First and foremost, I am running because the I believe in the promise of Portland.
I have experienced it, living here for 25 years, and know we can restore the vitality and health of our city. I can be agent to get us back on the path.

I have more than twenty years of service to the people of Portland, and seek to apply my expansive network and experience to greater benefit as a member of the new elected body. As a leader in the City and County governments, I have championed smart resource investments and delivery of core services. I have built programs that provide direct service to address the issues that the public cares most about, including camping in our public spaces. I have also led city department reorganization in preparation of the new form of government, and understand clearly how operational and legislative processes will change after January 1, 2025.

Also, I am deeply invested in the city of Portland as my home and community, as is my family. My husband worked as a leader in the City government for more than 30 years and my daughter was a PPS student, and we all volunteer in a variety of ways giving back to the community.

In my years of experience as Chair of the Joint Office of Homeless Services Community Budget Advisory Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how our local governments have struggle to effectively reduce unsheltered homelessness. Despite spending over $70,000 per unsheltered person this year just on direct services, when we asked local government to commit and say that this year’s $412 million plan would lead to at least one fewer people left to suffer and struggle on our streets, county and city leadership refused to make this commitment.

The trust and goodwill of Portlanders has been taken advantage of. Enough is enough.

We need pragmatic solutions that deliver real results, not just good intentions. I’m running to bring accountability, fiscal responsibility, and tangible progress to the homelessness crisis and the interconnected issues of unsafe neighborhoods, unaffordable housing, and unaccountable government.

With my extensive experience and data-driven approach, I am uniquely qualified to lead the charge for change. We can build a better Portland, together.

I’m running for Portland City Council because District 3’s numbers tell the story: 167,000 people, 74,800 households, with 35,000 earning $75,000 or less—many of whom need affordable housing. These aren’t just statistics—they’re real people facing housing costs and limited resources.

My housing policy emphasizes cooperative ownership, land banking, and increasing density to prevent displacement and expand affordable options. I propose a Division of Urban Canopy & Sustainability to plant 2,000 mature trees annually, cooling neighborhoods and improving livability. I also back a publicly owned utility that prioritizes people over corporate profits.

We must modernize affordable housing. Instead of relying on rentals, I’m pushing for ownership options like cooperatives, beautiful apartments, and cooperatively owned trailer parks to stabilize communities and reduce displacement.

As a leader on City Council, I will champion bold infrastructure projects like capping freeways to create green spaces and reconnect neighborhoods, focusing on areas outside the downtown core.

Portland is an inspiring and inspired city, full of good ideas. But we need more than good ideas. We need implementation. That is what I know how to do. I’m running as the most boring nerd in Portland because I’ve been thinking through the implications of policies my whole adult life. I fear if Portland doesn’t start showing voters that it can deliver on its progressive ideas, on time and under budget, there will be a backlash both here and across the state.

I have taught public school for 16 years, and the challenges our city is facing show up directly in my classroom, from student who lose housing midway through the year due to eviction, to families trying to navigate the city’s maze of behavioral health resources. I’m not someone who ever dreamed of political office–I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was seven years old. But as I’ve stepped into leadership roles in my community and my union, and built trust and relationships with people across Portland, I’ve come to see the need for regular working people to be part of our city government. Our new system of districts and the changes to our ballot give us a chance for real representation.

I’m running for Portland City Council because our city is in crisis. From the visible suffering caused by homelessness and addiction to the rising cost of living, Portlanders are struggling to find hope for the future. I’ve lived these challenges myself and know we can do better. We need leaders who bring bold ideas and real solutions, leaders who can navigate complex policy while prioritizing compassion.

I’ve spent two decades working in policy and electoral politics, including serving as a top aide in U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. Afterward, I helped secure healthcare for 55,000 Oregonians. Resolving homelessness and addiction a will be my main focus if elected. What sets me apart is my experience and my ability to work with people, even when we don’t always agree.

PBOT’s public engagement process is broken. Decisions are being made for and by special interest groups. Drivers and neighborhoods are being left out of the up front decision making process. Projects are not being developed holistically thereby creating negative impacts such as more traffic congestion, fuel consumption and emissions. The needs of senior citizens are not being considered. A number of Portland Comprehensive Plan policies are being ignored including Policy 8.28 which reads: “Ensure the costs of constructing and providing public facilities and services are equitably shared by those who benefit from the provision of those facilities and services.” The social engineering must come to an end. I will advocate for proportional representation from taxpaying motorists, neighborhoods and seniors on all PBOT advisory committees, and work with other council members to develop an equitable and balanced strategy for recruiting committee members thereby replacing the stacked decks of special interest representation.

Because after 20 years of working abroad, primarily in developing countries and conflict zones, I’ve decided it’s time to spend more of my effort at building up my adopted hometown. I believe Portland should work for all people, not just those who can afford to live here, but neither should those voices be ignored simply because they’ve had so much influence for so long.

That means we need a city council that takes seriously the responsibility to not only engage and listen to constituents, but work together, to collaborate with fellow councilors to make Portland a better place for all.

Everyone who lives and works in Portland should have a say in what Portland becomes. Although only residents get to cast a vote for city council, Portland depends on thousands of people who cannot afford to live in our city, or have decided it’s no longer the best place for their family, but who commute here every day.

Portland should work for all people. Regardless of income, race, class, gender, career, or sexual preference.