Ted Wheeler

In July 2018 The Oregonian reported that half of arrests in Portland were of people who were homeless. Wheeler, who oversaw the police department, said he saw this as a problem and that it would influence his budgeting decisions. In September 2018, Portland residents who found Wheeler's response to the growth of homeless encampments inadequate petitioned his office and other local agencies to take stronger action.

In 2018 Wheeler was overheard saying, "I cannot wait for the next 24 months to be up." But he has also said he aspires to break the streak of one-term mayors and has not said whether he will run for reelection.

In October 2018, while also Police Commissioner, Wheeler was criticized for allowing Antifa groups to block traffic and harass drivers. In June 2019 he came under fire again for his lack of action during another protest march in Portland involving Antifa, in which journalist Andy Ngo was injured by a group of protesters. The incident was caught on camera, causing US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell to tweet: "Where is Mayor @tedwheeler? Where is the national media?! @MrAndyNgo" and "This is unacceptable. I am outraged. This violence from intolerants must stop. Portland leaders must be held to account."

Wheeler advocates for increased gun control, and supports requiring rigorous background checks for people attempting to buy guns. On March 14, 2018, he released a letter in support of the student walkout against gun violence. On April 20, Wheeler told hundreds of students outside Portland city hall that he would work on a ban of assault-style weapons in Portland.

In 2015 Wheeler ran for mayor of Portland and received more than 50% of the vote in the May 2016 primary, thereby winning the office. He was sworn in on December 30, 2016, for a term that began on January 1, 2017.

Wheeler was sworn in on December 30, 2016, for a term that began on January 1, 2017. One of his first actions was to make initial assignments of city departments (known as bureaus) to the five commissioners, of which the mayor is one. He assigned to himself the Portland Police Bureau, the Portland Development Commission, and the Portland Housing Bureau, among others. He said he intended to reconsider the initial assignments during the annual budget process in April.

Wheeler launched a run for mayor on October 14, 2015. He campaigned on addressing income inequality and ensuring government accountability. During his announcement speech, Wheeler promised to build a government that worked "for every person."

In October 2015, former Portland mayors Vera Katz, Tom Potter, and Sam Adams endorsed Wheeler. Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis also endorsed him, as did State Representatives Lew Frederick and Tobias Read, former State Senators Ron Cease, Jane Cease, and Avel Gordly, and 2012 mayoral candidate Eileen Brady.

As treasurer, Wheeler relaunched the Oregon College Savings Program, which reached a record $2.3 billion in January 2015. The 529 savings plan allows money saved for college to grow tax-free and gives the donor a deduction on their taxable income. As mayor, Wheeler supported dissolving ACCESS Academy, an alternative program for gifted children not served by their neighborhood school due to disabilities or other challenges that prevented their learning.

As treasurer, Wheeler practiced aggressive financial management, achieving more than $172 million in cash flow savings since 2013. He also promoted environmental stewardship, committing to double Oregon's investments in renewable energy resources by January 2020, and double them again by 2030, while also pledging not to pursue new investments in coal. Wheeler also promoted the use of ESG (Environmental Social Governance) for all state investments to improve long-term performance, while urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to institute tougher reviews of carbon asset risk disclosures from 45 major corporations.

Wheeler was appointed Treasurer on March 9, 2010, to replace Ben Westlund, who died in office, and was subsequently elected to a full term in 2012. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

On March 7, 2010, incumbent Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund died of lung cancer. Two days later Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed Wheeler to the office. Wheeler defeated fellow Democrat Rick Metsger in the Democratic primary election on May 18, 2010, and defeated Republican Chris Telfer, Progressive Walt Brown and Michael Marsh of the Constitution Party in the November special election for the rest of Westlund's term, which ended in 2013. He was elected to a second full term in 2012.

Shortly after his election as chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, Wheeler worked with his colleagues to balance a county budget that had called for $22.3 million in cuts in 2009. Wheeler also fought to preserve social safety net programs and to eliminate hidden fees from state-issued debit cards.

Wheeler and his wife Katrina are involved with Basic Rights Oregon. Wheeler won the group's Fighting Spirit Award in 2008 following his executive order in 2007 enacting full healthcare benefits for transgender workers, and has been endorsed by the organization. He supports same-sex marriage and signed and supported the 2013 Oregon United for Marriage initiative, which advocated the legalization of same-sex marriage in Oregon.

In 2006 Wheeler defeated incumbent Multnomah County chair Diane Linn to become chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, taking office in January 2007.

Wheeler lives in Southwest Portland with his wife and daughter. An Eagle Scout and avid outdoorsman, he summited Mount Everest in 2002. Wheeler started his first day in office by commuting to City Hall via bicycle.

A sixth-generation Oregonian, Wheeler was born in Portland to a family with roots in the Oregon timber industry. His father, Sam Wheeler, was executive vice president at Willamette Industries, a Fortune 500 lumber company formed in 1967 by a merger of several smaller companies, including one established by the Wheeler family in 1912 in eponymous Wheeler, Oregon. He attended Portland Public Schools, graduating from Lincoln High School. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University in 1985. He also earned an MBA from Columbia University and a master's in public policy from Harvard University. Wheeler worked for several financial services companies, including the Bank of America and Copper Mountain Trust.

Edward Tevis Wheeler (born August 31, 1962) is an American politician who has served as the mayor of Portland, Oregon, since 2017. He previously served as Oregon State Treasurer.

Wheeler is pro-choice and advocates for access to reproductive healthcare. Ted and Katrina Wheeler were honorary chairs of Planned Parenthood's 50th Anniversary Gala. Wheeler has donated to and raised funds for Planned Parenthood.