Alumni

Portland’s lobbying regulations were passed a year ago and have been in effect for about eight months.  Its purpose is to increase transparency in City government.

Over 50 lobbying entities registered under the regulations. The number of entities that filed reports has increased each quarter. Sam and staff performed a thorough review of the registration procedures and submitted a report critiquing the system and making recommendations. 

David Gonzalez is the Operations Manager for Commissioner Sam Adams. David is part scheduler, part concierge and all around problem solver for the office. The bulk of David's time is devoted to Sam's calendar, special event planning and intern recruitment.

Assistant to Gordon Johnston, Citizens' Advocate

Elicia has a strong background in community involvement, holding the position of Vice-Chair of Portland's Bicycle Advisory Committee, and is an active member of SHIFT, a bike fun organization.  She is also bicycle safety teacher for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance.  Elicia comes from a performing background, having worked as part of the stage managment team for Oregon Ballet Theate, Portland Opera, Oregon Children's Theatre, and currently, Oregon Symphony.  Elicia moved to Portland from Boston in 1997, left to be an opera stage manager for three years, and returned again in 2000 to ride her bike. 

Senior Policy Director,
Liaison to Portland Office of Transportation

Roland Chlapowski Roland Chlapowski focuses on transportation-related issues with the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) and serves as the liaison to PDOT for Sam. Educated with a background in economics, he also lends his efforts to economic policy issues from time to time.

Max2007Max uses his policy and data analysis skills to support Sam and Roland on special transportation projects. He grew up in Houston, Texas, and wants to help keep Portland as different from Houston as possible. His educational experience includes international relations, sustainable development and urban planning. He speaks mediocre Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, and is always looking for patient language partners.

Not your typical city government intern, Brian comes to us from the world of food. He has spent the majority of his life in front of cutting boards and gas burners. He has headed local restaurants, such as Carlyle, La Prima and La Buca, and even owned his own establishment, Café Fraiche, in Sherwood. He has always embraced the communal aspect of sharing a meal, especially when the food is prepared with love. After the birth of his two beautiful daughters, he had a change in perspective, an epiphany, if you will.

Now, his goals are for the long-term benefit of his children and all the children of Portland. Brian is a neophyte in city government, but has a passion for the various issues challenging our community, such as environmental sustainability, funding education and improving the local economy. He hopes that this experience in Commissioner Adams' office will give him the experience and tools needed to continue to best serve the public interest.

Brian feels as though he has been adopted by Oregon, but he was actually born and raised in Indiana. There, at Purdue University, he met his lovely wife, Laura, who is very supportive of his career change. Brian loves a good laugh and is always there when someone needs support.

Brian Russell

Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-3021 x2
Fax: (503) 823-3017

As a graduate student at Portland State University's School of Public Administration, Rebecca Toland joined the office this fall to work with Gordon Johnston, Commissioner Adams’ Citizens’ Advocate, on a wide array of public issues.

Rebecca grew up in the Chicago area, but headed west for college and never looked back.  She received a degree in Fish and Wildlife biology from Montana State University, but devoted the next several years to motherhood.  Rebecca has had a diverse work life, including the roles of coffee shop barista, medical office receptionist, and natural childbirth educator and doula (a birthing assistant).  Since moving to Portland in 2002, she has primarily worked in retail management. 

Home for the summer from school, Andrew is interning for the office working on a number of office projects. Andrew has just finished his first year at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where he is studying International Affairs and German Language and Literature.

After spending a year living in Düsseldorf, Germany as a junior in high school, Andrew developed an interest in international policy making and has decided to test the waters in municipal policy. Andrew will be returning to Germany in late August to study at the Humboldt University in Berlin and to further pursue his double major.

Andrew was born and raised in Clackamas, Oregon but is currently residing in Sellwood. A true native and lover of Portland, Andrew is excited to participate in and experience first-hand, some of the inner-workings of local government and how policies are made and implemented in such a diverse and dynamic office environment.