Ted Wheeler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted Wheeler
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| 53rd Mayor of Portland | |
| In office January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Charlie Hales |
| Succeeded by | Keith Wilson |
| 28th Treasurer of Oregon | |
| In office March 11, 2010 – January 1, 2017 |
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| Governor | Ted Kulongoski John Kitzhaber Kate Brown |
| Preceded by | Ben Westlund |
| Succeeded by | Tobias Read |
| Chair of the Multnomah County Commission | |
| In office January 1, 2007 – March 11, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Diane Linn |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Cogen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edward Tevis Wheeler
August 31, 1962 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2001) Democratic (2001–present) |
| Spouse |
Katrina Maley
(m. 2005; div. 2020) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Columbia University (MBA) Harvard University (MPP) |
| Signature |  |
Edward Tevis Wheeler (born August 31, 1962) is an American politician. He served as the mayor of Portland, Oregon from 2017 to 2024. Before that, he was the Oregon State Treasurer from 2010 to 2016.
Wheeler was first elected mayor in 2016 and then reelected in 2020. He was once a member of the Republican Party. Since 2001, he has been a Democrat.
Early Life and Education
Ted Wheeler was born in Portland, Oregon. His family had a long history in the timber industry in Oregon.
He went to public schools in Portland. He graduated from Lincoln High School. After high school, he studied economics at Stanford University. He also earned a business degree from Columbia University. Later, he got another master's degree from Harvard University. Before becoming a politician, Wheeler worked for several financial companies.
Political Career
Ted Wheeler started his political journey by running for the Boston City Council. He later became involved in Oregon politics. In 2006, he was elected to lead the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
Leading Multnomah County
As the leader of Multnomah County, Wheeler worked to manage the county's money. He helped make sure important social programs continued to receive funding. He also worked to remove hidden fees from state-issued debit cards.
Wheeler helped recover money that was lost from state investments. He also focused on improving public spaces and buildings. He supported building new libraries and a new courthouse. He also helped fund repairs for the Sellwood Bridge.
During his time, Portland became the first city in Oregon to "Ban the Box." This rule helps people with a criminal record find jobs. It removes the question about criminal history from job applications.
Oregon State Treasurer
In 2010, Ted Wheeler was appointed as the Oregon State Treasurer. This job involves managing the state's money. He was later elected to a full term in 2012.
As treasurer, Wheeler focused on smart money management. He helped save over $172 million for the state. He also cared about the environment. He worked to increase Oregon's investments in renewable energy. He also promised not to invest in new coal projects. Wheeler helped grow Oregon's pension fund to over $72 billion. This made it one of the strongest state pension funds in the country. He also helped create the OregonSaves program. This program helps people in Oregon save for retirement.
Running for Portland Mayor
Wheeler announced he would run for mayor of Portland in October 2015. He promised to address income inequality. He also wanted to make sure the government was accountable to its citizens. Many former Portland mayors supported his campaign. He also received support from business groups and labor unions.
In May 2016, Wheeler was elected mayor in the first round of voting. He won with 54% of the votes.
Mayor of Portland
Ted Wheeler became the Mayor of Portland on January 1, 2017. One of his first tasks was to assign city departments to different commissioners. He chose to oversee the Portland Police Bureau and the Portland Housing Bureau.
During his time as mayor, he faced challenges like homelessness. He worked to address the growing number of people living on the streets. He also tried to move people from street camps into shelters.
Protests and Public Safety
In 2017, after a serious incident on a Portland train, Wheeler called for an end to certain rallies. He tried to prevent groups from holding events that could lead to violence. He also sought more power to control protests. He wanted to keep opposing groups separate to prevent fighting. However, the city council did not approve his proposal.
In 2020, Portland saw many protests following the murder of George Floyd. Wheeler set a curfew for the city. He later lifted it when protests became more peaceful. He also asked for the Oregon National Guard to help, but the governor refused.
Wheeler expressed concerns about the police using tear gas on protesters. He directed the police chief to use it only when there was a serious threat. When federal agents were sent to Portland, Wheeler spoke out against it. He said it was not helping the situation. He was even caught in tear gas himself during a protest.
Later, Wheeler urged protesters to avoid violence. He said that violent acts were not helping their cause. In August 2020, protesters gathered outside his home. They lit fires and broke windows. Wheeler later moved out of his apartment due to safety concerns.
By the end of 2020, Wheeler promised a "zero tolerance" approach to criminal behavior. He called for tougher sentences for vandalism. In March 2021, police used a tactic to detain a group of people. Wheeler supported this action, saying he believed in democracy, not anarchy.
2020 Reelection
In the 2020 election, Ted Wheeler won a second term as mayor. He was the first Portland mayor to be reelected since 2000. He received support from business groups, labor unions, and environmental groups.
2024 Election
In September 2023, Wheeler announced that he would not run for reelection in 2024.
Political Views
Education
As treasurer, Wheeler helped grow the Oregon College Savings Program. This program helps families save money for college. As mayor, he supported changes to a program for gifted children.
Environmental Issues
Wheeler supports investing more in renewable energy. He does not support new investments in coal. He also supported Portland's ban on expanding fossil fuel infrastructure.
Gun Control
Wheeler supports stricter gun control laws. He believes in requiring thorough background checks for gun buyers. He has also spoken out in support of student protests against gun violence. He said he would work to ban assault-style weapons in Portland.
LGBT Rights
Wheeler supports LGBT rights. He helped provide healthcare benefits for transgender workers. He also supports same-sex marriage.
Public Safety
During his time as mayor, the police budget increased. He supports changes to police rules, such as ending the "48-hour rule." This rule gives officers a waiting period before answering questions after using deadly force.
Homelessness and Housing
Wheeler met with city leaders and business owners to discuss safety concerns. He supported creating "no sit zones" in downtown Portland. This policy was criticized by some groups but praised by businesses.
Personal Life
Ted Wheeler lives in Portland, Oregon. He is an Eagle Scout and enjoys outdoor activities. He even climbed Mount Everest in 2002.
He is a member of the Episcopal Church. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wheeler used pepper spray on a man who confronted him. The man was not wearing a mask and got too close to Wheeler.
Images for kids
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Ted Wheeler's signature.
