Juan Carlos Gonzalez
Candidate for:
Metro Council - President
What drives me to seek an elected position
I am the proud son of immigrant parents from Mexico who instilled in me the importance of a strong commitment to serving our community. Born and raised in Washington County, many of my neighbors and peers did not have the opportunity to achieve their full potential or pursue their dreams. After graduating from Georgetown University, I knew I wanted to return to the community that raised me and dedicate my career to removing these barriers. In 2018, I was elected to Metro Council as the youngest and first Latino councilor in Metro history.
I recently became a father, which has allowed me to look at our region with fresh eyes. I’m thinking about the future I want for my daughter and the status quo is not going to serve the needs of my family or other working families in Greater Portland. I am ready to lead our region to the future our communities deserve. Where Oregon-grown businesses can thrive, where working people can access life-changing opportunities, where elders can retire with dignity, where young families can plant roots and where we invest in big projects that change lives for generations. Our region is ready for bold, new leadership to prioritize diverse voices and build a future rooted in shared prosperity for all.
The first three priorities or issues I want to tackle
Affordability: Rising cost of housing and basic necessities is pricing working families out of the neighborhoods they love. I’ve spent eight years fighting this, helping deliver over 5,000 affordable housing units, building land-use reform to enable 20,000 new units and developing a Housing Accelerator Fund to streamline permitting processes and support local governments. As Metro Council President, I will keep building deeply affordable homes and family-sized units centered near jobs and transit.
Belonging: Greater Portland’s diversity is our superpower. As the son of immigrants who came to Oregon from Mexico, I know what it means to build a life in a place that was not designed to include you. As Metro President, I will make sure every person—no matter who they are, where they are from or who they love—feels welcomed and protected.
Competitiveness: Greater Portland is Oregon’s economic engine. If we don’t invest in that engine, the decline in services, revenue and regional capacity will only deepen. Economic opportunity and shared prosperity has to be top priorities. I plan to use every policy tool available to uplift our construction industry, help Oregon-grown businesses thrive and ensure working people can access stable, family-wage jobs.
The experiences and insights I will bring to the office
As Metro Councilor, I’ve led major regional investments to make our transit systems safer, expand affordable housing and build opportunities for working families. I helped implement some of Metro’s most significant initiatives, including the Affordable Housing Bond, the Supportive Housing Services measure, the Parks & Nature Bond and several land-use expansions. I served as Chair for JPACT, delivering advancements for our transportation systems. Since my first term, I’ve led the TV Highway Bus Rapid Transit project, partnering with communities to bring safer streets and bus stops to District 4’s most dangerous corridor.
In addition to my vast experience working with elected leaders and community partners, I’ve also worked in the nonprofit sector for a decade. After college, I began working at Centro Cultural, Oregon’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers for Latino families, where I now serve as Chief Strategy Officer. This work informs my approach to public service, ensuring our policies bring value and opportunity to every community.
I am running to be the youngest and first person of color elected as Metro President. I’ll bring my deep understanding of leadership and collaboration to challenge the status quo and deliver prosperity across Greater Portland.
What being a Democrat in Multnomah County means to me
To me, being a Democrat means uplifting our shared values and putting working families first. I’m proud to live in Greater Portland where we are committed to standing up for marginalized communities, protecting our most vulnerable neighbors and ensuring our policies advance opportunity and freedom for all.
At a time when our federal administration continues to attack our civil liberties, defund critical services and strip rights away from communities, we need to have a strong, united front to stand up for our Oregon values. This means using every policy tool available to help working people thrive in our region and ensuring that our state and local governments bring real value to those they serve.