From left, councilmember-elects Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, Loretta Smith, Sameer Kanal, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, and Dan Ryan raise their right hands to be sworn in during a ceremony in downtown Portland, Ore., Dec. 19, 2024.
Anna Lueck for OPB / OPB
Portland’s incoming government officials were sworn in Thursday at a ceremonial event at downtown Portland’s Newmark Theatre. The event was held two weeks before the new 12-person council, mayor and auditor take office. It offered an opportunity for the new slate of elected officials to introduce themselves to the public.
“Today is symbolic,” said Councilor-elect Elana Pirtle-Guiney, who will represent District 2. “But I think the symbolism is important. Having us all up on stage today, to say to Portland, ‘We heard you this election, we hear that you want us to take a different tone to tackle our challenges in a different way’ ... I think it’s a really important moment for our city.”
A few hundred Portlanders attended the invite-only ceremony, which traditionally is held in council chambers at City Hall. The new officials were sworn in by Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Darleen Ortega, who celebrated the diversity of the newly expanded council in her opening remarks.
“My genuine hope is that the shift in leadership in this city will include a new commitment to make space for the things that are the hardest to hear,” Ortega said.
Mayor-elect Keith Wilson called his new colleagues on the council “extraordinary leaders” in a short speech after being sworn in. He pointed to the voter-approved changes in government — which established geographic districts, expanded the size of the council, and introduced a city administrator, among other changes — as a reason to be hopeful.
“Portland has reached a long-awaited moment of transformation and promise,” Wilson said. “Now, it’s time for Portland’s new leadership to meet the moment we now face. And solve the issues that prevent us from reaching our true potential.”
City Commissioner Dan Ryan, who was re-elected to council for a second term, compared the event to his first swearing-in ceremony in September 2020.
“It was a pandemic, it was wildfire season,” said Ryan, who will also represent District 2 and North and Northeast Portland on the council. “I think there were four people in my backyard with me, and we did much of it over FaceTime. Now, it’s this big occasion of joy with everyone.”
The new elected officials will begin work on Jan. 2.
