Depending on who you ask, City Councilor Dan Ryan’s office terminated or amicably separated from a part-time employee July 17 over the employee’s offensive views on social media and his podcast. Immediately after Ryan’s office hired the local podcaster, who has frequently made derogatory remarks, multiple City Hall staffers raised the alarm.
Their new colleague was Andy Chandler, host of local podcast NW Fresh. Prior to taking a new job in Ryan’s office, Chandler amassed a modest following by decrying “woke ideas,” “trans cults” and DEI programs.
On his show and online, Chandler has doubled down on assertions by the right-wing social media influencer Andy Ngo — whom he gave a favorable interview in November 2024 — including broad claims about “hostile anti-semitism” and “antifa terrorists” taking over the Portland State University library during pro-Palestinian protests.
Just three months ago — and three months after Ryan appeared as a guest on Chandler’s podcast, Chandler claimed anti-white racism is alive in Portland.
An April 3 post from an anonymous X user said “Open Racial discrimination against whites is common in Portland, businesses frequently charge whites more or simply refuse service to whites.”
Chandler responded without providing evidence, saying, “You’re right it’s pretty common, and also completely illegal but what’s the law in Portland anymore.”
That’s just one example of several.
But in response to Street Roots’ questions regarding Chandler’s comments, Ryan’s Chief of Staff Kezia Wanner said Ryan’s office ended the agreement July 17.
“We had hired Andy Chandler to work as a videographer for us part-time but as some information about his past expressions of personal views have come forward that are not in alignment with our office values, we have decided to end this employment arrangement,” Wanner said. “Our office values are transparency, inclusivity and collaboration.”
In December 2024, Ryan was a guest on NW Fresh, and Wanner was a guest in November 2024 as a City Council candidate. The show brags a host of local conservative political names, including many 2024 City Council candidates, now-District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, Oregon House Minority Leader Christine Drazan and Portland Police Association President Aaron Schmautz. Kevin Dahlgren, a local YouTube creator who pleaded guilty for stealing identities from homeless residents in January, has also been a guest on the show.
Chandler characterized the separation from Ryan’s office differently in a July 17 email to Street Roots.
“I worked for maybe one day with Dan’s office in a part-time capacity,” Chandler said. “I basically onboarded and we amicably decided it wouldn’t work.”
In a follow-up email, Wanner clarified, saying the decision was mutual. Wanner did not respond to Street Roots’ questions asking about the vetting process before hiring Chandler.
“Our office had a productive conversation with Andrew and at the end of it, agreed to concluding the work arrangement,” Wanner said. “There was a mutual understanding.”
In response to Street Roots’ questions, Chandler attempted to distance himself from his previous statements.
“As far as my views, I have a trans sibling in my family, and have had trans guests on my show,” Chandler said. “I’ve never been described as ‘anti-trans’ by anyone including my family.”
Still, posts on social media show a different picture.
After The Oregonian reported Jan. 31 that OHSU would make no changes to its gender-affirming care despite an executive order from President Donald Trump, Chandler responded, calling the practice “damaging youth malpractice.”
“Being one of Oregon’s only Level 1 Trauma Center hospitals, OHSU will certainly face federal funding being removed for illegal and damaging youth malpractice,” Chandler wrote. “OHSU in their recent financial reports has been unsuccessfully trying to ween (sic) itself off of federal funds.”
On Feb. 10, Chandler responded to a Ngo post on X that said a radical vegan cult in California “follows the same ‘black flag’ extremist anarchist politics of Antifa.”
“They are literally a Trantifa terror cell,” Ngo said.
Chandler responded, backing up the claim.
“Weird but not unusual for dying legacy media like @BostonGlobe to write this entire thing and purposely omit it’s a trans cult,” Chandler wrote. “There’s one mention of it in 4500 words. Investigative journalism requires basic exploring of questions.”
Prior to learning of Chandler’s termination, local civil rights, political organizations and elected officials told Street Roots the move was troubling for Portlanders already facing discrimination, including attacks by the Trump administration on DEI programs, immigration and gender equity.
City Councilor Angelita Morillo said numerous staffers had told her they did not feel comfortable working with someone who had made such anti-Trans, anti-DEI statements.
“Any Councilor has the right to hire whomever they think is best suited to serve their office,” Morillo said. “And, I think that we have a moral responsibility at this time, when the federal government is attacking Trans people, when the federal government is challenging us to revoke all DEI language.”
Blair Stenvick, communications manager for Basic Rights Oregon, said it’s concerning that someone espousing these views would be given a position of power in Portland City Hall.
“Oregon, and Portland in particular, really pride ourselves on being one of the best places for LGBTQ+ folks to live,” Stenvick said. “So, knowing that there’s someone working in City Council that has publicly made hurtful comments about Trans people, as well as other concerning remarks around race and other things, that definitely raises a red flag for us.”
Chandler’s comments also reflect a distaste for DEI programs, particularly around race. In response to a Willamette Week article published April 4 on Trump’s order directing states to end their DEI programs, Chandler likened the programs to racial discrimination.
“The Oregon Department of Education and @GovTinaKotek have 10 days to certify their state education policy isn’t discriminating on the basis of race.”
He reinforced the idea on April 10.
“Oregon Governor @GovTinaKotek is doubling down on Oregon state law that discriminates based on race after this executive order was issued. Check out @Jeff_Eager’s work documenting the state’s attempt to cover up Oregon laws that violate the Civil Rights Act.”
It wasn’t the only time he asserted that DEI programs benefiting minority communities discriminate against white people.
A July 2023 KGW news story posted on X outlined a Metro project locating neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat.
“Is there any conclusion that wont be race-obessesed (sic) and predetermined?” Chandler asked in the comments.
Annie Naranjo-Rivera, state executive director for Working Families Party, said the hiring does not align with the political climate in Portland. Seven out of 12 of the recently elected City Council members are candidates the WFP supported based on progressive policies, according to Naranjo-Rivera — four of whom are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.
“We are working to build a party that works for the many, not the few, and build up the multiracial working class,” Naranjo-Rivera said. “So with that lens, obviously this would be troubling to us.”
Stenvick said hiring an employee with discriminatory views can impact how Portlanders long ignored by City Hall could access their own government — many of whom BRO endorsed in the 2024 election.
“City Hall is supposed to be the people’s house in Portland,” Stenvick said. “It is funded by public money, and all those people work for us — work for the people of Portland. It’s concerning that someone with these views and with that influence would be in City Hall, because it could potentially drive away people from engaging, for matters of safety or emotional safety — and often, those people are the ones who are most often overlooked by government in the first place.”
Morillo applauded Ryan’s move to part ways with Chandler.
“I appreciate Councilor Ryan taking immediate action to rectify the situation and ensure that our Trans and people of color employees at City Hall feel safe,” Morillo said.
Stenvick said they did not want to assume Ryan’s office knew about the comments prior to hiring Chandler, but appreciated his office making the decision once they were made aware.
“We appreciate that once this information came to light, Councilor Ryan’s office took swift action to correct the situation,” they said. “Though it is concerning that his public commentary frequently aligning with anti-trans and anti-BIPOC beliefs either wasn’t caught in the hiring process, or wasn’t deemed important enough to not hire him.”
Naranjo-Rivera agreed with Ryan’s decision.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing,” she said.
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This article appears in July 9, 2025.