October 15 | 6 – 7pm | Zoom
City Council geographic districts? Ranked-choice voting? Both systems are new to Portlanders this year, and being an informed voter is critical to a healthy democracy. Join Kari Chisholm, political consultant and member of Portland’s Independent District Commission, to learn more about voting in the 2024 election. Kari will walk us through the history of Portland’s unique local governing system, new changes to that system this year, and what to expect when ballots arrive.
In 2023, Kari Chisholm was one of 13 Portland residents appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Independent Districting Commission, tasked with drawing the first-ever district map as Portland transitions from at-large council members to a district-based system. That effort culminated in a 13-0 consensus decision and was widely hailed as a model for collaborative, community-based decision-making. Kari previously served as the co-chair of the citizens’ commission for redistricting Oregon’s Metro Council in 2001.
For over 22 years, Kari was the founder and president of Mandate Media, a national political consulting firm based in Oregon, serving as a digital strategist and campaign consultant to over 350 elected officials, campaigns, and organizations in 32 states, including every current Democratic member of Oregon’s congressional delegation. Kari was a senior advisor to Senator Ron Wyden’s campaign for 19 years and to Senator Jeff Merkley’s campaign for 16 years. In addition, Kari has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Chicago, teaching a graduate-level course in digital media policy and politics at the Harris School of Public Policy.
Kari graduated in political science from the University of Southern California, where he served in the student government and was named “Most Spirited Trojan” twice. College football fans across the country know Kari as an expert on the voting procedures for the Heisman Trophy, accurately predicting the winner twelve years in a row. He is a proud life-long resident of Portland, Oregon.