One Saturday this summer, I went to Slow Pour Coffee and Bar in Sellwood to finish a piece, and quickly realized I was surrounded by what seemed like dozens of people on first dates— what I later learned were shuffle dates. They talked to someone for ten minutes, and then an alarm on their phones went off, and then they talked to someone else for ten minutes. At the end of 90 minutes, they had gone on nine first dates, and hopefully matched with at least one.
I knew immediately I wanted to do the same thing, but with city council candidates. I asked Dustin, the manager at Slow Pour how he felt about this, and he said yes! Since Slow Pour is in Sellwood, in District 4, I invited only candidates running in this district and only six (update: now seven!), because nine candidates, over the course of 90 minutes, seemed exhausting (and this wouldn’t even include everyone who’s running in District 4—which, as of September 1st, is 27.) Voters will get into small groups and talk to a candidate for ten minutes, and then rotate to the next one. At the end of the event, they’ll have met with seven candidates, and hopefully want to vote for at least one of them.
The goals are to:
attract younger voters who are statistically less likely to vote, and more likely to shuffle date (but all ages are welcome!)
provide a more intimate, conversational setting where voters who are normally intimidated to ask questions in front of a large audience might feel more comfortable, and where conversations can be more honest and authentic
make the election & the democratic process more fun, dynamic, and engaging
The event will start at 6pm to meet, mingle and get in small groups, and then shuffle dating will go from 6:30-7:40pm. It’s free, but you are encouraged to buy a drink upon arrival since Slow Pour is generously providing its space. And if you’re not already a subscriber to the Portland Stack, make it happen and subscribe!
In real shuffle dating, there is no host. But in this version, I will host and I’m thrilled to! I’ll assemble and organize the groups of voters upon arrival and help facilitate introductions. But the conversations with the candidates won’t be facilitated—they’ll just be between you and them!
The confirmed candidates are: Lisa Freeman, Eli Arnold, Andra Vltavín, Bob Weinstein, Ciatta Thompson, Olivia Clark, and Tony Morse. (Again, there are 27 District 4 candidates who will appear on the ballot this November. Under the new voting method, Single Transferable Vote, voters will rank up to six of them.)
Not sure what district you’re in? Here’s a map of the four geographic voting districts. Have friends who live in NW, SW, or Sellwood? Please forward them this invite! Or share the video above on whatever social platform you use—I posted it here on Instagram and here on X.
Any other questions? Let me know!
FULL DISCLOSURE: My husband and I run a small production company, and both Lisa Freeman and Bob Weinstein are clients. I worked in traditional newsrooms for many years where these kinds of lines were never crossed, but I earned a salary while working for those news organizations. I do not earn a salary writing on Substack. That is why I’m always asking all of you to support the work and become paid subscribers! you can do that right here, btw:
In any event, I strive to be honest, accurate, factual, and rigorous in my reporting & fact-checking, always, no matter the subject. Thank you for reading!
Candidate Shuffle Dating