Wilsonville resident Shawn O’Neil announces mayoral candidacy

Wilsonville resident Shawn O’Neil will run for mayor in this November’s election.

O’Neil announced his candidacy in a press release on Wednesday, June 5. In the release, he discussed making Wilsonville a safe and inclusive city, along with addressing housing costs, advocating for small businesses, building infrastructure and more.

O’Neil is the first candidate to enter the race to replace current Mayor Julie Fitzgerald, who is unable to run again due to term limits. The filing period began Wednesday and closes Aug. 20.

O’Neil said in the release that he is passionate about ensuring all community members can “live and thrive in a safe and inclusive city,” including seniors, people of color, the LBTQIA community and other historically marginalized people. He also said he would continue to work with businesses and state and federal partners to address high residential rent costs and challenges for first-time homebuyers, along with supporting more affordable housing development.

Describing himself as an advocate for small businesses, O’Neil said in the press release that he opposes “corporate practices that harm our community,” “unsustainable rents” for local entrepreneurs and practices that “destroy long-term business opportunities” in Wilsonville.

O’Neil said in the press release that he is “committed to holding public institutions and industries accountable,” including addressing safety issues of the Kinder Morgan Petroleum Pipeline and seismic improvements to Boone Bridge.

“Whether it is the safety concerns of the KMP Pipeline, the State’s attempts to institute tolling on highways dividing our city, or the expansion of the Aurora Airport, I remain committed to making sure Wilsonville has an active and influential voice at the table with Oregon Department of Transportation, Department of Aviation, Metro, Clackamas County and the State Legislature,” O’Neil said in the press release.

O’Neil has lived in Wilsonville for 16 years and served as a volunteer for both the city of Wilsonville and the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. He is an attorney who runs O’Neil Law LLC.