surrounded by supporters, Chris Smith officially announced his bid for Portland City Council this morning at an Ankeny Plaza press conference. Standing next to his partner, Staci Paley, and the Skidmore Fountain, with its well-known inscription Good citizens are the riches of a city, Smith gave his first speech as a candidate for the seat currently held by Commissioner Sam Adams.In his remarks, candidate Smith, who as an activist advocated the adoption of the Voter Owned Elections public campaign finance system stated that, Our campaign will work to be an example of how Voter Owned Elections should be used: honestly, transparently, and as an invitation to participation by voters.Known civically for his work as a transportation and neighborhood activist, Smith spent the previous week coordinating a portion of Project Homeless Connect, an event sponsored by the City of Portland and Multnomah County that...