As the presidential election hullabaloo takes the national stage, Oregonians are gearing up for some hefty local shakeups. The Beaver State is prepping to elect fresh faces for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer – big seats without incumbents in the running, a pivot that's got voters talking turkey.
Oregon's changing of the guard doesn't stop at the statewide offices. Portland's political drama is also heating up. Vacating the big chair at City Hall, Mayor Ted Wheeler has decided to bow out of the race for a third term, declaring his intention not to run last year. According to KATU News, the upcoming year shapes up to be a rough ride for whoever lands in the mayor's seat come 2025.
The dynamics at the City Council are set for a dramatic overhaul, too. Right now, Portland has a mayor teaming up with four city commissioners, a quintet that calls the shots together. But hold onto your hats – that's going to balloon to a council with 12 members next year, as reported by KATU News. More cooks in the kitchen could mean more stewing over how Portland gets seasoned going forward.
While the candidates hustling for Wheeler's job are hitting the campaign trail, the outcome will decide more than just a new nameplate on the mayor's door. With city governance getting an extreme makeover, the incoming mayor will need to navigate an expanded and certainly more complex council landscape. Keith Wilson, one of the folks throwing his hat into the mayoral ring, has got to charm a city while gearing up for a steering wheel that's about to get a lot more hands on it.
