Bobby Lee, Longtime Chief of Staff to Mayor Ted Wheeler, Will Depart Office to Care for Family

Published

September 17, 2024 11:06 am

Today, Mayor Ted Wheeler's Chief of Staff, Bobby Lee, announces his departure from the office to focus on caring for his elderly parents in South Korea. Bobby Lee has served as Chief of Staff for over three years. Lee will be step down from the position effective September 30, 2024, a few months before the end of Mayor Wheeler's term. Mayor Wheeler is not running for reelection.

Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed gratitude for Lee's dedication and service, "Over the past three years, Bobby has been an invaluable member of our team, demonstrating unwavering commitment and leadership. He played a crucial role in advancing our city's initiatives and ensuring the smooth operation of our office. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."

When Lee joined the mayor's office in January 2021,the City of Portland was facing numerous crises emerging from the pandemic. Lee's unrelenting focus on workplace culture and encouraging city staff to take on tough challenges with courage helped move Portland's progress forward. During his tenure, Lee oversaw several key projects, including the development of the City's $9 billion annual budget and the creation of the Portland Solutions program to scale livability and homeless services citywide. He helped lead the transition to the new form of government by developing unified executive and legislative branches. Lee also fostered strong relationships with government partners and community stakeholders, ensuring that the Mayor's Office remained responsive and effective in addressing the needs of Portlanders.

"It has been an honor to serve the people of Portland and work alongside such a diverse and dedicated team," said Bobby Lee. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident that the Mayor's Office is well positioned to transition to the next administration after November's election."

Sara Morrissey will serve as the Interim Chief of Staff and Cody Bowman will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff.