Attorney. Nerd. Fixer.
I’m Joel Corcoran, running for City Council (District 3) because I believe something simple: good government delivers good services.
If government is meant to improve people’s lives, it should solve real problems and deliver real results.
I’ve spent my career making complex systems work better. In the U.S. Senate, I helped people across Oregon navigate government and get solutions. At Portland City Hall, I worked on policy and budgeting during a time of major change—focused on how government actually works. As an attorney, I’ve helped people build businesses and nonprofits across the state.
I believe we all share responsibility for fixing government when it falls short. I don’t just talk about problems—I work through them with the people most affected and find ways to fix them.
Right now, too much of Portland’s government isn’t working. Services are inconsistent, costs are rising, and leadership is too often distracted by internal conflict.
Portland deserves better—not in theory, but in practice.
After years behind the scenes, I’m ready to step up. I’m not running to be the loudest voice—I’m running to be an effective problem-solver. With steady, practical work, we can make Portland "The City That Works" again.