On split votes he sided with the business-backed bloc 73 of 77 times (about 95%): police money over the voter-created accountability office, the Zenith terminal, and the arena deal.
Zimmerman is an Army veteran who led a platoon in Iraq and served 17 years in the Oregon National Guard. He worked for County Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Diane McKeel, was a senior adviser to Mayor Ted Wheeler, and a deputy city manager in Tigard and Medford. Elected in 2024, he chaired the council's Finance Committee from January 2025 to March 2026, is now vice chair of the City Life Committee, and is described by OPB as among the council's most moderate members and one of Olivia Clark's closest allies (Mercury D4, Sept 11, 2026; NW Examiner, Apr 30, 2026; OPB, Oct 7, 2026; portland.gov committee pages).
Backed byEric Zimmerman knows City Hall: he spent years as a county chief of staff and chaired the council's Finance Committee from January 2025 to March 2026. On the votes that divide the council, he has used that experience almost entirely for one side. When the council split along bloc lines in 2025–26, he sided with the business-backed centrists on 73 of 77 votes [1]. Even WWeek, which ranks him second in District 4, calls him "a little too deferential to the Police Bureau and business interests" [2].
Police accountability shows it most clearly. In 2020, 82% of voters created an independent oversight system [3]. In May 2026, Zimmerman voted to move $10 million out of the new Office of Community Police Accountability to police and fire. It failed 6–6 [4]. About a week later he voted against requiring all officers, federal agents included, to show their faces and ID [5].
On climate, his record goes back to his first months. In March 2025, when the council demanded an investigation of the Zenith oil terminal, he moved twice to delete the resolution's Whereas clauses, recitals that cited reporting and records on the 2022 land-use sign-off and conflicting staff statements. Both motions failed 4–8, and he then voted yes on the final resolution, which passed 11–1 [6]. In September 2026 he was one of six votes to let Zenith's franchise transfer to a new owner, which passed only when the mayor broke the tie [7].
On homelessness, he campaigned on enforcing the camping ban and said that if a person is resisting "the broad variety of shelter services available today for every preference," then "arrest for violation of city code is appropriate" [8]. In November 2025, as a $4.35 million cut to the camp-removal program came to a vote, he walked out [9]. At the meeting he said "an absence is the same as a no vote," and he was recorded absent [10]. The cut got 5 of the 7 votes needed (5–3, four absent) [11][9], and the Portland Metro Chamber's thank-you list named him, along with the mayor and five other councilors [12]. In the 2026 budget he called a $1 million shift away from Portland Solutions "dangerous" and opposed resident-governed villages [13]. He also opposed using unspent housing money for rent assistance and vouchers, saying "let's get the cranes in the sky" [14].
On city services, he voted against the plan to restore up to 55 frontline jobs, which failed on the mayor's tie-break [15]. He voted against the street fee for road maintenance and safety [16], and at the City Club debate he said, "I voted against all of our new taxes and all of our new fees" [17]. He voted for $120 million toward the Blazers' arena and against letting the council see the spending plan before the final vote [18].
On open government, he voted against Green's records-and-hearing resolution (8–4) [19]. Two days later the City Administrator estimated $106 million in unbudgeted housing funds [20].
There is another side. On the Housing Bureau's unspent money, former Housing Bureau director Helmi Hisserich told councilors the bureau found the money after a request from Zimmerman (KATU) [14]. He backs participatory budgeting [21] and co-sponsored the resolution against secret data-center deals [22]. But on police oversight, climate, sweeps, jobs and revenue, his votes have reliably gone the other way.
Zimmerman voted yes on the Clark/Pirtle-Guiney/Novick/Ryan/Smith amendment to move $10M from the Office of Community Police Accountability, created by Measure 26-217 with 82% of the vote, to police, fire and other public-safety programs. It failed 6–6, with all six progressives voting no.
Portland Mercury; WWeek (82% figure)He voted to consent to transferring Zenith Energy's franchise to ISQ Springer Holdings (Ordinance 192229). The council tied 6–6 and Mayor Wilson broke the tie. On Sept. 9 he also voted against the Green-Morillo amendment to the transfer ordinance, which failed 6–6.
