Mayor Wheeler Appoints Economic Development Veteran Bobby Lee as Chief of Staff

Mayor Ted Wheeler has selected Bobby Lee, a recent Prosper Portland director, to serve as his newest chief of staff.

Lee currently heads Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, a department that oversees local development projects and small business loans—Seattle’s Prosper Portland equivalent. He’s served in this position since 2019.

Prior to taking the job in Seattle, Lee worked as the director of economic development for Prosper Portland. According to Wheeler’s office, Lee was involved in rolling out “Portland Means Progress,” an initiative to make the local economy more equitable.

“Bobby Lee’s public, private and civic experience, along with his work bringing partners together to tackle complex challenges, will help us address Portlanders’ top concerns—homelessness, COVID and public safety,” Wheeler said in a press release announcing the new hire.

Lee’s economic background fits the position. Along with advising the mayor on day-to-day issues, the chief of staff traditionally oversees the city budget process. And, with his Prosper Portland background, it’s likely Lee will play a key role in planning Wheeler’s economy recovery work to repair COVID-19’s impact on local businesses.

Before joining Prosper Portland, Lee worked at the state level for former Governor John Kitzhaber and current Gov. Kate Brown, focusing on economic development. He also spent five years at Worksystems, Inc., a nonprofit that helps get develop job skills, and served two years on Eugene City Council in 1999 and 2000.

In a prepared statement, Lee said he saw his new role as Wheeler’s chief of staff as an opportunity to “bring Portland back” from economic hardships spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the new federal partnership, we have a chance to accelerate economic and civic recovery that brings real relief,” Lee added. “If there was ever a time to come together and step up, it is right now.”

Lee starts the job on February 22. Outgoing chief of staff Kristin Dennis is taking a new chief of staff job in Metro Council President Lynn Peterson’s office.

Lee will be the first Asian American person to hold the position of chief of staff in the Portland mayor’s office.