Beaverton and much of urban Washington County have a new voice on the Metro Council.
The council voted 4-0 on July 7 to appoint 33-year-old Miles Palacios of Aloha, to the vacant District 4 seat. The appointment gives Palacios an immediate vote on regional decisions about parks, land use, and affordable housing that directly affect Beaverton neighborhoods.
District 4 covers most of urban Washington County north of Canyon Road and Tualatin Valley Highway, including much of Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Bethany, Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove.
The seat became vacant after Juan Carlos González was appointed Metro Council President on June 2. González had represented District 4 since 2018. He stepped up to fill the president's chair after former Council President Lynn Peterson resigned in March.
Palacios won the District 4 seat outright in the May 2026 primary, but his four-year term doesn't begin until January 2027. The interim appointment lets him serve immediately rather than leaving the seat empty for six months. González similarly won the Council President race in May and is serving on an interim basis until January.
Who is Palacios?
Sworn in at Beaverton City Hall, Palacios works as government affairs manager for the Hospital Association of Oregon. He has served as an elected director on the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District board since 2023, giving him direct experience with one of the largest park districts in the state.
Before that, he was chief of staff to state Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, where he helped pass the 2026 Healthcare Without Fear Act. He also worked in former Gov. Kate Brown's office and served as legislative affairs manager for the Association of Oregon Counties.
Raised in rural Oregon, Palacios holds a degree from the University of Oregon's Robert D. Clark Honors College.
What Metro does for Beaverton
Metro oversees the regional affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2018. That $652.8 million program is expected to create roughly 5,600 affordable homes across the region. Washington County jurisdictions received $192.2 million, with $31.8 million going directly to the City of Beaverton.
On Wednesday, July 9, elected leaders broke ground on Meadowlark Place, a six-story affordable housing community for older adults at the former Beaverton Community Center site, funded in part by that Metro bond. Palacios will now help oversee such projects as the District 4 councilor.
How to weigh in
Metro Council meetings are held at the Metro Regional Center and online via Zoom. Residents can find agendas and participation links at oregonmetro.legistar.com.
Palacios did not release a public statement about his appointment. The Beaverton Beat has requested comment.
