Candace Avalos

Candace Avalos
Member of the Portland City Council from District 1
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2025
Serving with Loretta Smith and Jamie Dunphy
Preceded byoffice established
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materJames Madison University (BA, MEd)

Candace Avalos is an American nonprofit executive and politician[1] who is a member of Portland City Council from District 1 after being elected along with Loretta Smith and Jamie Dunphy in the 2024 election. Avalos is one of the twelve inaugural members of Portland's new expanded city council after switching from a city commission government to a mayor–council government.[2]

Early life and education

Avalos earned her Bachelor's degree in modern foreign languages (with a concentration in Spanish and Italian) and Master's degree in education from James Madison University.[1][3]

Career

Avalos is the executive director of the environmental nonprofit organization Verde, and is a co-founder of the Black Millennial Movement.[4]

Portland City Council

Avalos initially ran for the Portland City Commission in the 2020 election, announcing her run in August 2019.[5] She was defeated by Carmen Rubio in the primary, receiving only 8.9 percent of the vote compared to Rubio's 67.6 percent.[6]

In September 2023, Avalos announced her run for the newly expanded city council in the 2024 election, running in District 1, which represents East Portland.[7] Avalos was endorsed by former Governor Kate Brown, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and the Service Employees International Union, along with her former opponent Rubio.[3] Avalos had the most endorsements out of the candidates elected[8] and was the only candidate endorsed by all 4 major papers Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, The Oregonian, and The Skanner. Avalos easily led the race in the initial round, receiving 19 percent of the first place vote against 16 other candidates.[9] Local news agencies quickly called the race for Avalos.[10]

On January 2, 2025, Avalos ran for the presidency of the new City Council, but was defeated by Elana Pirtle-Guiney after ten rounds of voting.[11]

Personal life

Avalos lives in Mill Park.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Meet Candace Avalos, candidate for Portland City Council District 1". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Learn more about the City of Portland's transition | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "City Council Entrance Interview: Candace Avalos". Willamette Week. September 4, 2024. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Candace Avalos aims to create 'a better Portland' with City Council run". KOIN.com. September 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Friedman, Gordon R. (August 1, 2019). "Candace Avalos, running as reform candidate, enters Portland Council race". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "May 19, 2020 Election Results". Multnomah County. May 1, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Charter Commissioner Candace Avalos Announces City Council Candidacy". Willamette Week. September 26, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Harris, Maja. "Portland Decides Analyzing the Election that Redefined Portland's Leadership". Rose City Reform. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  9. ^ Multnomah County Elections Division. "City of Portland, Councilor, District 1 ELECTION RESULTS - FINAL". Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  10. ^ "Here's who's leading in the Portland city council race after Thursday's update". KGW. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "Portland's new council elects Councilor Pirtle-Guiney as its first president ... eventually". opb. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (September 13, 2024). "Candace Avalos: Portland City Council District 1". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 10, 2024.