(1966-2025)

The Multnomah County Democrats mourn the loss of our colleague Moses, who devoted his life to serving his community and the party. Moses passed away suddenly early on Wednesday April 23.

As Rep. Dacia Grayber said in her moving memorial statement on the Oregon House floor, “I struggle to find the words to say what he meant to so many people because he was everywhere… at his core he brought people together.” 

Moses worked tirelessly for Democrats, at the local, state and national levels. Until last year, he was a PCP, district leader and the fundraising chair for the Multnomah County Democratic Party. He first served the Multnomah County Party in 2004 as the Communications Secretary. He served on the State Central Committee for the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO), as the Chair-appointed member on the DPO Rules Committee and as a member of the DPO President’s Council. He also represented Oregon at four Democratic National Conventions, supporting Hillary Clinton in 2008 and 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. Earlier this month, he posted on Facebook about his experience as a driver in the motorcade for then presidential candidate Clinton when she visited Oregon as part of her 2008 campaign. In January 2025, MultDems elected him as a Congressional District 1 Advisory Committee member.

In 2024, Moses ran for Portland City Council District 4, with a campaign mission to revitalize the city through clean-ups, small business support and office conversions to affordable housing. 

Moses’ company, Smart Voter Contact, specialized in voter contact by phone for Democratic Party candidates, causes and consultants nationwide. His clients included not only Oregon candidates like Senator Jeff Merkley, but also Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI), Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX) and the Washington House Democratic Caucus. In his spare time, Moses co-hosted Progressive Talk Radio and TV, a web-based show exploring critical issues affecting Oregon. 

“Moses was always willing to give to those who sometimes didn’t even know how to ask. He gave his time, his energy, his skills, all for the values he held close to his soul. Service was his goal and he did just that: serve,” said Salomé Chimuku, MultDems Chair. 

Indeed, wherever there was community need, Moses got involved.He served on the Multnomah County Community Budget Advisory Committee during 2018- 2023 and the Multnomah County Charter Review Committee in 2015 where he championed the MultCo Campaign Finance Reform measure through the committee and onto the ballot, where it was overwhelmingly approved. While his daughter attended Maplewood Elementary School, he served two terms as PTA president.

Dr. Rosa Colquitt, past Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, said, “I’ll always be grateful for the support Moses gave me in building and serving as admin for my website, Oregon Women for Biden-Harris/Harris-Walz. Beyond politics, as a single mother, the most important part of my existence, I so much admired Moses as I watched him parent his beautiful daughter.”

In his 2024 campaign statement for the MultDems Election Hub, Moses said,”The core values of Democrats are to make people’s lives better, which involves community participation and making sure that the policies that our elected officials pass benefit us, so that all residents can thrive. This includes supporting the statement that all workers deserve a living wage, equal pay for equal work and the right to unionize. This is essential for fostering an equitable, thriving and just society.”

Moses is survived by his 19 year old daughter Emma. He will be missed by the entire community. Our condolences go out to his family.