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Loretta Smith, a former Multnomah County commissioner, announced Thursday she’s running for Portland City Council in District 1, which covers all of Portland east of Interstate 205.
Smith’s announcement comes after months of speculation that she would attempt to reenter politics in Portland.
She last held office in 2018 when she sat on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners from 2011 to 2018. Smith was only the second Black person elected to the county board. Prior to her tenure there, Smith spent two decades working for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
“We have a rare opportunity to build the city we believe in,” Smith said in a statement. “As a grandmother, it’s crystal clear to me that for those of us who know how to do and know what is at stake, we need to step up. East Portland deserves an experienced leader with a proven record of listening to the people she serves. Let’s go!”
Near the end of her second term on the board of commissioners, Smith was beset by allegations from staffers that she had mistreated staff and improperly used public resources for political purposes. During Smith’s time on the board, she went through at least seven chiefs of staff, engaged in usually high expenditures on travel and entertainment, and had her paycheck garnished for nonpayment of taxes.
Smith then ran for a spot on the Portland City Council in 2018, but lost to Jo Ann Hardesty. Smith ran again in 2018 in a special election after the death of City Commissioner Nick Fish, but lost to current City Commissioner Dan Ryan.
So far, 13 candidates have filed to run for the three available seats in District 1. The most notable figures include Verde executive director Candace Avalos, transportation advocate Steph Routh, urban planner Timur Ender and Jamie Dunphy, government relations director in Oregon for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action.