Former Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider owner vies for spot on Portland City Council
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — When the owner of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider announced he would close his Southeast Portland taproom, he told customers it was “time to move on.” What he didn’t say — and didn’t know yet — is that he would one day announce his candidacy for Portland City Council.
On Wednesday, 46-year-old Nat West launched his campaign for commissioner of District 2, which includes North Portland and the Madison South neighborhood.
Biden plan means $37.5 million more in student loans forgiven in Oregon, Washington
The former business owner shut down his beloved cider brand in September. Since then, he has started his new role as a TriMet bus driver — a job he told KOIN 6 he loves.
After West began working for TriMet, he said several people encouraged him to vie for a seat on City Council. He was initially uninterested due to the current commission form of government, but with the newly established voting districts, he believes he’s been presented with a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.
“I think that the current commissioners have a really hard job,” West said, “It’s kind of set up to fail. I don’t know how you’d be successful as a current city commissioner, but the new council structure that we have going in with this election gives an opportunity for a very different kind of person to run and to represent and to be elected to council.”
Wanted man barricades himself after entering home with knife: Police
West doesn’t have any political experience, but he noted that he wasn’t knowledgeable about cider before he first made his own in 2011. Throughout the following 12 years, the District 2 candidate said his drink brand gave him the platform to support progressive issues, donate to his community and partner with other entrepreneurs.
He now plans to run as the “small business candidate.” He aims to channel late mayor Bud Clark by holding campaign events in bars, restaurants, coffee shops and other small businesses.
West lists Portland’s most important issues as homelessness, a lack of addiction services and a shortage of mental health resources — but those won’t be the focus of his campaign.
Crash on US-30 in NW Portland causes 2-hour traffic delay
“What I really want to avoid is 12 new councilors, all opinionated people getting elected and all thinking that they are the experts on homelessness or addiction services or mental health services,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to not necessarily bringing my ideology to the new council, but bringing my ability to get people on the same page and to find common ground and to get things done.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
