Shannon Singleton

Multnomah County Chair

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Commissioner Singleton has long served the most vulnerable in her community, working with people experiencing homelessness both before and after her move to Portland in 2007. Having also served survivors of sexual and domestic assault, as well as youth in the foster care system, she has front line experience informing her as the current Multnomah County Commissioner representing District 2. Singleton’s approach to service and governance includes a lens of racial justice and equity.

In her first term as Multnomah County Commissioner, Singleton has identified Supportive Housing Systems dollars being used in other departments to redirect them towards their intended purpose, revitalized community-led and community-defined safety initiatives, and updated the county’s Sanctuary Resolution. Notably, she has also pushed for expanded services in East Multnomah and worked to create a more accountable Preschool for All program that uses our tax dollars more sustainably.

As Chair, Commissioner Singleton aims to leverage county resources in tandem with private partnerships to bolster our local economy, including using Preschool for All dollars to take a load off of working families. She also intends to continue building out Multnomah County’s social safety nets and improving job opportunities with a focus on trades and manufacturing. Another priority is ensuring that county resources are accessible remotely, and that families impacted by ICE enforcement are able to get food and rent assistance.

East County Rising is encouraged by Singleton’s lengthy experience directly serving our most vulnerable communities, and appreciates her equity and racial justice based approach to issues. She is also aware of and actively working to correct the historic disparities between East Multnomah and the rest of the county, and demonstrates through her platform an understanding that economic hardship is the issue felt most widely by residents.

Bri Williams

Multnomah County Commissioner (Position 2)

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Having firsthand experience with the impacts of redlining and gentrification as a Black woman born and raised in Northeast Portland, Bri Williams has spent much of her career serving communities of color by ensuring that the people who will be most impacted by decisions have a meaningful role in shaping them. As a culturally responsive mental health counselor, Williams has experience on the front lines working with families and communities across Multnomah County.

Locally, Williams has encouraged civic engagement among high schoolers, with a focus on public service opportunities for Black students. This included providing education about ranked choice voting. She regularly engages her neighbors by encouraging them to register to vote and to turn in their ballot come election season. She has also connected with several culturally specific and community based organizations around the county in order to know what issues are most prevalent, and in what areas.

Williams’ priorities for the county include access to supportive housing and behavioral health services, with increased housing/homeless services coordination between the county and other levels of government. Investment in workforce development, more resident engagement in decision making processes, providing more affordable options for access to healthy food, and ensuring access to quality childcare are other priorities of hers.

Her frontline experience, interest in exploring new solutions to county problems, and firmness of resolve to work towards a Multnomah County that includes and uplifts people historically left behind is what makes Bri Williams the top choice for East County Rising. Williams has seen hardships faced by her community firsthand, and intends to approach leadership and governance collaboratively with a focus on those who have been overlooked, underserved, and pushed out.

Nathan Ong Norris

Multnomah County Commissioner (Position 2) 

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Nathan Ong Norris was born and raised in the Portland Metro area, and is a third generation Asian American. Having earned his Master’s degree in Emergency Management & Community resilience from Portland State University, he currently works as a hazardous waste technician. Ong Norris is also a union member, Democratic Socialist, and community organizer who spends his time working on mutual aid projects such as free fridges.

As part of his work with the Portland Democratic Socialists of America in which he serves as the Co-Chair of the Resiliency Working Group, Ong Norris has participated in collaboratively led projects to deliver 3,300 gallons of drinking water to Warm Springs Tribal Emergency Management, and to support several different striking labor unions on the picket line by bringing resources. He also has used his Master’s degree and knowledge of county systems to craft strategies for county-led climate disaster preparedness.

As county commissioner, Ong Norris intends to center collective liberation and survival, and sees climate justice, emergency preparedness, and investment in public goods and services such as Preschool for All and public libraries as top priorities. He also has concerns over revitalization of areas such as the Jade district and 82nd Ave corridor, and aims to ensure that development within an area does not turn into gentrification that displaces residents.

