SAG-AFTRA’s Portland Local announced officer election results Sept. 5. The Portland local represents working actors as well as other on-air talent like stunt performers, voiceover artists, and broadcast journalists, about 980 members in all.
This year’s officer election had more drama than most, with a slate of candidates known as #PortlandComeback challenging all but one incumbent officer. The slate was led by actor Adam Dunlap, and it also included voice actor and dialect coach Mary McDonald-Lewis, who’s been active in the local for decades and has two years remaining in her term as Portland’s delegate on the national SAG-AFTRA board.
It was the rare internal union election that attracted public attention on social media and even a couple of articles in Willamette Week, owing to McDonald-Lewis’ involvement. Her declarations on social media that trans women are men precipitated a pressure campaign that led to cancellation in February of a play she co-created; she later moved to North Carolina.
In the end, the #PortlandComeback slate lost, and members returned incumbents.
Those elected were:
- President Michelle Damis
- Vice President Scott Rogers
- Local Board Members Tim Gordon, Rose Harwood, Heidi Herschbach, Mackenzie Jamieson, Ira Kortum, Lauren Litt, and Christopher Toyne.
The only candidate to be unopposed was incumbent secretary Chrisse Roccaro.
Officers were installed Sept. 12 and will serve two-year terms.
