Loretta Smith

Smith was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1966. In high school, she was a member of the Black Student Union as well as the track and cheerleading teams. At 17, she began attending Oregon State University, from where she graduated with a degree in communications in 1987. Soon after graduating college, Smith got a job as a staffer for then-U.S. Representative Ron Wyden. She remained on his staff for 21 years, eventually becoming his field representative.[3][4]

Smith began her own political career by running for Multnomah County Commissioner in 2010. She came in second place in the initial election, and advanced to the runoff, which she won by 26 percentage points.[5] During her first term, Smith focused on investments in programs helping poor youth. She served on the Portland Metro Workforce Development Board, which aims to curb the unemployment rate especially among people of color. Smith won reelection in 2014 with little opposition.[4]

During her second term, Smith generated some controversy relating to her finances. A Willamette Week investigation discovered that Smith disproportionately spent her office budget on travel and nonprofit contributions. In 2016, she was found to owe the state of Oregon $36,000 in taxes and fees, but in 2017 the state admitted it had made a mistake. Also in 2017, Smith was accused by several former staffers of harassment and creating a hostile work environment. She was also accused of using county funds for personal expenses such as grocery shopping.[4][6] Some Smith supporters questioned the accusations and claimed she was treated harshly because she was a black woman, describing it as "a political lynching".[4]

Smith ran for Portland City Council in 2018. She came in second place in the initial election and lost to Jo Ann Hardesty in the runoff. Smith picked up several prominent endorsements, including from all four of Oregon's black state legislators at the time and from former County Commissioners Jules Bailey and Diane McKeel.[7][8]

In 2020, Smith ran in a special election for City Council to succeed Nick Fish, who had died in office. She came in first place in a crowded field, but lost to Portland School Board member Dan Ryan in the August runoff.[9][10]

Smith has one son, Jordan, born in 1990, whom she raised as a single mother.[3]