About Sarah

I am a proud working mom, raising three kids with my partner in Southwest Portland. My deep roots in this city began with my childhood, growing up as the eldest of six kids in a family that faced the challenges of poverty and housing insecurity. My parents sold handicrafts at the Portland Saturday Market, and I spent much of my youth exploring the diverse neighborhoods of Portland—from under the Burnside Bridge to the vibrant communities that define our city.

Despite the instability I faced growing up, I was fortunate to excel in school, which led me to Reed College. However, after graduation, I was uncertain about my path. I explored different avenues, including a summer commercial fishing in Alaska and a stint in massage school. My journey took an unexpected turn when I discovered my passion for environmental sustainability while working with the Willing Workers on Organic Farms program in Europe. Inspired by innovative solutions like Living Machines that treat wastewater naturally, I decided to pursue environmental engineering, driven by a desire to protect the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and create good jobs for our community.

I returned to Portland after earning my graduate degree in environmental engineering from UC Berkeley, where I also developed a strong interest in sustainable international development. Over the past 12 years, I have worked for the Portland Water Bureau, first as an environmental specialist and now as an engineer in the Portland Permitting and Development group. My work has focused on integrating ecological principles into our built environment, ensuring that our city's growth is sustainable and that all Portlanders can thrive. As a union steward with PROTEC17, I have also fought tirelessly for workers' rights, advocating for my colleagues to ensure that city employees receive the support they need.

Having lived in many different parts of Portland, I have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of our city's neighborhoods. My lived experience has shaped my commitment to making Portland a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I am not just passionate about protecting our environment; I am deeply committed to addressing the pressing issues our city faces, from housing and infrastructure to economic and social justice.

Portland is more than just my home—it's the community that shaped me, and it's where I've dedicated my life to making a difference. My journey—from facing housing insecurity to building a career as an environmental engineer and city employee—has given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges we face as a city. I have seen the impact of our policies on the ground and know what it takes to bring about meaningful change.

As your City Council representative, I will bring a fresh perspective grounded in lived experience. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work with you to create a Portland where everyone can thrive, ensuring that our city remains a place we are all proud to call home.

Listen to 8 minute edited version with just Sarah's answers

Listen to the full 1 hour episode here. Fast Forward to time stamp -54.00 for the start of show.

"My favorite part of the night was when Silkie asked the crowd for feedback on bike lane design: Do folks like parking-protected lanes or more traditional, door-zone lanes next to drivers? She heard a bunch of great insights and opinions from a wide range of bicycle riders -- from a mom who rides with kids, from an older former racer. (And in a good sign of what type of person Silkie is, she emailed after happy hour to get a copy of the audio recording I made of the answers.)" - Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland

" Yes, there’s a lot of technological problems and there’s a lot of problems we can fix with technology, but I also keep seeing that we have a lot of good technology and the really big problem is that we don’t have the political will or we don’t have the leadership to implement those technologies. "

  "I ask that you consider a commitment to no net addition of high-level management positions in implementing this transition. Even better would be reduction of high level management so resources could go to where they are needed most: on the frontline."