Former Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn Returning to Portland

Diane Linn

Former Multnomah County Chairwoman Diane Linn is coming home to Portland after a five-year exile in California.

Linn served on the county commission from 1999 to 2007 and as chair from 2001 to 2007. She was seen as a rising political star, but the county's ill-fated decision to begin marrying same-sex couples in 2004 sent her career into a tailspin. She lost a 2006 re-election bid to current state Treasurer Ted Wheeler. She moved to Marin County, Calif., to lead the Ritter Center, an agency that works with the homeless. 

This morning, the Portland non-profit Proud Ground, which helps low-income families buy their first homes, announced that Linn will become its new executive director. 

"Proud Ground is an important partner in creating first-time homeowners and prosperous communities. I am excited to see Proud Ground continue to grow under Diane's leadership," Traci Manning, director of the Portland Housing Bureau, said in a statement.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.