Having a big picture understanding of climate issues partnered with his specific knowledge of Multnomah County’s problems and needs, especially the needs of those in East Multnomah, are what draws East County Rising to Nathan Ong Norris’ campaign. He is well connected, experienced in managing conflict and collaboration, and is invested in making the county better for everyone collectively.

Serena Cruz

Multnomah County Commissioner (Position 2)

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Serena Cruz moved to Multnomah County for college, then worked as a career advisor for PCC in North Portland post-grad, later deciding to attend law school in order to better serve the community she saw struggling. Her mother immigrated from Mexico, and the difficulties her family faced as well as experiencing the benefits of anti-poverty programs firsthand ingrained an understanding of the importance of social services. Cruz raised her own daughter in Northeast Portland, and was Multnomah County Commissioner for District 2 from 1999-2006.

As County Commissioner, Cruz secured gender and sexuality as protected classes and helped move marriage equality forward for gay and lesbian couples in Oregon. She also launched the Bridges to Housing program to provide services for homeless families, brought Priority-Based Budgeting to the county to increase transparency of public dollars, and led the census in 2000 with special care to do outreach to immigrant communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color.

Coming back to the position, Cruz intends to prioritize pathways to housing that focus on lasting stability, delivering on the promises of Preschool for All, and investing in family-wage jobs in neighborhoods typically left behind. She is also interested in increasing protections for immigrants, and generally supporting a safer future for young people impacted by economic and climate crises.

Cruz’s long history of fighting for equality and equity in the county, as well as the institutional knowledge and relationships she has built up over the years are important indicators of her competence and care. East County Rising has seen the work that Cruz has done, and trusts her to prioritize the issues of East Multnomah county families.

Nicole Pexton

Multnomah County Auditor

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Growing up in Gresham, Nicole Pexton helped her father produce speakers, and watched him manage efficiency of product lines which bolstered her understanding of the importance of process and organization. She now lives in SE Portland with her husband and pets, but frequently comes to the East side for the food. Pexton also has been a crew leader for Friend of Trees, and has served on the Multnomah County Library Oversight Committee.

Pexton has been the Chief Audit Executive for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission since 2022, chairs the audit committee for the Department of Early Learning and Care, and serves as a member of the Department of Environmental Quality’s audit committee. Her approach to auditing includes building trust within departments that she audits in order to foster collaboration rather than seeking a “gotcha” moment, working together as partners to identify areas for improvement.

Pexton’s goals while in office are to conduct quicker audits without diminishing the quality of the audit, write shorter reports that are easily understood by community members, and offer advisory services to departments that need support with their operations. She also wants to develop a county report card to communicate the results of audits to residents of Multnomah County, making county government more transparent and easier to comprehend.

East County Rising appreciates the fact that Pexton grew up in Gresham and that she regularly returns and has a fondness for the area. She also has expressed a desire to bring more young people of diverse backgrounds into the field of auditing so that auditing offices may benefit from having a variety of perspectives, and so a new generation may be responsible for cultivating transparent and trustworthy systems.

Kayse Jama

State Senate (District 24)

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Senator Jama has served as a State Senator for District 24 since 2021, and has served as Senate Majority Leader since 2024 when he was elected by his Democratic peers. Born in Somalia and having come to the United States as a refugee, he has been an active support for other immigrants, refugees, and people experiencing racial violence. He co-founded Unite Oregon, and while there he led efforts to end police profiling, reduce the influence of money in politics, reform Oregon’s hate crime laws, and expand drug treatment.

While serving as State Senator, he has advocated for significant renter protections and emergency rental assistance investments to combat the housing crisis, as well as passed cooling legislation to combat the disproportionate number of heat related deaths in East Portland that have jumped due to climate change. He established the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, worked to secure increased funding for Extended Case Management Services, and has championed legislation to increase civic participation from historically marginalized communities through ballot translation.

