Never Julia Brim-Edwards

An Open Letter of No Confidence in Julia Brim-Edwards as Multnomah County Chair

This letter is a document of dozens of people who have direct experiences and oppose Julia Brim-Edwards becoming Multnomah County Chair. This is not a poltical organization or a PAC. Just concerned citizens wanting a better Multnomah County for all.

October 23, 2026 (50 signatories)

We, the undersigned current and former Multnomah County employees, acting in our individual capacities as private citizens and community members, collectively issue this formal statement of no confidence in Julia Brim-Edwards as a candidate for Multnomah County Chair.

As public servants, the quality of our work relies on the integrity, transparency, and accountability of all county employees – including the Chair. County leadership must be held to the highest standard to protect civil rights, prioritize community needs, and responsibly steward public resources. As it stands, we do not believe Brim-Edwards meets that necessary standard.

Given her record, we believe Julia Brim-Edwards poses a threat not only to our jobs but to the essential services we provide to the communities that depend on us.

Our statement of no confidence reflects the following concerns:

1. Betrayal of Multnomah County’s Values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

LGBTQ+ rights: Basic Rights Oregon PAC unanimously rescinded its endorsement of Brim-Edwards after her statements concerning transgender student athletes recently came to light, in direct conflict with Multnomah County’s annual proclamations to support the rights of the transgender community.
Racial and ethnic discrimination: During ongoing efforts to address discrimination in the workplace, County employees have shared firsthand accounts of interactions with Brim-Edwards that they perceived as discriminatory based on race and ethnicity.
Political opportunism and exploitation of targeted communities: Willamette Week criticized Brim-Edwards for reviving a $40 million Native Student Success proposal shortly before a bond vote, portraying the move as politically advantageous despite known cost concerns that would ultimately sink the proposal.
Defense of Bob Packwood amid sexual misconduct allegations: As his spokesperson, Brim-Edwards called republican senator Bob Packwood “a perfect gentleman” amid sexual misconduct allegations later substantiated by a Senate investigation. This defense raises concerns given Multnomah County’s responsibility to serve survivors of sexual violence.

2. Prioritizing Corporate Interests and Law Enforcement Over Health and Human Services

County budget priorities: In the 2025 budget cycle, all County departments were forced to make a 10-12% budget reduction except for the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Offices. Brim-Edwards voted to give them each another $1 million while eliminating funding for the Health Department’s Community Immunization Program, Nurse Family Partnership Program, and Environmental Health Community Programs.
Public services and community investment: Brim-Edwards supported delaying a scheduled Preschool for All tax increase and helped oppose Metro’s 2020 transportation funding measure. She has also advocated for public camping bans, supported ending the routine distribution of tents to unhoused residents, and opposed the distribution of harm reduction supplies.
Record at odds with progressive labor values: Despite positioning herself as the “pro-labor” candidate, Brim-Edwards’ history as a Nike executive and corporate lobbyist has earned her support from anti-labor corporations, influential business interests, law enforcement agencies, and conservative organizations that oppose legislation supporting working families.

3. Consistent Lack of Transparency, Collaboration, and Process

Disruptive governance: In alignment with the experiences of concerns raised by seven current and former Portland Public Schools board members, Brim-Edwards has frequently delayed Multnomah County Board Meetings by challenging basic meeting procedures established by County statute and failing to exercise appropriate diligence in reviewing proposals before the board, resulting in questions that should have been resolved prior to public deliberations.
Good faith engagement and transparency: County employees have echoed similar concerns over Brim-Edwards’ failure to honor agreements/discussions made in private when asked to stand by them publicly.

Our Collective Statement of No Confidence

We, the undersigned, collectively express no confidence in Julia Brim-Edwards as a candidate for Multnomah County Chair.

We issue this statement as community members who care deeply about Multnomah County’s future and the public institutions entrusted with serving its residents.

Signed,

JB/Julia Brown – Homeless Services (current), PRISM ERG Co-Chair (former)

joey jordan – Health, Local 88 Steward (current)

Emilie Azorr – Homeless Services, Local 88 Executive Board Rep (current)

Sam Silverman – Office of Diversity and Equity (former)

Anonymous employee – DCHS (current / represented), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Anna Johnson – Homeless Services (current)

Daisy Pullman – Library (current), PRISM ERG Co-Chair

Emily Lofquist – Library, Local 88 Steward (current)

Bluejay Halozan – Library, Local 88 Lead Steward (current)

Kyle Thornfeldt – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – DCHS (current)

Maxine Fookson – Health (retired)

Andrew Nilsen – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Anne Trudeau – Library (retired)

Cole Linhart – DCHS, Local 88 Steward

Aloe – Library, Local 88 Steward (current)

Mandy Kubisch – Homeless Services, Local 88 Steward (current)

Alec Chunn – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current)

Jennifer Keyser – Library, Local 88 Steward (current)

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Cee Bondurant – DCS (current)

Andy Cho (she/her) – Health (current) & QTPOC ERG Immediate Past Chair (2025-2026)

Victoria P. – Library (current)

Ophelia Darling – Library (current), former PRISM ERG co-Chair

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Claire Barrera – DCHS (current)

Anonymous employee – Health (former)

Anonymous employee (current)

Natalie Arreola – Homeless Services (current)

Joelle Kim – Health Dept (former)

TK Galvan – Behavioral Health (current)

BAP – Health (former)

Anonymous employee – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – DCHS (current)

Megan Griffith – Homeless Services (current)

Jaidra Hennessey (current)

Lori Moore – Library (current)

Mack Vohs – Homeless Services (former)

Anonymous employee – Health (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Junix Seraphim – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – DCA (current)

Anonymous employee – Library (current)

Jamie Dominguez – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – DCA (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Anonymous employee – Homeless Services (current)

Anonymous employee – Library (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Sossity Chiricuzio – Homeless Services (current)

Anonymous employee – DCM (current)

Jennifer Collins (current)

Pat Bedard – Library (current)

Anonymous employee – (current since 2022)

Grant Swanson – Library (current)

Anonymous employee (current), name withheld for fear of retaliation

Alex M Nevison – Library (current)

Jersey Alchemist Rodriguez Stefanelli – DCJ (former)

Brian Haggerty – Library (current)

The undersigned current and former Multnomah County employees are acting solely in their individual capacities as private citizens and community members.

This statement does not represent the official position of Multnomah County, any county department, or any labor organization.