Loretta Smith, Dan Ryan make their case for Portland City Council

Portland voters will decide between longtime political insider Loretta Smith and political newcomer Dan Ryan, who calls himself a change agent, as the next commissioner on Portland City Council. The winner in the Aug. 11 special election will take the late Nick Fish's council seat, Commissioner Position 2. Fish died in January after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. Smith, a former Multnomah County commissioner, and Ryan, the former executive director of the educational nonprofit All Hands Raised, were the top two vote-getters in the May primary between 18 candidates. Smith and Ryan joined KGW Straight Talk host Laural Porter for a modified debate as they pointed out differences they feel make them the better choice.