An Oregon lawmaker, who receives a $204,000 salary funded by taxpayers, is facing criticism from fellow council members for frequently missing meetings, reportedly for “personal reasons,” according to a recent report.
Lynn Peterson, the Metro Council President representing over 1.17 million Portland residents, has been absent from roughly a third of the 80 council meetings and work sessions held since early 2025, as reported by Oregon Live.
A spokesperson for Peterson stated that 11 of her absences were due to attending other political events, such as a transportation conference in Los Angeles and meetings with lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
While specific details of her absences remain unclear, her office disclosed to the publication that her other missed meetings were due to health or personal reasons.
Overall, Peterson, aged 57, was absent from six out of 15 meetings this year. Five of these were attributed to personal reasons, while one was for her participation in the transportation conference.
Addressing her frequent absences, Metro Councilor Gerritt Rosenthal described Peterson’s attendance as “unpredictable.”
‘I don’t think it’s been a help, let’s just put it that way,’ he said, before explaining how councilmembers have persevered without Peterson there.
‘It’s something the council has been able to manage pretty well, which is not to say that it couldn’t have been enhanced and made more effective,’ Rosenthal added.
Metro Council President Lynn Peterson has been absent for a third of about 80 council meetings and work sessions since the beginning of 2025
The details surrounding her absences remain unknown, but she’s missed most of the meetings for health or personal reasons. (Pictured: The most recent council meeting without Peterson in attendance)
He applauded his fellow councilmembers for their ‘admirable’ work, as some have had to step in as deputy president because of Peterson being missing in action.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, Rosenthal said he didn’t notice ‘serious’ interruption in the council’s work during the president’s absence, because of the Deputy President Councilor Hwang’s ‘competency.’
Rosenthal noted that he does not talk to Peterson often, therefore doesn’t know what caused the pattern of absence. But he has ‘noticed that President Peterson was not consistently present.’
As council president, Peterson is expected to not only preside over the meetings, but set the agenda, appoint members to commissions, board and committees, and vote with a seven-person council.
Her role is the only full-time elected job at Metro Council, making her the highest paid out of her colleagues.
Other councilmembers make a third of the president’s salary, but are not under a set requirement for their part-time roles.
When Peterson, who was elected in 2018 and is now in her final year in the role, attended meetings, she sometimes didn’t take her seat or log in remotely more than an hour into it, Oregon Live stated.
Her absence total does not account for the days Peterson joined meetings virtually during the last 20 minutes of the sessions. It also did not include the day she arrived an hour-and-a-half late.
As council president, Peterson is expected to not only preside over the meetings, but set the agenda, appoint members to commissions, board and committees, and vote with a seven-person council
Metro Councilor Gerritt Rosenthal (far-right) said that Peterson’s abscesses have been ‘unpredictable,’ but his fellow councilmembers have done ‘admirable’ work without her (far-left) there
Because of her tardiness that day, Peterson missed the council meeting entirely and was only able to lead the work session.
Councilors cannot miss all meetings within a 60-day period without the council’s approval, according to a Metro spokesperson.
It is rumored that Peterson may be on her way out the door before her term is up, following her dropping out of the 2024 congressional race to represent Oregon’s 5th District.
During her campaign, she was excused from 12 out of 32 council meetings and working sessions.
On Tuesday, the Lake Oswego City Council is set to vote on Peterson’s nomination for interim city council manager, which could see her salary rise to $213,000 a year.
Amid her frequent absences, another councilmember has also been attending meetings remotely, causing a stir in the group.
Councilor Mary Nolan often logs into the meetings on her computer while in Spain, the outlet revealed.
She was recently in hot water over a comment she made at a meeting on February 24, where she told Councilor Juan Carlos González, the first Latino ever elected to the council, to repeat himself ‘in English’ after he spoke, something he was already doing.
Councilor Mary Nolan often logs into the meetings on her computer while in Spain (green outlined box). She was recently under fire after she told another councilmember to repeat himself ‘in English’ after he spoke, despite him already speaking the language clearly
After her comment, Nolan’s fellow councilors looked visibly shocked, as someone was heard saying ‘whoa.’
‘Um, ok. Let me try to repeat that in English, which is the language that I was speaking,’ González replied.
At the following meeting, Nolan apologized for her comment as González and other councilmembers said her statement diminished the council’s push towards inclusivity.
Peterson was not present for either of those meetings.
The Daily Mail contacted Peterson and Metro councilmembers for comment.