Unopposed in his 2026 election bid, as State Senator for District 24 Jama intends to continue fighting for affordable housing in East Portland, protections for renters, support for our immigrant and refugee neighbors, policies that combat climate change and build climate resilience, and economic opportunity for all Oregonians.

East County Rising admires Senator Jama’s grounded approach to policy, considering the budget shortfall faced by the legislature when planning for his next four years of governance. Additionally, he does an excellent job of balancing his priorities between district specific issues and legislation that benefits all of Oregon.

Nicole Bassett

State Senate (District 26)

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Nicole Bassett has lived in Hood River for 15 years, volunteers at a hospice in The Dalles, visits her in-laws in Parkdale, and opened a factory for a clothing upcycling company in Cascade Locks. She also volunteers for a local reuse nonprofit to serve residents who cannot afford retail price items. 

Bassett’s profession is sustainable and responsible business models with an emphasis on regenerative practices for the community, economy, and environment – she has worked with Patagonia and prAna to build worker’s rights and Fair Trade apparel programs into both companies’ supply chains. Bassett is also chair of the Hood River Democrats where she works to build connections with less politically engaged demographics including the Latino community.

One priority for Bassett is civic education, particularly for youth and offered in both English and Spanish. She also intends to fight to protect local service infrastructure (rather than resources becoming consolidated in city centers such as inner Portland), and re-examine state funding designations to make sure that areas labeled as “urban” are not being mis-identified to their detriment. Other priorities include an economy that works for everyone, livable rural communities, and taking care of our land in the face of climate emergency.

East County Rising clearly sees the connection that Bassett has to the district, and her knowledge of the diverse and widespread needs of Senate District 26. Her knowledge and experience with sustainable business practices would be a great asset to the legislature, and her commitment to and success in finding ways for economic growth and ethical business practices to coincide leads us to believe that she would follow through on caring for her constituents.

Thuy Tran

State House (District 45)

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Representative Tran has served House District 45 since 2023. Born in Vietnam, she immigrated to the United States as a young child and grew up in a low-income household. As a Doctor of Optometry, former Parkrose School Board member, and Lieutenant Colonel in the Oregon Air National Guard, she has served her communities for many years.

As House Representative, she has continued her service by fighting human trafficking including providing further support for those victimized by it, passing legislation to prevent wage theft, expanded opportunities for employee-owned companies, expanded tuition benefits for children of disabled veterans, increased focus on emergency preparedness, and worked to safeguard access to reproductive healthcare and childcare investments.

Rep Tran’s intentions for the next legislative session are to support general liveability issues in her district, especially around 82nd Ave with a focus on driving local economic development. She is also working on an anti-sex trafficking bill.

East County Rising values her history of service and appreciates her focus on issues specific to her district while also supporting legislation to address issues impacting people across Oregon. It is clear that her priorities come from truly listening to people in her district and being aware of what happens in it.

Willy Chotzen

State House (District 46)

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Born in Ashland, Representative Chotzen felt compelled to address systemic inequities faced by his students as a middle school math teacher which led him to pursue a career as a public defender. In his time working at a legal aid clinic, Chotzen fought against wage theft, eviction, and foreclosures. He has served District 46 as its House Representative since 2025.

During his time in the legislature, Rep Chotzen has passed bills protecting geolocation privacy and increasing expungement opportunities for youth convicted of crimes. His focuses in his first two sessions have been consumer protection, data privacy, and restorative justice.

Next session, Chotzen intends to focus on defending democracy, expanding civil rights, and protecting communities impacted by federal overreach. His priorities also include public education, worker’s rights, public transportation, traffic safety, and climate change.

East County Rising values Rep Chotzen’s legal expertise and his determination to pass legislation that supports his district and the safety and security of all Oregonians. His focus on data privacy is particularly relevant in the face of increasing authoritarian actions from our Federal government.

