Shannon Singleton, the newest commissioner in Multnomah County, became the first of three new commissioners to formally join the board when she took the oath of office on Tuesday morning.
Longtime social worker and housing advocate Singleton won her seat representing North and Northeast Portland last month after defeating former Portland Mayor Sam Adams. She took over for Commissioner Jesse Beason, who was named last year to replace Susheela Jayapal after she left to run for Congress and was unsuccessful.
“We love this place,” Singleton remarked, adding that we don’t have to agree on everything. We can go anyplace if we can get there.
Since the race in District 2 was a special election, Singleton was sworn in as soon as ballots were certified. Nonprofit policy director Meghan Moyer, who was elected last month, and Gresham City Councilor Vince Jones-Dixon, who was elected in May, will join the redesigned board on January 1.
District 2 County Commissioner Shannon Singleton takes the oath of office.Multnomah County’s courtesy
Singleton is going back to work for the county administration. In 2022, she led the city-county-funded Joint Office of Homeless Services for eight months. Prior to being Governor Kate Brown’s housing policy adviser and then director of equity and racial justice from 2019 to 2022, she was also the executive director of the nonprofit organization JOIN, which provides assistance for the homeless.
Two years ago, Singleton ran for Multnomah County chair, but she had to halt her campaign after former Chair Deborah Kafoury appointed her to the joint post.
Singleton’s coworker at JOIN, Perlia Bell, described Shannon as a force. For this job, you guys made the proper choice.
During her campaign, Singleton stated her desire for the county to increase outreach to homeless individuals residing on Portland’s streets, increase access to shelter beds, and seek additional drug addiction treatment beds. She promised to guide the county toward more successful programs by applying her knowledge of homeless services.
At the end of December, Commissioners Lori Stegmann and Sharon Meieran will step down from their positions. Stegmann will be replaced by Jones-Dixon, and Moyer will succeed Meieran, the board’s harshest critic. When her tenure is over, Stegmann will take over as head of the county’s Youth and Family Services Division.
Before the swearing-in event, Commissioner Shannon Singleton talks with Commissioner-elect Meghan Moyer. December 3, 2024.De Dios, Austin, or The Oregonian
Tuesday’s brief ceremony was followed by Singleton’s first board briefing. She will serve until December 2025. Singleton stated that she is prepared to get to work despite the short time frame for taking office and the numerous obstacles the county faces, including a projected funding shortfall of $21 million.
“Last week, I was prepared,” Singleton stated. Let’s get things done now.
Austin De Dios reports on programs, politics, and other topics in Multnomah County. You can reach him at @AustinDeDios, [email protected], or 503-319-9744.
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