In a move to swiftly fill the legislative void left in Oregon's House District 34, a joint session of the Multnomah and Washington County Boards of Commissioners convened virtually on December 15 to appoint Mari Watanabe as the replacement for the seat previously occupied by Lisa Reynolds. This appointment comes after Reynolds was chosen in November of the preceding year to take up a Senate seat, leaving her House position vacant. Watanabe, a figure with deep roots in both community advocacy and business within the Portland Metro area, is expected to serve out the remainder of Reynolds' term through January 2027, according to Washington County.
Having lived in the Portland area for over 20 years, Watanabe's resume speaks to her extensive experience in leadership positions and civic involvement. She managed to quickly rise through the ranks of the apparel industry before turning her sights towards community engagement, becoming the inaugural executive director of the Japanese Museum of Oregon in 2008, as per Washington County. Watanabe's dedication to local affairs continued as she took on roles at the Portland Business Alliance, notably as the director of Leadership Portland and executive director of Partners in Diversity for more than a decade.
Watanabe's civic engagements extend into her service on numerous boards and commissions such as the Portland Community College Board of Directors, the Oregon Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the Beaverton Diversity Advisory Board, the City Club of Portland, and the National Veterans Network, as stated by Washington County. The unanimous decision by the county commissioners to select Watanabe from a pool of three potential candidates underscores the broad respect she garners across a range of civic and community-oriented platforms.
Those seeking further details on the appointment can contact Philip Bransford, Communications Officer for Washington County, at 503-846-8685, or via email at [email protected].
