Nic Luland
Position: Chair
Bio: Hi neighbors, I’m Nic Luland, and I currently serve as Chair of the Sumner Association of Neighbors board. I’ve lived in Portland for over ten years, originally from New Jersey. My partner Dylan and I bought our home in Sumner in 2020, where we live with our two doodles, Phin and Bert. I’ve worked in early childhood education for over 15 years. I’ve run multiple licensed preschool programs and currently teach in a Preschool for All classroom in East Portland, where I focus on inclusive, outdoor, child-led learning. I care deeply about creating environments where people feel welcome, supported, and heard, whether that’s in a classroom or at the neighborhood level. I was recently confirmed as a member of the SPACC TIF Community Leadership Committee, where I’m excited to advocate for creative and equitable development across East Portland. I value communication, follow-through, and helping build stronger connections within our community.
Meg Cotner
Position: Vice Chair
Bio: Meg lives and works in Portland, Oregon and has been a Sumner resident since 2019 with her husband Tom and cats Linus and Dolly. She has a background in classical music, and earned a doctorate in Harpsichord from Stony Brook University (NY) in 2005. During her time as a working musician she fell in love with writing, and ultimately exchanged one keyboard for another. She is a published author (Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens, Globe Pequot 2012), has served on the board of the Western Early Keyboard Association, helped run a CSA for a decade in Astoria, Queens, co-founded the Sumner Social Club, and is the editor and publisher of Bridgetown Bites, a website that covers the Portland food and drink scene online. One of her biggest accomplishments is fighting and surviving breast cancer. She loves avocados, walking, gardening, and cats. She is running for the board with a keen interest in helping update the Association’s bylaws, being a resource for neighbors, and helping to make Sumner a great place to live.
Dave Owen
Position: Secretary
Bio: Dave has been a resident of Sumner since 2019, along with his sweetie. His educational background includes a bachelors degree in Architecture and certifications as a Master Gardener and Master Recycler. Dave currently works in Tech as a systems analyst, and has been in technology or tech-adjacent roles for 25 years, including 13 years on the editorial team of a web-only architecture magazine. Across decades of volunteering experience, he has shown up in community to support food access, domestic-violence and sexual assault response, residential and community gardening, local farmers market operations, and housing security for black and brown home-owners in Portland. Dave has past experience leading hierarchical and non-hierarchical volunteer groups, including board membership as well as planning, communication, and leadership roles. In addition to supporting the SAN organization, his current volunteer focus is on bringing friends, neighbors, local businesses, and other organizations together to make meals for folks who live at the intersection of gender marginalization and isolation due to housing insecurity/houselessness, poverty, disability, DV/SA, and/or sex work. Dave is an avid gardener and loves hiking, camping, cycling, and kayaking.
Sue Ellen Behnke
Position: Treasurer
Bio: I am Sue Ellen Behnke, a 30 year resident of Sumner and the treasurer. After leaving Portland State University with a B.S. in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work, my professional career was Child Protective Services with the state of Oregon, Clackamas Branch. I worked closely with the Sheriff’s Office and the Circuit Court where I was required to be fingerprinted and pass a criminal background check to be L.E.D.S. certified. Besides my own, I have managed the financial affairs for two separate family members for over 20 years. D1EC reports that all financial matters related to SAN are handled through a checking account with one checkbook and no debit or credit cards. (Financial decisions are made by the Board in conjunction with D1EC. The Treasurer writes the checks and updates the SAN membership with a monthly report.) Since retiring from the State, I have rehabbed five old houses–including my own, adopted seven cats, organized the Neighborhood Watch Program for my street, and co-founded the Sumner Social Club. I volunteered to participate on the 2025 Nominating Committee because I have a strong interest in contributing to the team effort to move Sumner forward.
Virginia Peterson
Position: DIEC Delegate 1
Bio: My name is Virginia and I have been a Sumner resident almost 11yrs and currently a SAN CNN representative since 2024 and would like to finish out my term. I am 82, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. I lived in Lane County until 1995. During that time I volunteered in the schools, with two volunteer fire departments. I helped form a nonprofit volunteer fire department. After moving to Portland I was a restaurant manager until I became a home caregiver for my partner. I have been a volunteer with ROSE CDC ( a non-profit)since 2002 and served 3 six year terms on the board, was a board member on the Woodstock Neighborhood Association and joined SAN 10 years ago. I enjoy volunteering and helping my Neighborhood and city a better place to live.
Denell Graham
Position: DIEC Delegate 2
Bio: My name is Denell Graham. I will have resided in Sumner for 7 years this June. I work as an end of life massage therapist managing a case load that stretches across three counties. I currently volunteer as a committee member for my child’s grade school PTO, as a score keeper for my kid’s baseball team, and am an active representative for my union. Most recently, in collaboration with many Sumner neighbors, I campaigned engagement to appeal a 100 foot cell tower relocation across the street from Helensview High. We won! That effort lead me to want to run for a position for the Sumner Neighborhood Association.