City of Portland council agenda (roll call)On the 2025 resolution demanding an investigation of Zenith Energy, Zimmerman moved twice to delete Whereas clauses 11 and 13–20 and their attachments. Those recitals cited reporting and records on the 2022 land-use sign-off and conflicting staff statements. Both motions failed 4–8. He then voted yes on the final resolution, which passed 11–1.
City of Portland, Resolution 37702 (roll calls)He voted no on Document 2026-222, which would have used about $18.9M in PCEF interest, other funds and county revenue to 'restore frontline positions and services' cut in the budget (up to 55 positions). It failed 6–7, with the mayor breaking the tie.
City of Portland council agenda (roll call)He voted for the Moda Center term sheet (8–4): $120M up front plus up to $275M in maintenance over a 20-year lease. He voted no on the Morillo/Kanal amendment requiring negotiators to share the spending plan 15 days before the final lease vote, which failed 6–6.
OPB; roll call at portland.gov/council/agenda/2026/8/12He voted no on Green's resolution requiring the City Administrator to release public records on unspent surplus funds and schedule an oversight hearing (Res. 37734). It passed 8–4. He also voted against Pirtle-Guiney's amendment directing an investigation or audit of Housing Bureau funds (failed 4–8). Two days later the City Administrator estimated $106M in unbudgeted housing funds.
City of Portland council agenda (roll call); KPTVIn budget debate he called Avalos's amendment moving $1M from Portland Solutions 'dangerous' and opposed Green's plan to fund democratically governed villages; both failed 6–6. He sided with the centrist bloc on all six homelessness splits and his campaign site, as quoted by the Mercury, says '(e)nding unsanctioned camping as quickly as possible is a must for Portland.'
Portland Mercury; Mercury D4 candidate profile (campaign-site quote)The NW Examiner reports he walked out of the meeting on Morillo's $4.35M mid-year cut to the Impact Reduction Program. At the meeting he said 'an absence is the same as a no vote,' and he was recorded absent. The cut got 5 of the 7 votes needed (5–3, four absent). The Portland Metro Chamber's thank-you list named him, along with the mayor and five other councilors.
WWeek (tally); KPTV (quote); NW Examiner (walkout); Portland Metro Chamber statementHe voted no on Ordinance 192184, which bars face coverings and requires visible badges and ID verification for all officers doing law enforcement in Portland, including federal agents. It passed 8–4.
City of Portland council agenda (roll call)He was one of three no votes on the Transportation Utility Fee, which funds basic maintenance and safety of the transportation system (Ord. 192171, passed 9–3). He also voted no on the arts tax increase and on water, sewer and parking rate increases, and says he 'voted against all of our new taxes and all of our new fees.'
City of Portland council agenda (roll call); Zimmerman June newsletterHe voted against a three-year plan for roughly $20M in unspent Housing Bureau money that included rent assistance and housing vouchers, saying he preferred building housing.
KATUHe sided with the centrists on 15 of 16 police splits, including the push to take $10M from the voter-created oversight office and the vote against officer ID rules.
He defends camp-removal money, was absent for a vote on a sweep cut (the NW Examiner reports he walked out), saying 'an absence is the same as a no vote,' and opposed rent assistance and resident-run villages.
He opposes new revenue across the board and voted against plans to restore cut city jobs.
He moved to delete Whereas recitals citing reporting and records on Zenith's 2022 sign-off, then voted yes on the final 11–1 investigation resolution; in 2026 he supplied a vote for the franchise transfer.
He voted against a records release on unspent housing money and against a pre-vote look at arena spending, though he backs participatory budgeting.
The Chamber's PAC, Unity PAC and Go Portland Go all back him; the Chamber PAC tells D4 voters to rank him first and no one but Clark.