Andrea Valderrama

State House (District 47)

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Representative Valderrama has served District 47 in the legislature since 2021. A first generation Peruvian-American, she started her advocacy journey while in school, working to pass tuition equity and sanctuary laws, then helping to pass mandatory relocation assistance and public campaign financing in the City of Portland as a community member after graduating. While on the David Douglas School Board, she championed and passed comprehensive birth control dispensing in the district’s school based health clinic.

As House Representative, she was elected by her fellow Democrats to serve as House Deputy Majority Whip, then House Majority Whip. Rep Valderrama has worked on affordable housing, homelessness prevention, displacement mitigation, and equitable development while in office, as well as access to quality education, good paying jobs, childcare, and safe working conditions. In the face of ICE overreach in East Portland, Valderrama has publicly stood up for her constituents and introduced legislation to ensure children are cared for in cases of family detention and deportation.

Unopposed in the coming election, during her next term in office Rep Valderrama plans to focus on access to addiction treatment and behavioral health services, affordable housing and addressing homelessness, community safety, access to healthcare and human services, working families and small businesses, access to education and childcare, climate resiliency and the environment, and strengthening democracy.

East County Rising has seen Rep Valderrama’s service and commitment to East Portland, as well as her drive for action. She shows up when times are difficult and is a champion for a wide array of causes impacting the wellbeing of her constituents.

Lamar Wise

State House (District 48)

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Representative Wise was appointed to serve District 48 in 2025 by Democratic PCPs and by Multnomah and Clackamas County Commissioners. He previously served as the legislative director and executive director of the Oregon Student Association, and later as the Political Director of AFSCME Oregon. As a Black man in Oregon politics, his experiences of structural racism and exclusion have informed his approach to leadership and to stressing the importance of equity in every role he takes on.

During the 2026 legislative session, Rep Wise passed bills to prioritize homebuyers over large investors, protect funding for affordable housing and make financing easier for construction, support small businesses, codify protections for students experiencing homelessness, allow for mobile pharmacies to service rural areas, support immigrant communities and fight federal overreach, protect victims of abuse and stalking, and fund suicide prevention and workforce preparation for veterans.

Next session, Wise intends to push for stronger background check requirements for childcare providers, more support for first-time homebuyers, and greater transparency and fairness in public contracting to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars. 

Rep Wise jumped into his role as House Representative for District 48 despite having been appointed only a few months earlier. His history in organizing has provided him with an exemplary understanding of the Oregon State legislature, and his community outreach efforts have been aiding him well in understanding his diverse and expansive district.

Zach Hudson

State House (District 49)

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Representative Hudson has served District 49 since 2021 and has lived in East Multnomah County for 20 years with his wife and three children. As a substitute teacher, he has taught in schools all around the county, and coached wrestling, track, and speech and debate. He has also served on the Troutdale City Council, Troutdale Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Troutdale Budget Committee.

In the legislature he has helped to stop the closing of the only birthing center in East County, secured funding for culturally specific community centers, and established freedom from discrimination in education on the basis of immigration or citizenship status. 

Next session, he would like to focus on the inclusion of poverty-weighting in Oregon’s K-12 funding model to bring more money into schools in lower-income areas. His other priorities include support for vocational education, green energy technology production, protection of civil rights, protecting Oregon’s voter enfranchisement, expanding access to affordable healthcare, sensible gun regulation, renter protections and affordable housing expansion, protections for bodily autonomy and reproductive health, and protecting Oregonians from fraud and predatory business practices.

Rep Hudson is strongly connected to and involved in his community. He has a good sense of what will benefit his constituents and works diligently to inspect and craft legislation for long-term success that will not create unintended consequences.

Ricki Ruiz

State House (District 50)

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Portland-born and Gresham-raised, Representative Ruiz has served District 50 in the legislature since 2021. Prior to this, he served four years on the Reynolds School Board, after having been the youngest person elected to the board in 2017. Rep Ruiz is a first generation Mexican-American, the first in his family to graduate high school, and subsequently the first in his family to graduate from college.

