Candidate Nabil Zaghloul Calls for a New Standard of Accountability and Results in Multnomah County Government
With more than 32 years of frontline public service, District 2 candidate proposes preventing homelessness, strengthening behavioral health services, and making government performance visible to residents, and with those proposals, Nabil Zaghloul earns the support of fellow African and Muslim American communities in Oregon including their leaders such as State Senator Kayse Jama and Washington County Commissioner Nafiso Fai.
Runta News – PORTLAND, Oregon. — With the November 3 election approaching, Nabil Zaghloul, candidate for Multnomah County Commissioner District 2, is calling for a fundamental change in how county government measures success, spends
public dollars, and responds to the needs of residents.
“For too long, we’ve measured government success by how much money we spend and how many people enter
programs,” said Nabil. “But families don’t measure success that way. They want to know whether they can remain
housed, whether treatment is helping someone recover, and whether their neighborhoods are becoming safer. Those are the results government should be accountable for.”
Nabil has lived in District 2 for more than 30 years and served Multnomah County for over 32 years, working across
community justice, public health, behavioral health, addiction recovery, housing stability, and economic
development. He currently directs Bienestar de la Familia, a county program serving families in Northeast Portland. His work has included helping families avoid eviction, connecting residents with treatment and recovery services, supporting
youth programs, and creating opportunities for economic independence.
A different approach to homelessness
Nabil believes Multnomah County must move beyond repeatedly responding to homelessness after people have
already lost their housing. “We need to disrupt the path to homelessness,” Nabil said. “That means helping families before they lose their homes, while providing sustained treatment, housing, and employment support to people already experiencing homelessness. We cannot keep operating a system that catches people after they fall without doing enough to
prevent the fall.”
His proposals include expanding effective eviction prevention, tracking housing retention over time, strengthening
partnerships with housing providers, and connecting behavioral health treatment with employment and long-term
recovery support.
Making accountability visible to the public
A central proposal of Nabil’s campaign is the Multnomah County Accountability and Results Act, which would
establish a public County Report Card.
Residents would be able to see how public dollars are spent, what programs accomplish, whether outcomes
improve, and where changes are needed. “Transparency should mean more than publishing reports that few people have time to read,” Nabil said. “Residents deserve clear answers: What did we promise? What did we spend? What did we accomplish? And what needs to change?”
Investing in people and strengthening communities
Nabil also emphasizes workforce development, public safety, youth opportunities, and stronger partnerships with
community organizations. He believes county employees and community partners should have a meaningful voice in policy decisions, and that programs should be evaluated not only by immediate assistance provided but also by whether residents
achieve lasting stability.
“County government should work for everyone who calls Multnomah County home,” Nabil said. “That includes
families trying to stay housed, workers trying to make ends meet, seniors on fixed incomes, young people looking
for opportunity, small businesses, and residents who want safer, healthier neighborhoods.”
Experience that goes beyond promises
Nabil’s campaign emphasizes the distinction between developing government policy and implementing it.
“I’ve spent more than three decades seeing what happens after policies leave the boardroom,” Nabil said. “I know
the dedication of our public employees, the challenges facing families, and the difference between a program that
looks successful on paper and one that actually changes people’s lives.”
“My approach is practical. I want to prevent crises where we can, help people rebuild when they occur, and
measure whether our investments are making a difference.”
About Nabil Zaghloul
Nabil Zaghloul is a candidate for Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2, in the November 3, 2026 election. He
has served Multnomah County for more than 32 years across public safety, public health, and human services. He
is the director of Bienestar de la Familia and has lived in District 2 for more than three decades.
Campaign website: Nabil for District 2 — Multnomah County Commissioner
