Karen Spencer
For Metro District 5
The Portland Metro area became my chosen home 20 years ago. Over those two decades, I’ve served on charitable and public boards, including the Portland Parks Foundation, Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods grants committee, Oregon’s Youth Development Council and the Portland Utility Board. As your Metro Councilor, I will bring my energy and experience to ensuring that new and longtime residents feel proud choosing this area as their home.
Note: These are from Karen’s closing remarks from the City Club Debate in April. Watch on YouTube here.
Dear Metro District 5 Voters,
I’ve always been engaged in volunteer activities throughout my whole career. I never thought that I would run for office until August 2017 — Charlottesville happened. At that moment I realized that we need people of color in leadership positions in government and also in the private sector. I heard that call and I stepped up and I began this journey.
The reason why I began this journey is because I love our community and I want current and future residents to love what I love about it too — our friendliness, our ability to get things done, our ability to come together as a region to solve complex issues. We do have (complex issues) now. We have to tackle houselessness and housing affordability in order for us to have the thriving communities that we want in the future.
I have the skill set, having worked in small medium-sized and large businesses in a leadership capacity to be able to address these complex issues. I also have the background to address them too. I am a chemical engineer; I graduated from MIT, graduated from Harvard Law School and Stanford Business School. And, I will bring much needed diversity to Metro Council.
We know that diverse teams do better in decision making because you’re bringing new and different voices to tackle challenges and that creates innovation. So, I ask for your vote on or before May 19th. Thank you.
With Metro--and our region--facing unprecedented economic, housing, and transportation challenges, we need Karen's unique experience and commitment to equity and opportunity working for all of our families and communities.
Endorsements
Metro Councilors (current and former)
Shirley Craddick, Metro Council District 1
Kathryn Harrington, Washington County Commission Chair, former Metro Councilor
Lisa Naito, former Oregon State Representative, Multnomah County Commissioner, Metro Councilor
Trade Associations and Organizations
Basic Rights Oregon - received green light as a Metro area candidate
Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund
The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland
National Association of Social Workers
Portland Business Alliance
Teamsters Joint Council No. 37
Individuals
Oregon State Representative Akasha Lawrence Spence
Allison Handler, Principal at Travertine Startegies, Former Executive Director Portland Community Land Trust
Ashley Hartmeier Prigg, Tualatin Parks & Recreation District Board
David Fuks, former CEO Cedar Sinai Park, chair of Portland Parks Foundation Board
David Kahl, Creative Commons
Effie Bustamente, member of Metro's Committee on Racial Equity (CORE)
Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum
Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack
Linda Laviolette, former Executive Director of Portland Parks Foundation, Oregon Jewish Museum
Michelle DePass, Portland Public Schools Board
Randy Sell, Tualatin Parks & Recreation District Foundation Board member, former Chair of Portland Parks Foundation
Scott Fogarty, Old Growth Wisdom Consulting, former executive director of Friends of Trees
Shannon Scott, Human Rights Campaign, Governor Oregon and Southwest Washington
Shelli Romero, President at Rose City Chica
Steve Rudman
Ted Labbe
Vanessa Sturgeon, President and CEO of TMT Development
About Karen
I’ve enjoyed a 30-year career as an attorney handling intellectual property and business matters in the high-tech and sports product industries. I chose the metropolitan area because of a great work opportunity, our beautiful natural surroundings and the availability of suitable housing. Most recently, I am the founder of a start-up that assists first-time business buyers. I am also a business/legal consultant and educator to local businesses such as Mercy Corps Northwest and the Portland Fashion Institute.