Mayor Denyse McGriff brings a wealth of public service and leadership experience to her volunteer role on the TriMet Board
Governor Tina Kotek has selected Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff to fill TriMet’s vacant District 7 position, installing a new representative for people who live within TriMet’s service area in Clackamas County. Mayor McGriff fills a vacancy left by former Director Kathy Wai, who voluntarily resigned from the post last fall. As a Board member, McGriff says she will empower the people of Clackamas County.
“As the first woman of color to be elected Mayor of Oregon City, I continue to champion a government and community where everyone has a voice,” said McGriff. “Everyone has an opportunity to be at the table and participate in the process.”
McGriff serves as Mayor of Oregon City, where she leads a five-person commission for a city of more than 38,000 people. Her term expires in December.
McGriff brings passion for planning and local government
McGriff’s resume documents a career steeped in public service and leadership. She worked in planning and local government roles in Oregon for more than 30 years, focusing on issues including historic preservation, conservation, adaptive reuse, transportation and land-use planning.
As a member of TriMet’s Board of Directors, McGriff says she’ll champion efforts to re-envision our transit services to meet the needs of a changing region.
“Transit is a key component of a thriving regional transportation system,” said McGriff. “The other two areas are housing and employment/jobs. An effective transit system is needed to make all three key factors work: people need to get to and from home, work and shopping.”
McGriff holds two master’s degrees from the University of Oregon, in Urban Planning and Political Science. In 2025, the university’s school of Public Policy, Planning and Management awarded McGriff its Distinguished Alumna Award.
TriMet’s Board of Directors
TriMet’s Board of Directors consists of seven Directors who represent seven districts within the larger TriMet service district. Board members are volunteers selected by the governor and eligible for up to two, four-year terms. However, they serve at the pleasure of the governor for as long as deemed appropriate.
With McGriff’s confirmation by the Oregon Senate on June 17, TriMet’s Board of Directors includes:
- Thomas Kim, Vice President and District 1, representing Washington County
- Erin Graham, District 2, representing Northwest and portions of Southwest Portland
- Robert Kellogg, District 3, representing Southwest Portland and Washington County
- Tyler Frisbee, Secretary/Treasurer and District 4, representing Southeast Portland
- JT Flowers, District 5, representing North and Northeast Portland
- Dr. LaVerne Lewis, President and District 6, representing East Multnomah County
- Denyse McGriff, District 7, representing Clackamas County
The Board provides financial stewardship of TriMet’s budget, appoints the general manager, helps set high-level agency policy, implements legislation pertaining to transit operations, and reviews and approves certain contracts.
Board members also serve in liaison roles on special advisory groups and committees. For more information about the TriMet Board, visit trimet.org/board.
Board business meetings are open to the public and typically held once per month. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24. McGriff will join the Board in her official capacity at the Board’s July 22 business meeting.