FILE - Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton in a photo provided by the county.
Courtesy of Multnomah County / OPB
The race for the top spot on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has begun.
County Commissioner Shannon Singleton announced her run for chair’s office Wednesday.
“I want to serve where I can make the most change,” Singleton said in a press release. “And right now, that’s bringing my extensive executive experience to the Multnomah County Chair’s Office to ensure better service delivery in housing, addiction and behavioral health and public safety.”
Singleton was first elected to the board in November 2024. She represents North and Northeast Portland for District 2. She’s spent much of her time at the county focused on the region’s homelessness and housing programs.
Singleton previously oversaw the county’s homeless services department, led homeless service nonprofit JOIN, worked as an equity director for former Gov. Kate Brown, and spent time as a social worker at several Portland social services.
She is the first to announce a run for the county chair’s office, which will land on the ballot in November. Fellow Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and former Commissioner Sharon Meieran are both rumored to be considering entering the race, but neither have announced their plans.
County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced in December that she would not seek reelection. Vega Pederson’s past three years in office have been marked with challenges and public frustration, as many have placed the blame of the region’s homelessness and behavioral health crises at her feet.
Vega Pederson has not endorsed anyone to succeed her.
This is the first year Multnomah County won’t have a May primary election. In 2022, voters approved a plan to eliminate primary races and adopt a ranked choice voting model.
Singleton won her District 2 seat in a 2024 race against former Portland Mayor Sam Adams, garnering 57% of the vote.
