Sameer Kanal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Portland City Council from District 2 | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 Servingwith Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Clark College (AA) University of Washington (BA) New York University (MS) |
Sameer Kanal is an American politician who is currently member of the Portland City Council from District 2 after being elected along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney in the 2024 election. [1] [2] Kanal is one of the twelve inaugural members of Portland's new expanded city council after switching from a city commission government to a mayor–council government. [3] He will be the first Asian American (along with fellow council member-elect Tiffany Koyama Lane) and first South Asian American to serve on Portland City Council. [4]
Kanal was born in Portland,Oregon at the Bess Kaiser Hospital that is now part of the Adidas America headquarters. [5] He grew up in the Overlook neighborhood. His parents immigrated from India. His father was a small business owner and his mother worked for the State of Oregon helping new refugees. [6]
Kanal attended Clark College and received his Associate's degree in international relations and political science. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of Washington before getting his Master of Science degree in global affairs from New York University. [7] [8]
On May 28,2024,Kanal announced his intention to run for a seat on the newly expanded city council in the 2024 election. [9]
Kanal,along with Dan Ryan and Elana Pirtle-Guiney,won the race to represent District 2,which covers North and most of Northeast Portland. [2]
He,along with fellow council members Mitch Green of District 4 and Tiffany Koyama Lane of District 3,are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.[ citation needed ]
Kanal lives in the Portsmouth neighborhood. [10]
He is a drummer,and in high school frequently performed at the Portland Saturday Market. He is a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers and is a season ticket holder for the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC. [11] [6]
