Why I’m Running for
I’m running for Gresham City Council because I know this community and I believe the best solutions are built with community, not just for community.
I grew up in Gresham, started serving through the Youth Advisory Council, worked for the City of Gresham, and continue to work in local government. I’ve seen how public systems can open doors to opportunity and how important it is for City Hall to be accountable, responsive, and focused on helping families build stability.
Access. Accountability. Stability.
A Campaign Built With Community
This campaign is about bringing people together around practical solutions that expand opportunity, strengthen accountability, and help families build stability.
That means listening to residents early, showing up in every part of Gresham, and building a campaign that reflects the voices of the people who call Gresham home.
Lead with community
Building Gresham’s Future Together
Access to Opportunity
Everyone in Gresham deserves real access to jobs, housing, services, youth pathways, and small business support. I want to help open doors so more residents can build stability and opportunity close to home.
Government Accountability
Residents deserve a City Hall that is transparent, responsive, and honest about results. I will push for clearer communication, earlier community input, and measurable follow-through so people know their voice matters.
Economic Stability
A stronger Gresham means families, workers, and small businesses can afford to stay, grow, and thrive here. I will always support family-wage jobs, workforce pathways, and a local economy that helps people build a future.
Key Issues
The Best Solutions Are Built With Community
I believe the best solutions are built with community, not just for community. That means bringing residents into conversations early, especially when the issue is complicated, urgent, or directly affects their neighborhood.
Gresham is strongest when City Hall hears from the full community before decisions are made. Community-driven leadership means asking who is missing, listening to the people most impacted, and building policies that reflect real needs.
My approach is simple: show up, listen, partner, and follow through. That is how we build trust, avoid wasting resources, and make sure decisions are connected to the people they are meant to serve.
Photo included for community context only. Appearance does not imply endorsement.
Safety Means Response, Prevention, and Stability
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. Public safety must include strong emergency response, but it also has to include prevention and intervention.
We need to be honest about the root causes behind youth violence, substance abuse, homelessness, and community instability. If we want people to become more self-sufficient, we have to invest in the tools, programs, and partnerships that help them get there.
That means supporting first responders, investing in youth before they are in crisis, connecting people to treatment and stability, and building trust between residents and City Hall. There is dignity in self-sufficiency, and public safety should help create the conditions for people and families to be safe, stable, and supported.
Helping Families Stay, Grow, and Build a Future Here
Homelessness and housing stability require compassion, coordination, and real solutions. People deserve dignity and support, and neighborhoods deserve a response that is organized, effective, and honest about what is working.
That means connecting people to addiction and mental health support, shelter, services, and long-term housing pathways. It also means recognizing that housing stability is not only about homelessness. Working families, seniors, young people, and middle-class residents need housing they can actually afford.
Gresham cannot solve this alone, but the City can be a stronger partner. We need regional coordination, clear accountability, and partnerships that help move people from crisis into stability while creating more pathways to stable housing and homeownership.
Opening Doors for Young People in Gresham
Young people need to see a future for themselves in Gresham. My own path into public service started because the City created an opportunity for me to learn, serve, and see what was possible.
Through the Youth Advisory Council and the City’s Pathways to Employment Program, I was connected to internships and apprenticeships that changed the direction of my life. I want more young people to have that kind of access. If we want young people to stay, lead, and build their future here, we have to create opportunities that help them get started.
I also support creating more formal ways for young adults, young families, renters, emerging workers, entrepreneurs, and future homeowners to help shape where Gresham is headed.
Building an Economy That Helps Gresham Residents Thrive
A strong Gresham means families, workers, and small businesses can afford to stay, grow, and thrive here. Small businesses are part of what makes Gresham feel like Gresham. They create jobs, activate neighborhoods, and reflect the culture and creativity of our community.
The City should be a better partner to small business owners by helping them navigate resources, reduce unnecessary barriers, and move from idea to storefront.
Economic development should also connect directly to workforce training. Bringing jobs to Gresham matters, but we also have to make sure local residents are prepared to access those jobs. That means stronger partnerships with schools, community colleges, unions, employers, nonprofits, and workforce programs.
A City Hall That Communicates Clearly and Follows Through
Residents should not have to guess what City Hall is doing, why decisions are being made, or whether programs are working. Trust is built through honesty, communication, responsiveness, and follow-through.
Good leadership means being clear about hard tradeoffs, inviting community input before decisions are finalized, and measuring whether programs are actually meeting people’s needs. It also means being willing to adjust when something is not working.
Trust in City Hall is also connected to service access. Every Gresham resident should be able to access basic services close to home, including healthy food, healthcare, housing support, transportation, and trusted community resources. The City cannot do this work alone, but it can be a stronger partner with regional agencies, nonprofits, schools, healthcare providers, culturally specific organizations, and community leaders.
More about Teo
Teo Ramirez brings a deep commitment to public service, community leadership, and working people. He is an AFSCME union member, a local government professional, and a proud believer that strong public services depend on the people who deliver them.
Beyond his work in local government, Teo serves as Board Secretary for Community Services Network, a regional nonprofit strengthening our social service sector through education, networking and collaboration across the Tri-Counties. He previously served as Vice-Chair of Gresham’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Teo is a proud Gresham High School and Warner Pacific University alum, and as of June 2026, proudly graduated with his MBA from Portland State University. His education, work experience, labor values, and community service all shaped his commitment to bringing people together, solving problems, and following through for his community.
