Metro Council president and district seats up for election

The Metro Council President leads a seven-member nonpartisan council governing the Portland region across 24 cities in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. The president presides over council meetings, directs long-term planning for transportation, affordable housing and urban development. They also manage regional assets including the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center and Metro parks. The role coordinates with local, state and regional partners on homelessness, waste management and environmental issues.

In March 2026, Former Metro Council President Lynn Peterson stepped down to serve as Lake Oswego city manager; Duncan Hwang now serves as acting council president. Candidates Ken Ross, Philip Fensterer and Bruce Broussard did not respond to Street Roots’ questions.

Each candidate received a questionnaire containing three questions. Candidates were limited to 150 words per answer. Candidates submitted written responses via email, and may be edited for clarity. Read more about Street Roots elections coverage here.

Name: Juan Carlos Gonzáles

City: Beaverton

Current occupation: Metro Council Representative District 4

Prior political office held: Serves District 4 on Metro Council from 2018, term ending in 2027

Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties have used Supportive Housing Services (SHS) funds in different ways, with Multnomah County being the only county to invest more in shelter than evidence-based approaches for reducing homelessness. What role, if any, do you think the Metro Council should play in creating a unified approach between the counties?

Metro’s Supportive Housing Services (SHS) is an essential tool to address deepening issues of wealth inequality and a broken housing system. It’s critical we demonstrate progress and accountability before asking voters to renew the measure by 2030. Metro’s superpower is our ability to set tables with leaders across Greater Portland to equitably distribute resources and work towards our collective goals. This means bringing together service providers, community organizations, businesses, and local governments to share ideas and truly regionalize the program to achieve alignment across services, definitions, and key investments. Over the last year, Metro has engaged in critical collaborative conversations that have helped us identify gaps and move forward with a more informed plan, including a new oversight committee that I will be chairing.

Metro’s SHS description says “In SHS-funded programs, all roads lead to a permanent home,” but recent Multnomah County data shows the city of Portland has spent millions of SHS funds on shelter programs with little to no shelter-to-housing infrastructure. Do you believe Metro should continue administering SHS funds for programs that aren’t specifically designed to reduce homelessness?

Recently, myself and the rest of the council voted to approve a single SHS Oversight Committee, combining two committees that were previously working separately. Going forward, Metro will prioritize accountability, transparency, and effectiveness when making decisions on allocating SHS funds and reintroducing the measure before it sunsets. Our dollars should be going towards resources that are supporting our most vulnerable populations and ensuring service providers have the tools they need to carry out their goals. When programs are not working, local governments and community partners should be able to account for their dollars and assess where improvements can be made. Should Metro decide to stop administering funds for ineffective programs, this will come after extensive, goal-oriented conversations.

In recent months, Metro has come under fire for members missing a lot of meetings and working remotely from abroad, among other controversies. How would you ensure you and your colleagues were present and engaged with Metro’s work?

Since being elected to Metro Council in 2018, I have consistently shown up for those I serve by arriving to meetings present and ready to work. We can’t truly understand our region’s challenges and the everyday lives of our constituents when we take meetings remotely. Real work begins when we are accessible and engaged with our communities.

As Metro President, I will work with the council to establish a new code of conduct to reflect these priorities because I deeply believe in the role our government plays in improving the lives of working people. I’ll continue what I’ve done in my last 8 years as a public servant: meeting people where they’re at, uplifting diverse voices, and showing up when my community needs it most.

Name: Chris Christensen

City: Beaverton

Current occupation: Retired Mortgage Consultant, Entrepreneur, Author

Prior political office held: Bridgeton Neighborhood Committee (1995)

Metro has an important role in improving coordination and accountability for SHS funds across the region. Right now, counties are taking different approaches to the same challenge, which makes it harder to measure what’s working.

Metro shouldn’t micromanage, but it should set clear expectations, consistent performance metrics, and transparent reporting so outcomes can be compared — especially how many people are moving into stable housing.

Metro can also bring counties together to share best practices and align around proven strategies.

Homelessness is a regional issue, and people expect a system that works across county lines. Metro’s role should be to ensure SHS investments are coordinated, accountable, and focused on real, measurable progress.

SHS funds should be focused on what works — moving people into stable, permanent housing. Shelter has a role, especially in crisis situations, but it cannot be the end point. If programs are not clearly connected to pathways into housing, we need to reevaluate how those dollars are being used. Metro has a responsibility to ensure accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes across the region. That means prioritizing investments that demonstrably reduce homelessness, while working with our county partners to improve coordination and close gaps in the system. At the end of the day, success should be measured by results — how many people are permanently housed — not just how much money is spent.