Over his multiple sessions of service in the legislature, Ruiz has secured over $10 million in funding to reduce youth gun violence, with a focus on East County communities and including mentorship, recreation, culturally-responsive social activities, comprehensive case management, life skills training, job readiness, and funding to address underlying issues of poverty. He has also championed legislation to increase public education funding, support small businesses, and prioritize community safety.

In the next legislative session he intends to address our schools’ funding formula to ensure that school districts in lower-income communities don’t experience program cuts or staffing issues, problems that are less prominent for those in wealthier areas. His other priorities include affordable housing creation, supporting wage growth, and reducing costs associated with healthcare, housing, childcare, and education.

East County Rising has been impressed with Rep Ruiz’s active response to ICE targeting in East County and values his long-term experience with and service to the area. He has a proven track record of winning for his district, and commonly works to pass bipartisan legislation.

Hank Sanders

State House (District 52)

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Hank Sanders grew up in rural Washington County where his community in Forest Grove and Gaston successfully stopped an out-of-state oil pipeline from being installed that would have intensely damaged their land. Post college, Sanders worked as a journalist for both the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times, returning to Oregon to live in Hood River and work as a Legislative Aid in Salem.

As a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Sanders identified, investigated, and reported on corruption in Chicago city government between an outside consulting firm and the city department responsible for choosing which bid to give city contracts to. He continued exposing corruption through his work as a journalist for the New York Times, including reporting on the Trump administration.

In the legislature, Sanders intends to stand up to authoritarianism and corruption, fight for working families, and fight for young Oregonians/future generations. His priorities include increasing the supply of affordable housing by removing restrictions on building it, keeping Oregonians from being cut off from Medicaid by creating a process to support navigation of new federal paperwork requirements, and working to pass childcare tax credits.

East County Rising respects Sanders’ track record of exposing corruption, as well as his motivation to understand complex issues that impact his district and the entirety of Oregon. His commitment to reaching as many residents as he can in his large and sprawling district in order to hear about their issues and experiences is another aspect that East County Rising admires.

Diane Sykes

Multnomah County Judge of the Circuit Court (*Position 2)

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*Position 2 covers the general bench docket which includes civil and criminal

Diane Sykes has worked in law for nearly three decades, starting as a public defender and later acting as a Legal Aid attorney, helping low-income Oregonians navigate legal issues with housing instability, domestic violence, employment disputes, consumer protection matters, and access to public benefits. Sykes currently volunteers with Cleveland High School’s Constitutional Team, the Oregon Law Foundation, and the Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section.

In her career, Sykes has developed and led Oregon’s first Civil Rights Unit at the Department of Justice. Her work frequently brings her into East Multnomah County for community outreach, often to represent migrant and seasonal farm workers in disputes, and she has worked closely with Programo Hispano to provide culturally specific social services. Sykes is currently a private attorney who focuses on civil rights cases.

As judge Sykes intends to prioritize creating an inclusive space where everyone is treated with respect, and the language of the law is communicated effectively whether that be through providing language services (Sykes speaks English and Spanish) or simply using plain language to avoid legal jargon. She also intends to be decisive without compromising cases so that those involved can have a straightforward answer rather than being left wondering about the outcome for months or years.

East County Rising values Sykes’ lengthy experience in the legal field–especially the fact that many of her cases have been related to civil rights–and her history of representing farmworkers. Her commitment to delivering verdicts in a way that is understandable to those unfamiliar with the law is backed up by her bilingual proficiency, which will allow her to better serve a wider variety of people. 

Laura Maurer Rowan

Multnomah County Judge of the Circuit Court (Position 2)

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*Position 2 covers the general bench docket which includes civil and criminal

A native Oregonian, Laura Maurer Rowan has spent the majority of her working life in Multnomah County and currently is raising two daughters here with her husband. She first got involved in law through mock trial, has been to David Douglas High School to teach about warning signs of grooming and trafficking recruitment, and currently coaches her kids’ soccer teams in her free time.