I think arrest for violation of city code is appropriate.Asked whether he favors arresting people who camp on public property; his answer begins 'If a person is resisting the broad variety of shelter services available today for every preference…then yes.' OPB/Oregonian candidate questionnaire. · OPB, 2024-09-27
I fully support the camping ban, and I'll ensure the city enforces the regulations we have on the books.WWeek entrance interview during the 2024 campaign. · Willamette Week, 2024-10-09
I think the sheriff should book people who violate city law—and they do so out of choice.On people who violate the camping ban "after being offered numerous services and refusing to follow the law," WWeek entrance interview. · Willamette Week, 2024-10-09
I do not support any new special taxes during this period.On new levies, in the OPB/Oregonian candidate questionnaire. · OPB, 2024-09-27
dangerousHis word for Avalos 4, which would have moved $1M from Portland Solutions to a homelessness-governance reserve. He also called it a 'million-dollar layoff to PEMO.' · Portland Mercury, 2026-05-20
the idea that we would go and think that the micro village model is the savior to all, is just not going to work.Opposing Green 2, which would have redirected housing money to democratically governed villages. · Portland Mercury, 2026-05-20
We are asking government to get real when it comes to the idea of just leaving people outside.Northwest Examiner interview on homelessness. · Northwest Examiner, 2026-04-30
Portland could have been a teammate in all of that.Explaining his no vote on the officer mask/ID ordinance: he said the city should have backed the state law instead. · Willamette Week, 2026-05-27
Of course, I voted against all of our new taxes and all of our new feesAnswering a question on affordability. From the City Club debate video (machine transcript), 44:47. · City Club of Portland D4 debate (video), 2026-10
I think that we have introduced partisanship into the Portland City Council in a way that is inappropriate.Asked how the new form of government is working; he went on to criticize colleagues who belong to a party. From the City Club debate video (machine transcript), 1:02:30. · City Club of Portland D4 debate (video), 2026-10
$500 plus million sitting in a bank account that is not getting used today is not actually how government's budgetOn the Portland Clean Energy Fund's unspent balance; he said a major change in use should go to voters. From the City Club debate video (machine transcript), 39:03. · City Club of Portland D4 debate (video), 2026-10
I've never in government been given an opportunity to get a three to one return on the funds.Defending his vote for the Moda Center term sheet. From the City Club debate video (machine transcript), 56:30. · City Club of Portland D4 debate (video), 2026-10
An absence is the same as a no vote, and I'm going to be a no vote all night long.At the Nov. 12, 2025 meeting on Morillo's amendment cutting the Impact Reduction (camp removal) Program; he was recorded absent on the vote. · KPTV, 2025-11-12
building housing that will last for decades, I say let's get the cranes in the sky.Opposing a plan to spend unspent housing money on rent assistance and vouchers; the full sentence begins 'When the choice is between additional rent assistance for one year or…' · KATU, 2025-12-08
affordability should be Portland's top priority right nowExplaining his no votes on the street fee, arts tax increase, and water, sewer and parking rate increases, June 2026 newsletter. · Zimmerman newsletter, portland.gov, 2026-06-30
Supporters of the $10M accountability-office move, including Clark and Novick, said the office had no director yet and would likely spend under budget; the amendment included a repayment promise, and the city's finance officer called it a bridge fund (WWeek, May 20, 2026; Mercury, May 19, 2026). Zenith had sued the city over the franchise delay (WWeek, July 29, 2026). On the Housing Bureau's unspent money, former Housing Bureau director Helmi Hisserich told councilors the bureau found the money after a request from Zimmerman (KATU); he says the money is now going to housing projects (City Club debate, 44:47). He voted yes on the 2025 Zenith investigation (11–1), co-sponsored the data-center no-NDA resolution with all 11 colleagues (11–0), passed a budget amendment that kept the City Team Grand Shelter open and added severe-weather beds, co-sponsored the small-business tax cut (11–0), and said 'Support' on the participatory budgeting measure at the City Club debate (55:06); WWeek ranks him second in D4 and credits him with the business license tax threshold, design review reform with Morillo, and moving tree code inspectors.