"I’m running for City Council to tear down the barriers to progress before us and build pathways to equal opportunity for all. Let’s do it together.”
Loretta Smith is a public servant, small business owner, and single mom who has dedicated her life to building pathways to opportunity. Driven by her humble upbringing in a service-oriented, working-class family, she overcame great obstacles and was the first in her family to graduate from college.
Loretta served the people of Oregon for nearly three decades, first on the staff of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and later on the Multnomah County Commission, breaking barriers as just the second Black person elected to the Commission since its founding in 1855. Loretta built a record of results by taking on the tough fights, being a strong voice, and working with others to make things happen.
With our rights under attack, Loretta is running for City Council in Portland’s 1st District to stand up for equal opportunities for all so that every Portland family, small business, and community can not just survive, but thrive.