Elect DePass, Kanal, West, Glickman, Kitchin, and Pirtle-Guiney for Portland City Council District 2

Michelle DePass was born and raised in Portland and believes we have the assets, solutions, and capacities to solve big challenges for all of us—including Black and Brown Portlanders. She has been actively engaged in civic leadership for Portlanders in community and government roles, most visibly as a member and former chair of the Portland School Board. 

The Portland for All endorsement committee appreciated Michelle’s deep knowledge of District 2, her lived experience as a Black woman and single mom, her policy analysis through an equity lens, and her commitment to public service. She will fight to expand opportunities for Portland’s youth, small businesses, union members, and working families while championing safe and affordable housing so all our neighbors can call Portland home.  

Key endorsers include: Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, The Skanner, Portland: Neighbors Welcome, Bernie PDX, Former Governor Kate Brown, Former City Councilor Mike Lindberg, Metro Councilor Ashton Simpson, Rep. Hoa Nyugen, Rep. Andrea Valderamma, Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio, and Libra Forde.

Sameer Kanal is an inspiring candidate and a seasoned public safety policy expert who facilitates community engagement for the City of Portland and is the Project Manager for the Policy Accountability Commission. 

The endorsement committee resonated with Sameer’s priorities of Community Safety for all, a Green New Deal for Portland, and Housing as a Human Right. He has experience working in the City, navigating the opportunities and challenges of building consensus on tough issues. Born in North Portland to immigrant parents, Sameer often organizes events and activities that unite people.  

Key endorsers include: Portland Mercury, Sunrise Movement Portland, Portland Neighbors Welcome, Portland Street Response, The Street Trust Action Fund, Working Families Party, CWA Local 7901, Basic Right Oregon Equality PAC, APANO Action Fund, Next Up Portland Progress, Moms Demand Action, PROTEC17,  former City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, Rep Travis Nelson, and Mt Hood Community College Trustee Dana Stroud.

Nat West, founder of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, is a longtime community organizer who uses his platform as a business leader to draw attention to progressive issues such as trans rights, Black Lives Matter, and reproductive rights. As a small business owner, he knows the challenges of mom-and-pop shops and brings an important perspective to the Council.

The Portland for All endorsement committee appreciated his unwavering commitment to social justice and meaningfully supporting Trans Day of Visibility, Black Lives Matter, and Albina Vision Trust. As the parent of a transgender adult, a TriMet bus driver, a cyclist, and a longtime small business owner, his unique background will be a breath of fresh air for the Council.

Key endorsers include: The Oregonian, ASFCME Local 189, ACSFME Council 75, Moms Demand Action, Working Families Party, UFCW 555 and ATU Local 757 and business leader Stephen Green.

Marnie Glickman is a lifelong advocate committed to progressive change and has called Portland home since 1992. She will be a direct, collaborative communicator on the Council. As the parent of a transgender child and someone with a disability, Marnie would bring meaningful lived experiences to the Council.

Before moving to Portland over 30 years ago, Marnie was elected to the school board in San Rafael, California. During her tenure, she worked with three Black leaders to remove Dixie from the school district's name in a multi-year campaign. 

The Portland for All endorsement committee appreciated her commitment to progressive values and a Green New Deal, her tenacity, and her political will to advance equity.

Key endorsers include: Portland Association of Teachers, Moms Demand Action, LiUNA 483, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Gov Kate Brown, Metro Councilor Mary Nolan and Rep. Tawna Sanchez.

Debbie Kitchin is a small business owner and regional economist who has advocated for economic development and opportunities for small businesses, especially BIPOC-owned businesses. Debbie has strongly and steadily advocated for Portland Street Response and Preschool for All among the business leaders and the broader community. Debbie has served on critical civic advisory committees and boards and was a member of the Charter Reform Commission. She is the mom of two children who went through the Portland public school system and will bring the next generation's hope to the Council.

The Portland for All endorsement committee was impressed with her record as an effective and committed advocate for Portland’s new form of government and someone who will continue to protect the charter from attempts to roll back our progress.

Key Endorsers include: Portland: Neighbors Welcome, City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs founder Sam Brooks, Business leader Herb Yamamoto, Espousal Strategies CEO Johnell Bell, and Neil Kelly Company owner Tom Kelly.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney is a longtime labor organizer with experience building coalitions and governing. As an organizer, she is relentless in her pursuit of justice. She will bring diverse voices to the table and work tirelessly to find common ground based on shared values. She is a queer parent of two children and lives with her family in the Vernon neighborhood.

The Portland for All is impressed by the depth of Elana’s policy knowledge and understanding of government. She worked for Oregon AFL-CIO and served as legislative director for Governor Kate Brown. As vice chair of the Portland Parks & Recreation Board and a member of their Budget Advisory Committee, she would bring important context about one of the City’s largest Bureaus.

Key endorsers include: Willamette Week, Former Governor Kate Brown, Senator Elizabeth Steiner, Representative Tawna Sanchez, Oregon AFSCME Local 189, PROTEC17, IBEW Local 48, Moms Demand Action (Green Light), City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang, Senator Michael Dembrow, and Representative Thuy Tran.