Applause greeted City Council's unanimous vote to confirm Raymond C. Lee III as Portland's first long-term city administrator, a key position that oversees day-to-day operations across more than two dozen bureaus and departments in the city's new form of government.
Lee brings a wealth of experience to the job. He most recently served as city manager of fast-growing Greeley, Colo., where he managed 1,600 employees and an annual budget of $515 million to serve a community of 116,000. Before that, he served in leadership roles in Dallas and Amarillo, Texas.
"Raymond has consistently demonstrated values-based leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to public service, and his track record shows he can deliver results while building trust and collaboration," Mayor Keith Wilson told City Council as he nominated Lee.
"This is a rare opportunity to reset, to reconnect, and strengthen how we serve Portland for generations to come. Raymond's leadership will help us build a strong foundation for this new form of government, one that is aligned, it is trusted, and it's focused on meaningful results," Wilson said. "His experience, vision, and commitment to public service will help unlock a new chapter of safety, innovation and shared prosperity for our city."
Lee noted that the appointment of the city's first long-term administrator represents a milestone. "This is a pivotal time for Portland," he said. "I've seen local government at its best and I've seen local government at its worst. This opportunity is pivotal for us moving forward. All of us are in this together."
"I want to let you know you have a partner in this," Lee said. "You have a partner in me that is willing to collaborate with you, that is willing to help shape how we move things forward collectively."
"I know we're not going to always agree," Lee said. "But as long as we have the best interests of the community, we can figure out the details. This is a great community with a ton of potential. You have my full commitment. You have my full faith in this group that we can move this thing forward. I thank you for your time, your energy, your effort to continue the work of this great city, and I look forward to partnering with you and working with you in the years to come."
During a morning session, City councilors asked Lee questions about accountability, transparency, budgeting, information flow, and the direction of the City's new system of government.
"I hope you will help be a bridge between our two branches of government, the council and the executive branch," said Councilor Candace Avalos, who represents East Portland residents in District 1.
"Thank you for stepping up," said Councilor Eric Zimmerman, who represents the west side of the city in District 4. "I am excited for you."
Lee's key achievements include:
- Leading the revitalization of Greeley's urban core through a partnership between the city, county, and school district to develop a public service hub, mixed-use housing, commercial space, a hotel, and office development.
- Leading a 300-acre entertainment and housing district featuring a proposed 10,000-seat arena, resort hotel, water park, and multimodal transit hub representing $1.1 billion in investment.
- Launching Greeley's Housing Solutions and Homelessness Services departments to help residents transition into permanent housing and improve coordination across service providers.
- Transforming Greeley's development review process to accelerate affordable housing production and improve customer experience.
- Advancing major sustainability and climate-resilience initiatives across infrastructure, water systems, and community preparedness.
- Helping develop citywide strategic plans, performance systems, and organizational alignment tools that strengthened accountability and cross-department collaboration.
"I am honored and humbled to be Mayor Wilson's nominee for the role of city administrator for the City of Portland," Lee said. "Throughout my career, I have been guided by a deep commitment to public service, values-based leadership, and creating environments where people and communities can succeed. Stepping into this moment for Portland is both a responsibility and a privilege, and I welcome the opportunity to partner with the mayor and council as we continue building a strong foundation for this new form of government."
Lee will succeed City Administrator Michael Jordan, who is retiring after serving in the role through the city's first year in the new form of government. Lee will start work Dec. 29 and earn an annual salary of $370,000.
More than 100 people applied for the position in a recruitment led by Strategic Government Resources. Lee was one of three finalists who visited Portland last month for interviews with Wilson, city council members, and city and labor leaders.
"Portland is a remarkable city with passionate residents, talented employees, and a strong sense of purpose," Lee said. "While we have faced real challenges, this transition gives us a rare opportunity to reset, reconnect, and strengthen how we serve the community. Supporting our workforce through this change and helping shape an organization that is aligned, trusted, and focused on meaningful results will be one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and look forward to contributing to Portland's next chapter."
Before joining Greeley, Lee spent 10 years with the City of Dallas in a progression of leadership roles and later served as public works director for the City of Amarillo, Texas, where he oversaw drainage utility, fleet services, solid waste, street services, traffic engineering, and traffic operations.
Lee, who is 41, earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Henderson State University in Arkansas. He has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, Yale University's Fostering Inclusion and Diversity Program, and Brown University's Leader as Coach Program, and multiple executive certificates from Cornell University in Labor Relations and Financial Management. Lee is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Outside of work, Lee enjoys mentoring emerging leaders, attending sporting events, and spending time with family.
Source: City of Portland