Will Pyper
Position: Member At Large
Bio: I have lived in the neighborhood for six years and have met many of you while walking my dog through the neighborhood or at the San Lot. I use our outdoor spaces on a regular basis and am interested in working to preserve and enhance them as safe and clean spaces for our community to access.
I grew up in Missouri and gained an appreciation for the outdoors through the Boy Scouts. The lessons I learned about preserving nature and serving the community have stuck with me, and my interest in this position is based on these early experiences. I believe that when we work together we can get things done and I’m excited to do this work in support of our community.
David Wiens
Position: Member At Large
Bio: Greetings! I grew up just across the Columbia River in the faraway towns of Vancouver and Camas, WA. My partner Ruby and I moved to Sumner in 2018 and have loved our small neighborhood ever since. When I’m not at my day job as an Industrial Automation engineer, I like riding bikes around, picking up trash with Patrick, and puttering away in my garage on insignificant projects (one of which is the bulletin board on Going and 84th). I have a strong belief that we are all better off when we live in well-connected and relational community (think impromptu potlucks, personal favors, and bonfires). I’m looking forward to Sumner’s future!
Hannah Lewis
Position: Member At Large
Bio: Hannah has resided in Sumner for 10+ years. When Hannah is at work she is leading a team of 7 individuals at a local credit union branch, an active board member and committee member for 2 local Non- Profits promoting financial empowerment of survivors of domestic violence and fundraising for Portland students to have hands-on career education, she is also a founding member of a security task force within her organization working closely with local law enforcement. When Hannah is not at work she is tending to her garden and house plants, trying new restaurants around Portland, or traveling.
Rowan Steele
Position: Member At Large
Bio: Rowan has lived in Sumner since 2018, where he, his wife, and two children have created a landscape around their home of edible plants and pollinators. Rowan has a background in Urban and Regional Planning and has spent the last twelve years working for the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District launching and managing a business incubator for start-up farms. Rowan is passionate about food systems, conserving natural resources, disaster resiliency, and community building. When not working on home projects, you can find Rowan on his farm in Yamhill County where he grows chestnuts and elderberries.
Grant Westrum
Position: Member At Large
Bio: My name is Grant, a Sumner Neighborhood resident since 2013. My wife and I have enjoyed watching the neighborhood change and grow over the last 12 years as we’ve also grown our family. I am a trained Chef but now spend my days as a full time parent and also work part time at a hospital in their Sterile Processing department. I enjoy raising our kids at home while also working in a way that serves patients in our community. As a family we enjoy walking, riding our bikes and hiking. I love to tinker in the garage and have been looking for ways to build a stronger community within our neighborhood. I as a Member at Large, I hope to be better connected and to help the continued growth and advancement of our neighborhood.
Julie Rosequist
Position: Member At Large
Bio: Hi everyone, my name is Julie Rosequist, and I’ve lived in the Sumner neighborhood for almost 10 years. I’m currently studying law with plans to specialize in intellectual property and entertainment law. I volunteer with St. Andrew Legal Clinic and serve on the Citizens Review Board for the Oregon Judicial Department. I’m running for Member-at-Large because I care deeply about this community and want to support a neighborhood that’s safe, connected, and inclusive for all of us.
Dylan Evanston
Position: Member At Large
Bio: I have been a NE Portland resident for a decade and a half, living in Sumner since 2020. Working as a Technologist and Photographer around town, outside of work, I can often be found in the yard or walking the dogs around the neighborhood. Since moving to Sumner, I have worked directly with neighbors to clean up and repair things around the SAN lot as well as working to facilitate better communication around a range of neighborhood issues, including the TIF district proposal, specific safety concerns, and elections processes. I am also on the board of the Historic Parkrose, which is a business focused NPI, focused just East of us. I hope to work with neighbors on projects around community safety, improved green spaces, and inclusive outreach and communication as an At-large member.
Racheal Gaffney
Position: Member At Large
Racheal Gaffney is a 47-year-old Portland native with a deep love for her city. She graduated from Cleveland High in SE Portland in 1995 and currently serves on the school’s Alumni Association’s board of directors.
She moved to the Sumner neighborhood 6 years ago with her now 7-year-old son. He attends Russell Elementary School, where Racheal is a regular volunteer. They both love their neighborhood, home, and neighbors, and want it to grow and improve for all to benefit and enjoy.
Racheal is passionate about community and serves as the chairperson for the community involvement committee at Sherpa Design, where she has worked for 17 years. In her role as Administrative Director, she heads HR and administration, working with all departments and levels in the organization. When she is not working or volunteering, you can find her at a concert, comedy show, about town with her kid, or singing at the top of her lungs while driving.
Tim Batog
Position: Member-At-Large
Bio: Tim has been a Sumner resident for six years, and has been a board member of different neighborhood associations in the past. He is a self-employed investment advisor who works primarily from home. When Tim isn’t working he is likely gardening (I’m the house with all the plants!), hiking, or looking after his five dogs and small flock of backyard chickens with his partner, Levi.