In a joint session that spanned county lines, Washington and Multnomah County Boards of Commissioners have appointed Mari Watanabe to take up the mantle in Oregon House District 34. This decision, as reported yesterday by Multnomah County News, fills the seat left vacant by Lisa Reynolds, who climbed the ranks to the Oregon Senate last November. With a unanimous vote, Watanabe is set to represent the communities of Bethany, Oak Hills, Cedar Mill, and parts of Beaverton and Hillsboro, until the term concludes in January 2027.
Watanabe, who called the Portland Metro area home for over 20 years, enters the political fray, bringing with her a kaleidoscope of experiences from the private to the public sphere. Before accepting the call to serve, she dedicated 25 years to various apparel manufacturers, later becoming the face of the Japanese Museum of Oregon as its first executive director in 2008. Her journey continued as she wove her way through the fabric of Portland's business and diversity landscape, seen in her roles at the Portland Business Alliance and as a member of multiple noteworthy boards and commissions.
Out of the three candidates considered for the seat, it was Watanabe's expertise and commitment to diversity that seemingly tipped the scales. Sarah Beachy, a nonprofit administrator, and Alexandria Goddard, a seasoned legislative director, were also in the running. Citing the need to maintain the political balance, the commissioners ensured that Watanabe, like her predecessor Reynolds, aligned with the same party, a move mandated by Oregon law for such appointments.
Watanabe's portfolio is notable for her connections in education and advocacy on boards such as the Portland Community College Board of Directors and the Oregon Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs and engagement with the City Club of Portland, where her input has fostered inclusive dialogues across the state.
