Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has announced the nomination of two public servants to sustain crucial roles within the city government: Michael Jordan as city administrator and Robert L. Taylor as city attorney. Both nominations will require approval from the City Council, which is set to vote on the appointments on February 5. This year, the city plans to initiate a national search for a successor to the city administrator position, with the aim of making an appointment by early 2026.
Michael Jordan brings extensive government experience to his new role. From 2022 to 2024, he served as the chief administrative officer in the City’s Office of Management and Finance, which functioned as the central hub for essential services such as human resources, technology, and finance. Following the 2022 vote by Portland residents to change the city’s governance structure, Jordan led the City Transition Team, which was responsible for preparing and facilitating this significant transition. He was appointed interim city administrator by Mayor Ted Wheeler in 2024, where he began guiding an interdisciplinary leadership team and assisting the Mayor with the city’s daily operations, while continuing to oversee the implementation of the charter changes across the organization.
Jordan has previously held notable positions, including director of the Bureau of Environmental Services for the City of Portland and chief operating officer for the State of Oregon’s executive branch, where he oversaw the state’s daily operations and the Department of Administrative Services. Additionally, from 2003 to 2011, he managed a workforce of 1,600 as chief operating officer for Metro, the regional government of greater Portland. His public service experience also includes roles as a Clackamas County Commissioner and Canby City Administrator, alongside 11 years of service at Pacific Power and Light before entering public office.
Robert L. Taylor serves as the city attorney, acting as the chief legal advisor for the City and leading the City Attorney’s Office. This office provides legal representation to the city’s elected officials, employees, and various governmental bodies in court and administrative proceedings. The City Attorney’s Office is also responsible for advising on policy development, negotiating on behalf of the City, and offering legal training on various topics.
Taylor has been with the City Attorney’s Office since 2017, serving as city attorney since 2021. In his capacity as chief legal counsel, he leads a team of over 80 legal professionals who advise elected officials and city staff on significant legal matters. Recently, he has provided guidance on the transition from the commission-based government to the current mayor-council structure, as well as on city policies addressing unsheltered homelessness and public safety.
Before joining the City, Taylor held various positions, including deputy secretary of state, secretary of the Oregon Senate, a business litigator in private practice, and an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. He earned his law degree from Willamette University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Brown University.
