Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González, a candidate for Metro Council president, in an undated photo provided by the candidate.
Courtesy of Juan Carlos González
Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González is starting his new job leading the regional government six months early.
González was elected to Metro President with 67% of the vote in May, for a term that begins on Jan. 1. But Metro Councilors voted Tuesday unanimously to appoint González, 33, to enter that office immediately.
González thanked his colleagues for giving him a “head start” to lead the council.
“I take this solemn responsibility placed in my hands by the voters of the region, and I pledge to you to wake up each and every day thinking about how to improve the lives of people living in Greater Portland,” he said.
Metro oversees regional land use, transportation, housing and other decisions that span Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.
Lynn Peterson, who was term-limited after being elected Metro President twice, resigned in March after being named interim city manager of Lake Oswego. Councilor Duncan Hwang has served in the role in a temporary position in the months since.
González has represented Metro’s District 4, which includes northern and western Washington County, since 2018. His early appointment to the president’s office creates a vacancy in District 4 for the remainder of the year.
Last month, voters elected Miles Palacios to that office, effective Jan 1. Councilors will begin the process to appoint someone to that office next month.
