Jo Ann Hardesty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jo Ann Hardesty
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| Portland City Commissioner | |
| In office January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Dan Saltzman |
| Succeeded by | Rene Gonzalez |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 19th district |
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| In office January 1995 – February 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Avel Gordly |
| Succeeded by | Jackie Dingfelder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 15, 1957 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Education | Baltimore City Community College (AA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Joann for Portland |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
Jo Ann A. Hardesty (born October 15, 1957) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. She served as a Portland City Commissioner from 2019 to 2022. Before that, she was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.
Hardesty made history as the first African American woman and the first minority woman to serve on the Portland City Council. She is known for her work as an activist for racial justice and for changing how police departments operate. In 2021, an investigation found that some police officers spread a false story about her. Hardesty faced some challenges during her time in office, including questions about her personal finances and a misunderstanding with a ride-share driver.
She ran for a second term in the November 2022 election but lost to Rene Gonzalez.
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Early Life & Education
Hardesty was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She was one of ten children. Her father worked at the docks, and her mother stayed home to care for the family.
She finished high school at Edmondson-Westside High School. Later, she earned an Associate of Arts degree in business and accounting. This degree came from the Baltimore City Community College.
Career Journey
After high school, Hardesty joined the United States Navy. She served for six years, including time stationed in the Philippines.
Entering Politics in Oregon
After leaving the Navy, Hardesty moved to Portland, Oregon. She was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1994. She held this position until 2001. After leaving the House, she became the executive director of Oregon Action. She also served as president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP starting in 2015.
Hardesty also hosted a radio show called "Voices from the Edge." This show talked about important topics like racial fairness and how the government works.
Serving as Portland City Commissioner
Running for Office in 2018
In 2018, Hardesty decided to run for the Portland City Council. She aimed for the seat that was becoming open. Many groups supported her, including a local labor union. She won the election against Loretta Smith, receiving a majority of the votes.
Key Actions as Commissioner
Hardesty officially became a city commissioner on January 2, 2019. She was the first Black woman and first minority woman on the council. She often spoke about the need for changes within the Portland Police Bureau. In 2020, she voted to reduce funding for the Portland Police Bureau, but this vote did not pass.
As the commissioner in charge of the Fire Bureau, she took a month-long vacation in August 2021. This time is often busy for fire season in the region. This was the first time in over twenty years that a city commissioner took a full month away.
2022 Reelection Campaign
Hardesty ran for reelection to the City Council in 2022. She received support from many unions and advocacy groups. Several important politicians also endorsed her. A local newspaper, Willamette Week, supported her again.
She placed first in the primary election. However, she did not get more than 50% of the votes. This meant she had to go to a runoff election in November 2022. The Portland Firefighters Association chose to support her opponent, Rene Gonzalez. Willamette Week also changed its endorsement to Gonzalez. Hardesty lost the election and conceded the race.
Personal Life & Public Events
Hardesty was married to Skip Elliott Bowman in 1995, and they later divorced in 2008. By 2014, she was married to Roger Hardesty.
In November 2020, Hardesty called 9-1-1 during a misunderstanding with a ride-share driver. She felt unsafe when the driver wanted to drop her off in a dark area.
In 2021, Hardesty was falsely accused of being involved in a car accident. An internal investigation by the Portland Police Bureau found no proof for these claims. The investigation concluded that some police officers had created and shared the false story. The police bureau confirmed that the officers' actions were an act of retaliation against Hardesty. As a result, two officers faced discipline, and the former union president was fired. Hardesty later reached a settlement with the Portland Police Union regarding this false accusation.
Hardesty also faced questions about some unpaid personal bills. She worked to resolve these financial matters.
