Who's running for Portland City Council: District 3
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There are more candidates running to represent District 3 in Portland's expanded city council than any other, but only a third have garnered enough donations to receive public matching funds.
Why it matters: District 3 represents the entirety of inner SE Portland and includes several NE neighborhoods, where there are over 120,000 registered voters, more than any other district.
Catch up quick: The Portland City Council will expand from four commissioners to 12 starting next year — three chosen from each of the city's four quadrants.
- The six candidates elected to represent District 3 and District 4 will only serve two-year terms, while the rest of the council — and the mayor — will serve four.
Zoom in: Only 10 out of the 30 District 3 candidates qualified for the city's small donor election program.
Here's a brief look at who's running.
Angelita Morillo is a policy advocate for a nonprofit aimed at ending hunger in Oregon who previously worked for former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. She's also gained a following on TikTok, where she discusses local government issues.
- She's been endorsed by several local unions, Jane Fonda's climate political action committee and mayoral hopeful Commissioner Carmen Rubio.
Tiffany Koyama Lane is a public school teacher and lead organizer for the Portland Public Schools' teachers union.
- Koyama Lane is also endorsed by Rubio and several other state representatives, including Reps. Rob Nosse, Travis Nelson and Khanh Pham, as well as the Portland Association of Teachers.
Jesse Cornett is the interim policy director for a nonprofit aimed at connecting those recovering from addiction with treatment. He previously worked for U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during the latter's 2020 presidential run.
- He's also endorsed by PAT, Rubio and several other Portland-area politicians.
Steve Novick is an environmental law attorney with the Oregon Justice Department and former Portland commissioner, serving on the council from 2013 to 2017. He was also a staunch supporter of changing the city government's structure.
- He's endorsed by several large labor unions as well as former Gov. Kate Brown.
Daniel DeMelo is the secretary for the Kerns Neighborhood Association and previously served as chair on the budget advisory board of the Joint Office of Homelessness. He publicly called out the agency over its use of tax dollars.
- He's endorsed by unions representing Portland police and firefighters as well as Commissioner Rene Gonzalez.
Rex Burkholder is a partner at a communications firm, a co-founder of The Street Trust and a trained biologist. He previously served on the Metro Council from 2000 to 2012.
- Burkholder is also an organizer who played a key role in efforts to pass Measure 110 and 114. He's endorsed by several politicians, including three former area mayors.
Ahlam Osman is the president of an environmental nonprofit and co-founder of Old Town's Above GRND Coffee. During her time at Portland State University, she worked in local government, including with the Multnomah County Youth Commission and Metro's waste program.
- She's endorsed by state Sen. Jama Kayse.
Chris Flanary works as a housing program specialist with the City of Portland and is the union officer representing area municipal workers. Flanary is endorsed by a dozen labor organizations.
Harrison Kass is a lawyer and freelance journalist who works as a policy adviser for Gonzalez and previously served on Mayor Ted Wheeler's community safety team.
- Kass is endorsed by Gonzalez, the Portland Police Association and several local Teamsters unions.
Luke Zak is a sales representative for a local tourism nonprofit, Travel Salem, and a grassroots organizer and advocate for voting rights and same-sex marriage.
- Zak is endorsed by three other area city council members as well as the LGBT+ Victory Fund.
Go deeper: For more information on all of the candidates running in Portland City Council's District 3 race, check out the Portland Mercury, Rose City Reform and The Oregonian.
