Why Portland Needs a Forensic Accountant
a RECORD OF aCCOUNTABILITY AND lEADERSHIP
Despite common assumptions, I’m not a CPA. My background is in economics and business, but I’ve specialized in investigative accounting, allowing me to dig deep into financial records to identify discrepancies and sometimes… fraud.
My first major case, back in 2008, involved helping to unravel a $300 million Ponzi scheme in California. My role was pivotal in securing the conviction of a mother and son who defrauded senior citizens along the Central Coast.
One of my most notable cases came in 2011 when I worked on the investigation into Solyndra’s bankruptcy. Solyndra was a solar panel manufacturing company at the center of a political scandal in the lead-up to President Obama’s re-election. Our team was tasked with analyzing how government funds were used and what led to the company's collapse. The findings we produced helped close the media frenzy and brought transparency to a high-profile investigation.
sEEING The Forest Through the Trees
To identify fraud or mismanagement, you first need to understand how each business is supposed to operate. Whether it’s a complex investment firm or a brick-and-mortar grocery store, our work requires us to be fast and flexible learners.
In 2019, my team spent months developing a comprehensive valuation model to assess damages from multiple California wildfires. We traveled to burn sites, used satellite imagery, and consulted with experts in housing construction and smoke mitigation. The tool we built became instrumental in the settlement discussions of the case, showcasing the breadth of our investigative approach and adaptability.Calm Under Pressure
Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in high-stakes cases, from interviews with the FBI to working with highly sensitive financial records of high-profile individuals. In one case, I conducted an undercover investigation in Arizona, exposing alleged fraud between a regional bank and business clients.
Here in Portland, I’ve recently been involved in an investigation into alleged embezzlement at a local nonprofit I once led. Facing the pressure of stepping forward to do the right thing, I’ve maintained my professionalism, commenting only on public records to preserve the integrity of the process.
A choice for Portland
When I speak with voters about my history in forensic accounting, they often express frustration with how our city handles taxes. The most common refrain I hear is:
“You’re a forensic accountant? We need you to figure out where our tax money is going!”
But it’s not just about tax dollars. Our city’s $8 billion budget is a tangled web of bloated spending, siloed workforces, and conflicting priorities. Year after year, significant funds go unspent while we accumulate a $3.5 billion backlog in infrastructure maintenance—critical projects that continue to go unmet.
On top of this, we are embarking on a monumental shift in our form of government. We will be writing new rules, building new relationships, and responding to voters’ urgent calls for a city government that works. We need leadership that can navigate these transitions while staying focused on results that improve Portlanders’ lives.
My experience in forensic accounting has taught me how to cut through the noise, expose inefficiencies, and find solutions in the most complex systems. I’ve worked under pressure, handled sensitive information with integrity, and brought transparency to tangled financials. These are the exact skills needed to fix Portland’s broken systems, restore public trust, and build a city government that’s accountable to its people.
I am a unique candidate in the race for Portland City Council District 2. In addition to my forensic accounting experience, I am the only candidate that owns and operates brick & mortal small businesses in the district. Our new council can’t only be filled with representatives from local government and the non-profit sector. We need voices for how the city affects the day-to-day decisions of our small and medium business community. I want to be that voice.
If you liked the content of this post, I need your support today. Even a small donation of $25 will help show that Portlanders want pragmatic leadership in their new City Council. Please consider a donation to my campaign now.
