Mayoral Staffer Andrea Valderrama Officially Announces Run for City Council

Valderrama previously considered a run for State Senate.

By Rachel Monahan

Andrea Valderrama, a staffer with Mayor Ted Wheeler, has officially announced she's entering the race for the City Council seat being vacated by Commissioner Dan Saltzman.

WW previously reported Valderarrama was eyeing a run.

Valderrama, who opted not to a run against state Senator Rod Monroe, works for the mayor as a senior policy adviser and previously worked for former City Commissioner Steve Novick.

Novick and Rep. Diego Hernandez (D-East Portland) have endorsed her, according to her website.

She will enter a race already crowded with candidates. County Commissioner Loretta Smith has said she intends to run, but won't officially announce until January. Jo Ann Hardesty, head of the Portland NAACP and a former legislator, and Felicia Williams, a neighborhood association president, have officially entered the race. Stuart Emmons, an architect and former candidate for City Council, is officially eyeing a run.

Two endorsements no one is expected to receive: City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who has previously said he plans to stay neutral, and now Mayor Ted Wheeler.

"The mayor does not plan to endorse in this race," says spokesman Michael Cox.

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