Commissioner Amanda Fritz

Amanda's official title is Commissioner of Public Utilities, Position Number 1, but neither the "Public Utilities" part nor "Position Number 1" has any real meaning.   Born and raised in England, and a graduate of Cambridge University with a Master's degree in Biological Sciences, Amanda immigrated to the United States in 1979.  She completed nursing training in Pittsburgh and spent four years in Rochester, NY, then realized that Portland is the best place in the world to live and raise a family, and moved here in 1986.  She worked for 22 years in inpatient psychiatry at OHSU, and served for seven years on the Portland Plannng Commission, before winning election to the Portland City Council in November 2008.  She was the first candidate ever elected from the community using Portland's Public Campaign Finance system.  Amanda has been married to Steve for over 25 years, and is the mother of Luke, Maxwell, and Ali -- all graduates of Portland Public Schools.  To relax, she likes to pull ivy, plant trees, and yell at football and basketball games.

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Tom Bizeau, Chief of Staff, has 20 years' experience in government service in Oregon, including City, County, and Regional work.  Tom is a graduate of Marylhurst College with a B.A. in Human Studies, and of Portland State University with a Master's in Urban Planning.   In the 1990s, for seven years he was an associate and senior planner in the City of Portland, then managed transportation and water resource planning grants in the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.  He was Assistant Planning Manager for Jackson County in Medford, and also worked in Salem.  As well as being Chief of Staff, Tom helps with the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, local and statewide planning issues, and the Portland Plan.  The son of Portland natives, Tom is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying hiking, biking, running, and back-packing.

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Tim Crail, Budget and Legislative Specialist, is a graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School and a member of the Oregon State Bar Association.  He worked at the State Capitol in Salem as a Legislative Assistant for the 1995, 1997, and 1999 sessions.  He was Amanda’s campaign treasurer, steering committee chair, and chief advisor during both of her City Council campaigns, meeting the challenges of the initial runs of Portland's Public Campaign Financing system.  For nearly ten years, Tim was a home-parent to his two children, volunteering at Markham Elementary School, including three years on the Site Council.  He served on committees at Metro, SW Neighborhoods, Inc., City of Portland, and Portland Public Schools, and for nine years on the Multnomah County Planning Commission.  Contact Tim if you have questions, comments, or concerns on the City budget or State/Federal legislative agendas.  Tim is also our liaison to the Office of Cable Communications and Franchise Management, and the Bureau of Emergency Communications.

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Dora Asana Perry, Community Specialist, brings a passion for social justice and community activism to her liaison work with the Office of Human Relations and Office of Neighborhood Involvement.  Originally from Nigeria, for over 25 years she has covered housing and community development, human rights, and health care in Portland.  Dora worked with tenants and landlords at the Housing Authority of Portland, then managed home ownership loans with local banks.  She coordinated anti-crime and neighborhood reclamation programs with Northeast Coalition of Neighbors, addressed health disparities with the African American Health Coalition, and led programs at the Metropolitan Human Rights Center. Dora is a graduate of the University of Washington (go Huskies!!) and completed graduate studies in Urban Planning at Portland State University.   She is a former Commissioner of the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs, past President of the African Women’s Coalition, and Vice President of the Center for Intercultural Organizing. 

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Patti Howard, Environmental Specialist, is Amanda's liaison with the new Office of Healthy Working Rivers, helping to bring long-term projects for restoration and development on the Willamette and Columbia rivers to successful implementation.  Patti served the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission for seven years as Water Quality Coordinator, and in 2008 managed contracts for habitat restoration and monitoring with the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership.  She earned a B.A. in Biology & Anthropology from Grinnell College in Iowa, and an M.S. in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin.  In 1989, she was published at the XXIV Congress of the Association of Limnology Abstracts in Munich, Germany.  Now that, you must admit, is impressive - especially if you look up the meaning of "limnology".  Please contact Patti if you have questions and/or would like to be involved as we work on the new Office of Healthy Working Rivers action strategies.

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Amanda Mansfield, Operations Manager, joined the Amanda for Portland 2008 staff as Volunteer Manager during the General Election runoff, and quickly became beloved by everyone close to the heart of the campaign.  She formerly worked for Oregon State Senator Vicki Walker in her quest for the Secretary of State nomination.  Amanda M. is a graduate of Columbia University, and has multiple talents and interests including bicycling, singing, and dancing.  She is in charge of office operations, the Commissioner's schedule,and special policy assignments including bicycle issues.  She is OK with being called Mandy to avoid confusion, but the other Amanda figures everyone will be able to work it out.  Anyone called Amanda, and everyone else in Commissioner Fritz's office, is glad to try to help you with whatever challenges and opportunities you bring to us.  Contact Amanda M. for scheduling requests, and to seek her help on transportation and arts/culture issues.

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Sara Hussein, Policy Assistant, 503-823-3994 Sara has a Master's degree in Public Administration from Portland State University with a focus in Health Administration. Sara has previously worked for the State of Oregon in the Public Health Division and she will help you with our Wellness, Commission on Disabilities, and Kids' Health Care assignments.  Sara is also the person to contact if you would like to work in our office as a volunteer or student intern.

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Cary Turkon, Policy Assistant, graduated from The Catlin Gabel School and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.  In June 2008 she achieved a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in Natural Resource Science and Public Policy.  Her studies ranged from Analytical Chemistry to Invertebrate Zoology; from Land Use Ethics to Intergovernmental Relations.  Cary strives to contribute to open dialogue and understanding between the scientific and legal communities.  As a Tlingit Tribal member, she is fascinated by water resource issues and the sense of place fostered by her involvement in the American Indian/Alaskan Native community.  She helps to research complex challenges and find solutions that consider multiple perspectives, especially on energy, green building, and parks issues.  She is our specialist on graffiti abatement.  In her free time, she strums rhythm guitar, throws disc golf and explores natural areas.