About Jeff

Jeff and his wife moved to Portland in 1992. They fell in love with Multnomah County’s natural beauty and strong sense of community. Jeff and Lisa live in northeast Portland with their two children, 11-year-old Alex and 12-year-old Johanna.

Social responsibility has been a guiding ethic in Jeff’s professional life. He founded the Portland Pretzel Company and built strong relationships with local vendors. The Portland Pretzel Company was the first certified organic bakery in Portland and when the time came to hire full-time employees, Jeff made sure the company paid for their health care.

Jeff’s advocacy for the well-being of local families led him to the Multnomah Commission on Children and Families, where he served as communications director. He later joined the board of the nonprofit volunteer group Hands on Greater Portland and was elected board president. Under Jeff’s leadership, Hands on Greater Portland became a strong, thriving organization that continues to do vitally important work for our community.

Jeff was named chief of staff to City Commissioner Dan Saltzman in 2003. Jeff played key roles in creating the Portland Children’s Levy, building the new Rosa Parks Elementary School in North Portland and positioning Portland as the international leader of the green building movement.

Jeff was elected to the Multnomah County Commission in November of 2006 for a four-year term. Since his election, Jeff has racked up a list of successful initiatives Multnomah County taxpayers can be proud of. These include a new library in North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood, long over-due reforms to the Business Income Tax and crucial efforts to support returning veterans. Jeff’s vision and hands-on leadership brought the Northwest’s largest solar energy project to Multnomah County. By the end of 2008, three Multnomah County buildings will produce 1 megawatt of electricity from their rooftops, saving tax payer dollars and reducing greenhouse emissions. Partnerships and projects like the County CROPS Farm, Clean Energy Works, the Climate Action Plan and the One-Stop Center for Domestic Violence Victims are all examples of Jeff’s strong commitment to sustainability and serving our areas most vulnerable citizens.