Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has announced that he will not be seeking a third term in office.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Wheeler cited the need to focus on addressing the city's critical challenges and reshaping city government as his reasons for not running again. He stated, "Addressing our city's critical challenges while, at the same time, fundamentally reshaping city government requires all of my attention over the next 15 months. As such, I will not be seeking another term as your Mayor."
Wheeler expressed his belief in the power of public service and the importance of accountable and responsive government. He said, "I am a firm believer in public service and know that when government is accountable and responsive to the needs of the community, it can be a force for good. Serving as the elected mayor of Portland has been both humbling and the greatest privilege of my life." Wheeler first took office in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020.
During his second term, Wheeler faced significant challenges, including the threat of violence from rioters. At one point, he even revealed that he would be leaving his own home due to concerns of it being burned down.
Despite these challenges, Wheeler expressed confidence in the steps being taken to address the problems facing Portland. He wrote, "I have great confidence in the steps we are taking to address the problems facing Portland today. We will continue building on that progress to ensure Portland's best years are ahead of us."
Wheeler's decision not to run for re-election has sparked speculation about potential candidates who may now consider entering the race.
According to Wheeler, there are several people who have been waiting to find out his decision before launching their own campaigns. As the news develops, we will continue to provide updates on this breaking story.
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