On a sunny afternoon in late May, a group of Portland City Councilors gathered for an unconventional practice, navigating the Willamette River in a vibrant dragon boat adorned in shades of yellow and purple.
The boat, which was designed to resemble a dragon, served as the perfect setting for the officials as they prepared for the city’s annual dragon boat race, a lively event scheduled for the weekend.
“This is fun!” exclaimed Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, showcasing her enthusiasm as the team stroked their oars in unison.
The dragon boat race is a competition rooted in a historic Chinese tradition, where over 80 teams vie to paddle 500 meters across the river as swiftly as possible.
At the back of the boat, Councilors Eric Zimmerman and Sameer Kanal shared laughter while attempting to synchronize their paddling efforts.
Just a day prior, these same councilors were embroiled in a tense city budget meeting, exchanging icy glances as they debated critical policies.
With only six months into their tenure, Portland’s 12 new city councilors are still navigating the challenges of collaboration, particularly as they face divisive adjustments to the city’s annual budget.
Yet, on the water, clad in board shorts rather than blazers, the councilors found themselves compelled to paddle in the same direction.
Councilor Dan Ryan, the organizer of the dragon boat team, commented on the necessity of stepping outside the confines of City Hall.
“We needed to get out of City Hall and into the fresh air and figure out how to connect with each other in a different way,” Ryan stated.
Ryan drew inspiration for the dragon boat initiative from a visit to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Portland’s sister city, where he witnessed the mayor’s office competing against city councilors in a similar race.
“I was so taken with the joy and the competitive spirit of that,” Ryan recalled.
He utilized around $2,000 from his office budget to cover the expenses for the race registration.
Erica Gibson, a seasoned dragon boat racer with over a decade of experience, volunteered to coach the councilors.
“I guess you could call me a glutton for punishment,” said Gibson, who took charge of the practice sessions, offering commands and corrections from the bow of the boat.
Addressing the councilors by their first names, she noted that it was a departure from the usual protocol in City Hall.
“I think for them it’s a bit of a humbling experience,” Gibson remarked, acknowledging the challenge councilors faced in adapting to the unfamiliar dynamic of being directed by someone else.
Despite the initial turnout of seven councilors signing up to participate, only four were present for the practice: Ryan, Koyama Lane, Kanal, and Zimmerman.
Representing a range of political perspectives within the council, they often find themselves on opposing sides during policy discussions.
Nevertheless, during practice, the group enjoyed light-hearted moments, brainstorming team songs, and sharing water bottles.
There were analogies drawn between dragon boat paddling and the collaborative work expected of the council.
Jacq Tjaden, an advisor for Councilor Kanal, who also paddled alongside the council team, compared the endurance required for their three-minute stretches of paddling to the length of a significant public testimony.
The shared goal on the boat mirrored the need for unity amidst the challenges of navigating a stressful budget season.
Koyama Lane expressed the importance of fostering camaraderie among the team.
“I think it’s really important for us to have some fun together and work together, practice being a cohesive team, encourage each other,” she said after practice.
Adding a humorous note, Kanal remarked on the team’s self-chosen name, Paddling Portland Forward.
“It’s corny, but it’s factual,” he admitted, while pointing to another dragon boat team gliding across the river.
Kanal emphasized the collective effort needed for success, stating, “We have all different roles, of course, but all for the same direction.”
Gibson found the metaphor of the dragon boat echoing a broader narrative about Portland.
“It’s like the boat is kind of a representation of Portland, right?” she said, stressing that without synchronized efforts, challenges could overwhelm the community.
Despite only practicing together four times before the upcoming race, Gibson witnessed notable improvement in the councilors’ teamwork.
Similar to the complexities of governance, the race is expected to present its own set of challenges.
“This is about having fun, right?” Zimmerman remarked, preparing to stow away his life preserver.
The true test, however, awaits back on land, where the councilors will see whether their dragon boat experience translates to effective collaboration as they tackle the tumultuous waters of local politics.
As the practice session concluded, the councilors exchanged high fives and hugs, cheerfully announcing, “See you at work!”
Their dragon boat adventure not only represents a chance to compete but also an opportunity for growth, connection, and unity in the face of shared challenges.
image source from：https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/06/portland-city-council-dragon-boat-race-oregon/
