19 Facts About Charlie Hales

Charles Andrew Hales was born on January 22,1956 and is a former American politician who served as the 52nd mayor of Portland, Oregon, from 2013 to 2017.

Charlie Hales previously served on the Portland City Council from 1993 to 2002.

Charles Andrew Charlie Hales was born in Washington, DC, in January 1956.

Charlie Hales attended public schools in Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Fairfax County, where he participated in band and drama club.

Charlie Hales graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political theory.

Charlie Hales was sworn in as a City Commissioner in January 1993.

Charlie Hales completed the first phase of the Portland Streetcar system, the first urban streetcar in the US in almost 50 years.

Charlie Hales completed the planning of the Pearl District and South Waterfront redevelopment areas, which were designed as dense, transit-oriented "new urban" neighborhoods.

Charlie Hales hired the first chief from outside the Bureau ranks, and created an apprenticeship program that added over 80 women and people of color to what had previously been a 99-percent white, male organization.

Charlie Hales became the only Portland politician to vote against Joint Terrorism Task Force involvement.

Charlie Hales' attendance declined in 2001 during his campaign for the executive director position of the Port of Portland.

In 2011, Charlie Hales announced that he would be a candidate for mayor in 2012.

Charlie Hales reformed police practices, prioritizing community policing through walking beats and his choice in police chief, the community-minded Larry O'Dea.

On March 6,2015, Charlie Hales announced he would seek reelection for the 2016 mayoral election.

Charlie Hales faced controversy over his decisions regarding Portland's homeless issue.

Charlie Hales initially declared a housing emergency in 2015 before experimenting with a "Safe Sleep Policy" which promoted non-enforcement of anti-camping laws on sidewalks and rights of way, which was promptly met with lawsuits from local businesses and neighborhood groups.

Charlie Hales was protested by residents adjacent to the Springwater Corridor Trail.

Charlie Hales was criticized as failing in oversight of the Portland Police and effort to gain accountability.

Charlie Hales received public criticism during his 2012 campaign for voting eight times in Oregon while a Washington resident.