Metro President Lynn Peterson is serving her second term leading the nation’s only elected regional government.  A transportation engineer and urban planner by training, Peterson previously served as the first elected Chair of Clackamas County– the largest county in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. She also worked as Transportation Advisor to a past Oregon Governor, and served as Washington State’s Secretary of Transportation.

A lifelong Democrat active in her party, enters the race with over 50 prominent endorsements from officeholders and candidates at all levels of Oregon government. A veteran campaigner, Lynn has won each of her 5 campaigns for local and regional office, and successfully led four recent regional ballot measures to victory.

Lynn takes pride in uniting people around a shared vision and working toward progressive– and achievable– outcomes.  As Metro President, Lynn has stepped up to lead on critical issues in the Portland region:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: In her first year, Lynn helped secure passage of the region’s first affordable housing bond. Right now, there are almost 1,600 bond-funded apartments under construction, and another 1,000 in permitting and design– toward a goal of 3,900 units. With only 56% of the money committed, the bond will exceed production targets and deliver more housing.

HOMELESS SERVICES: In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Lynn won approval of a housing support measure that has helped nearly 3,000 people in the region find housing, more than 9,000 receive eviction protection funds, and support over 1,000 shelter beds. This regional approach is making progress where other efforts have stalled, helping restore lives and improve peace of mind.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE: Lynn has led Metro’s two recent measures protecting forests, farmland, and watersheds from development, and re-investing in parks and open spaces to improve access and equity. With wildfires and the climate crisis felt throughout the region, Lynn is making sure Metro plays a lead role in building resiliency and protecting frontline communities.

TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT: Throughout her career, Lynn has worked to not only improve the efficiency and safety of transportation systems, but make sure communities harmed by past decisions have a seat at the table. Her efforts have resulted in pedestrian safety improvements, transit investments, and highway projects consistent with mobility and equity priorities.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: Lynn works with the business community, labor, conservation advocates and communities to connect people to jobs and opportunity. She has made sure Metro is at the forefront of pandemic recovery, expanded apprenticeships and community workforce agreements, and is an active voice in bringing businesses and jobs to the Portland region.

Lynn Peterson is a hands-on, inclusive leader who builds coalitions and engages community to ensure positive, lasting change.

Lynn and her husband Mark, a small business owner, live with their Malamutes in Lake Oswego. They are 25 year residents of Clackamas County.
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After speaking with my family, advisors, and supporters, I have decided to suspend my campaign for US Congress. I am deeply grateful to the thousands of Oregonians I met in the course of this campaign and I am more committed than ever to empowering people through effective leadership.

While I will not be serving in Congress, I am not leaving public service. Metro is in the midst of critical work–the I-5bridge replacement project, bringing our regional economic vibrancy back, completing the 4700 units of affordablehousing, and implementing the Supportive Housing Services measure–that deserves my undivided attention.

I was the first Democrat to enter the race, because I was appalled at the MAGA extremism of Lori Chavez-DeRemer and the Republican House Majority. The 5th District remains a key race to retake the House majority and return sane leadership to Washington, D.C.

I believe State Rep. Janelle Bynum is the best candidate to defeat Chavez-DeRemer. She has my enthusiasticendorsement and full support and I urge all 5th District Democrats to entrust her with this work.

Over the course of the last 8 months since I declared, almost 1,500 people invested in this campaign to protect
and strengthen our democracy. I want to thank each one of them for their commitment and investment and ask them to support Representative Bynum because working together we can take back the U.S. Congress.

I’d like to thank my staff for their dedication, and especially my husband Mark whose love and support havesustained me throughout this process.
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