Jo Ann Hardesty

rdf:langString Jo Ann Hardesty

rdf:langString Jo Ann Hardesty

rdf:langString Jo Ann Hardesty

rdf:langString Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

rdf:langString Oregon

rdf:langString Baltimore City Community College

rdf:langString Portland, Oregon, U.S.

rdf:langString February 2001

rdf:langString January 1995

rdf:langString Jo Ann A. Hardesty (formely Bowman, born October 15, 1957) is an American Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Oregon who is currently a Portland City Commissioner, having taken office on the Portland City Council in January 2019. She previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1995 until 2001. Hardesty was the first African American woman and first woman of color to serve on the council. A longtime activist for racial justice and other progressive policy issues, she is well known as an advocate for police reform and defunding. In 2021, Portland Police Bureau's internal investigation concluded their officers leaked a false accusation that she was responsible for a hit and run in an act of retaliation. Hardesty faced several controversies during her tenure in office, such as her handling of personal credit card debt, vacation time, and placing a call to 9-1-1 over a dispute with a Lyft driver. Hardesty stood for the November 2022 election runoff to serve a second term, but lost the seat to challenger Rene Gonzalez.