Ten years ago, I worked with then-Portland Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick to help pass Portland’s original gas tax. So, when Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps called me recently to ask for my help with the renewal effort – Measure 26-245 – I was happy to help. Commissioner Mapps’ call was also timely, since the day before a pothole exploded my car’s front right tire as I drove down Southwest Taylors Ferry Road to Southwest Macadam. Luckily, my car did not veer off the road into the chasm or his call might have been too late.