I believe accountability starts with showing up. If elected, I will attend meetings in person — every time. This is a public responsibility, and it deserves a visible, consistent presence. Beyond that, I would work with my colleagues to establish clear expectations for attendance and engagement, because the public has a right to expect their elected officials are fully present and focused on the job. Metro’s work is too important for anything less. Being engaged means listening, asking questions, and making informed decisions in real time. I will lead by example — present, prepared, and accountable to the people we serve.

Metro Council District 1

The Metro Councilor for District 1 is a nonpartisan elected position that represents communities in East Portland and eastern Multnomah County, including Gresham, Rockwood and Wood Village. The district spans roughly from Highway 205 east to the Sandy River, and from Highway 212 north to the Columbia River. As part of the seven-member Metro Council, the District 1 councilor works alongside people, businesses and other government agencies to manage long-term regional planning that crosses city and county lines, including oversight of waste management, affordable housing initiatives, building codes, parks and transportation.

Ashton Simpson has served as Metro Councilor for District 1 since 2018 and is running for a second term. Candidate Noah Ernst did not respond to Street Roots’ questions.

Name: Ashton Simpson

City: District 1 – Gresham, Rockwood, East Portland, Troutdale and Wood Village

Current occupation: Portland Metro Councilor for District 1 (Incumbent)

Prior political office held: Elected to Portland Metro Councilor for District 1 in 2022, assumed position in 2023.

Metro should use its convening power and funding authority to align county SHS spending with evidence-based practices that actually reduce homelessness. While counties have local discretion, Metro must require transparent reporting on shelter-to-housing transition rates and prioritize funding for programs with proven housing placement outcomes. I support tying future SHS allocations to shared performance metrics that center permanent housing placements, not bed-night counts.

SHS funds exist to end homelessness, not just manage it. Programs that receive SHS dollars should demonstrate a clear, documented pathway from shelter to permanent housing. I believe that any SHS funded shelter contract should include specific housing placement targets and wraparound supportive services. Without those elements, the money is not fulfilling the measure’s promise to voters.

I live in my district full time and try to attend as many Metro Council meetings and committee hearings in person as possible. I would never work remotely abroad for an extended period of time. To hold myself and my colleagues accountable, I have taken the lead on creating a code of conduct that expects elected officials to be physically present for the job they were elected to do (barring family emergencies or other similar reasonable exceptions). Voters deserve elected officials who show up.

Metro Council District 4

The Metro Councilor for District 4 is a nonpartisan elected position representing northern and western Washington County communities, including Beaverton, Bethany, Aloha, Cedar Mill, Hillsboro, Cornelius and Forest Grove. As part of the seven-member Metro Council, the District 4 councilor works alongside people, businesses and other government agencies to manage regional planning that crosses city and county lines, including oversight of waste management, affordable housing initiatives, building codes, parks and transportation.

Juan Carlos González has served as the Metro Councilor for District 4 since 2018. He is currently running for Metro Council President. Candidate Miles Palacios did not respond to Street Roots’ questions.

Name: Alex Phan

City: SW Portland

Current occupation: Real Estate Broker, Small Business Owner

Prior political office held:

Board Chair, Clean Water Services Advisory Commission

Metro Council President’s Supportive Housing Services Work Group

Metro should play a stronger role in setting clear expectations and aligning outcomes across the counties. From my experience on the Metro President’s SHS workgroup, one of the most important improvements was bringing frontline providers into the conversation. That input is critical, but it also needs to translate into consistent, measurable outcomes across the region. Metro should establish shared goals, track performance, and ensure funds are being used in ways that deliver results. If approaches are not working, we should be willing to adjust funding and strategies to better serve people experiencing homelessness. I’m proud of the progress in Washington County, but we need a more coordinated regional approach that reflects what voters expected when this measure passed.

My top priority is ensuring voters are experiencing full transparency and accountability for public dollars so we can continue investing in effective programs that lead to better outcomes. Part of Metro’s role is to ensure we engage in ongoing conversations about the effectiveness of all SHS programs so we can replicate successes and move away from approaches that underperform. On Metro Council, I want to implement performance measures to build a system that addresses inequality and affordability to help ensure we are using SHS funds in an impactful way that aligns with our goals and truly supports local governments and service providers.

As a Metro Councilor, I am committed to showing up to every meeting prepared, present, and ready to improve the wellbeing of our communities. In my field as a real estate professional, it is critical we show up for our clients in-person to create real connections and to better understand how we can serve their needs. I plan to bring the same mindset to Metro because our region deserves leaders who will consistently meet people where they are at to create a government that is both inclusive and responsive to community needs.

This article appears in May 6, 2026.