Roberta Phillip Files for Cogen's Seat

Roberta Phillip, a newly hired staffer in County Chair Ted Wheeler's office, has filed to run for Commissioner Jeff Cogen's seat in District 2.

Cogen today announced he's running to replace Wheeler, who has been appointed state treasurer.

Phillip, who had no idea her boss would become treasurer when she started work Monday as a policy advisor to Wheeler, plans to stay with her job at the county while she runs for Cogen's seat.

Phillip, who previously worked for the nonprofit Crittenton Foundation, was listed by WW last year as a young Portlander to watch.

"I feel like I'm in a unique position to really work with the board that exists right now, and I have the skill set to really give back to the county and serve," Phillip says. "It's about public service for me."

She'll run against former county Commissioner Gary Hansen, Rev. Chuck Currie, Portland noise ordinance officer Paul van Orden and Cogen staffer Karol Collymore.