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by Courtney Vaughn

A former Portland Fire & Rescue executive who ran for a seat in Portland’s City Council District 3 has been tapped as Dan Ryan’s new chief of staff.

Kezia Wanner, a veteran city staffer who previously worked in management roles with Portland’s fire and transportation bureaus, will lead Ryan’s team when he takes office under the new City Council structure in 2025.

Ryan, a current city commissioner, won a seat to represent District 2 in November’s general election. He’s the only current member of council who will return to elected office at City Hall next year. He’ll serve a four-year term on the new Council, alongside Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Sameer Kanal, who were also elected to represent District 2.

“Kezia’s broad experience across the City and County will complement and operationalize my priorities and agenda as we work to address homelessness, improve community safety, and rebuild Portland’s economy in 2025,” Ryan said in Friday’s email announcement of the new hire.

Wanner was a fairly late entry to the City Council race. During her brief campaign, she managed to pick up endorsements from Portland’s fire and police unions, a few culturally-specific political action committees, and United For Portland. United For Portland—a well-funded PAC with heavy ties to the real estate industry—primarily supported centrist and center-right candidates, including Ryan. 

Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan gives remarks during a 
tour of the Peninsula Crossing Safe Rest Village in 2023. At his 
side: Chariti Montez, houselessness strategy manager. Ryan has 
pledged to make homelessness a priority during his next Council
term. courtney vaughn

Other staff picks for incoming councilors include Jamey Evenstar (Duhamel), who will serve as Candace Avalos’ chief of staff in District 1. Evenstar was a policy director for former City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, and most recently, worked on the city’s charter transition team.

As reported by Willamette Week, Mayor-elect Keith Wilson will bring on Aisling Coghlan, a seasoned political consultant who’s worked with the Democratic Party of Oregon. Coghlan previously worked for Congressman Earl Blumenauer and served as former Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s chief of staff. Coghlan’s LinkedIn page cites her work helping to pass the Portland Children’s Levy, as well as two stints with Basic Rights Oregon–an advocacy organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights.

Portland’s new mayor and City Council will take office on January 2.