Portland City Council will vote on leadership roles for the 2026 term at a regular morning meeting on Wednesday, January 7. Leadership of the Council includes a President and Vice President, as designated by City Charter Section 2-110.
Current Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane were elected during the council's first meeting in January 2025, following a historic transition to the new form of government. They are not term limited and may run for leadership roles again.
The Council will hold two elections, one for President and one for Vice President. Any Councilor may nominate themselves or another Councilor for the positions. If no nominee receives a majority vote, the Council will reopen discussion, allow additional nominations, permit individuals to withdraw if they choose, and repeat the voting process until one candidate secures a majority.
Duties of the President and Vice President are defined by Code 3.02.040, Council Rules:
1. The President is the presiding officer and will:
a. Promote efficient Council operations, including the coordination and submission of agenda items to the Auditor, refer items submitted by the Mayor and Auditor, or submitted by a Councilor without a committee preference, to the full Council or a committee, and assist in preparing the agenda.
b. Preside over Council meetings, including the preservation of order and decorum. The President:
(1) Assigns seats in Council Chambers.
(2) Sets limits for public testimony.
(3) Speaks to points of order before other Councilors. Decides questions of order subject to an appeal to the full Council by three Councilors. A Councilor called to order must immediately stop talking, but may ask the Council to rule without debate on the question of being able to continue talking.
(4) Names who speaks first when two or more Councilors speak at the same time.
(5) Allows each Councilor to speak once on an item until every Councilor choosing to speak has spoken unless the requested speech is necessary for others to understand the issue being considered.
(6) Ensures Councilors confine themselves to the question under debate and refrain from personal criticism.
(7) Allows sufficient time for an amendment before ordering a roll call vote. No amendment may be made during the vote.
c. Sign items accepted by and requiring execution or agreement by Council.
Charter Section 2-110
At its first regular meeting each calendar year, or oftener at its option, the Council shall elect a President and Vice President by majority vote of those present. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council. In the President's absence or incapacity, the Vice President of the Council shall perform the duties of the President. In the absence or incapacity of both President and Vice President, the other members of the Council shall select one of their number to perform the duties of President and Vice President during such absence.