Preeg Riggsby smiling at the camera in front of a Multnomah County building
Terri Preeg Riggsby Courtesy of Terri Preeg Riggsby

Terri Preeg Riggsby, a regional conservation leader, announced her run for the recently-vacated Metro Council District 6 seat Monday.

Preeg Riggsby is aiming to fill former Metro Councilor Bob Stacey’s seat, who resigned from his position mid-term amid growing health issues. Stacey’s resignation went into effect October 15 and the Metro councilors have until January 13, 2022 to vote to appoint a replacement councilor.

Preeg Riggsby has been a conservation leader for over two decades, currently serving as a West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation district chair and the executive director of Tyron Creek Watershed Council. Preeg Riggsby also previously served as a performance auditor for the Oregon Secretary of State.

In a press release announcing her campaign, Preeg Riggsby attributed her run to wanting to “improve accountability in the Portland area through regional solutions to the urgent homelessness and trash accumulation problems plaguing our communities.”

The conservationist also cites her experience managing the HAKI Community Organization—which offers social services to East African immigrants in Portland—during the pandemic, which included raising $2 million to help newly-migrated Portlanders access housing and social services. Preeg Riggsby believes her leadership of the organization, in tandem with her experience as someone with a mobility disability, has prepared her to advocate for investments in affordable housing, transportation, and climate-conscious projects.

“Everyone must be able to access improved public services, and I will ensure that is a reality as the next Metro Councilor,” Preeg Riggsby said. “We need a vision for the region that provides housing, parks, and varied active public transportation options for a healthier community and a healthier environment, and I will work to make that happen.”

Preeg Riggsby has secured endorsements from Multnomah County Commission Sharon Meieran, former Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz, and Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington (who previously served on the Metro Council).

Preeg Riggsby is the second person to actively seek out the vacant District 6 seat, which covers a large swath of south Portland. Duncan Hwang, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) co-director, announced his campaign for the seat in October.