Ricardo Luján Valerio
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Chief of Staff - Government Relations
Oregon Secretary of State
Salem, Oregon
01.2025 - Current
- Lead statewide government relations strategy for the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, advising executive leadership on legislative priorities, policy implementation, budget strategy, and intergovernmental engagement across state, federal, local, and tribal jurisdictions.
- Serve as the agency’s primary legislative liaison, coordinating with legislators, committee staff, state agencies, advocacy organizations, and internal divisions to advance agency priorities and protect the integrity of Oregon’s elections, audits, public records, and business services.
- Direct legislative analysis and implementation planning for measures impacting the Secretary of State’s Office, ensuring timely review, cross-division coordination, fiscal assessment, rulemaking readiness, and alignment with statutory responsibilities.
- Develop high-level testimony, executive briefings, legislative materials, budget narratives, and public policy messaging for the Secretary of State and senior leadership on complex issues including campaign finance reform, election administration, agency modernization, and public accountability.
- Manage internal government relations systems and processes to centralize legislative communications, evaluate policy proposals, monitor legislative activity, and provide strategic guidance to division leadership throughout Oregon’s legislative sessions.
Director of Government Relations
Western Oregon University
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Built and led Western Oregon University’s comprehensive government relations and advocacy program, aligning legislative, regulatory, and federal strategies with the priorities of the President, Cabinet, and institutional leadership.
- Managed federal funding strategy and congressional engagement, cultivating relationships with Oregon’s Congressional delegation to align WOU priorities with federal funding opportunities and policy initiatives.
- Helped orchestrate a unified seven-university legislative agenda with peers across Oregon’s public universities, advancing coordinated biennial operating budget and capital construction requests before the Oregon Legislature.
- Served on the Oregon Council of Presidents’ Legislative Advisory Committee, analyzing proposed and enacted legislation for institutional impact and coordinating strategy with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and university partners.
- Supported legislative advocacy that secured $25 million for Oregon’s regional universities through HB 5025, strengthening institutional financial sustainability and student-centered investments.
- Advanced student success, access, affordability, and equity priorities by collaborating with statewide higher education partners, policymakers, and advocacy organizations to influence policy outcomes.
- Advised executive leadership on special projects spanning public affairs, legislative implementation, political strategy, stakeholder engagement, and institutional positioning.
Policy Director
City of Portland
11.2020 - 01.2023
- Served as senior policy advisor to Commissioner Carmen Rubio, leading policy development, ordinance strategy, budget negotiations, and Council preparation across a diverse citywide portfolio.
- Advised on Portland’s approximately $5 billion budget, drafting and negotiating budget amendments, evaluating bureau proposals, and aligning investments with community safety, houselessness, elections, and equity priorities.
- Designed and advanced more than $4 million in community-based gun violence reduction investments focused on prevention, intervention, culturally specific outreach, and neighborhood safety.
- Led policy and implementation initiatives across community safety, elections, houselessness, public accountability, and neighborhood livability, coordinating with City bureaus, elected offices, and community stakeholders.
- Developed ordinances, policy memos, vote recommendations, talking points, and strategic briefing materials to support Council decision-making and public-facing policy leadership.
- Managed cross-office and stakeholder negotiations on complex City policies, helping build consensus around politically sensitive proposals and implementation strategies.
- One of five lead negotiators on 2022 U.S. DOJ Settlement Agreement amendments (including body-worn cameras).
- Participated in collective-bargaining negotiations with Portland Police Association, contributing to the successful 2021 agreement.
Director of Advocacy
Latino Network
12.2019 - 01.2021
- Co-architected the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, a $250+ million disaster relief program providing critical financial assistance to immigrant Oregonians excluded from traditional public benefit systems.
- Built and led Latino Network’s organizational policy agenda, aligning advocacy priorities with community needs, statewide coalitions, and equity-focused policy opportunities.
- Coordinated statewide civic engagement and policy mobilization with staff, program participants, coalition partners, and community leaders to advance immigrant justice and racial equity priorities.
- Managed advocacy budgets, timelines, consultants, and team operations to support campaign execution, policy strategy, and organizational impact.
- Supported the affiliated 501(c)(4) board alongside the Deputy Director of Operations, aligning governance, compliance, advocacy priorities, and political strategy.
Policy Associate
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon
06.2018 - 12.2019
- Managed immigration, education, and elections policy portfolio for the ACLU of Oregon, developing legislative strategies to protect civil liberties, expand access, and advance equity-centered policy outcomes.
- Drafted, analyzed, and advanced legislation related to immigrant rights, voting access, education equity, and civil rights before the Oregon Legislature and local governments.
- Coordinated stakeholder coalitions and legislative workgroups with proponents, opponents, community partners, and policymakers to build support for priority bills.
- Delivered committee testimony, policy briefings, and advocacy materials to influence legislative outcomes and inform public debate on civil liberties issues.
- Conducted policy research and drafted briefs, talking points, testimony, and strategic recommendations on civil rights issues affecting Oregonians.
- Collaborated with grassroots organizations and impacted communities to translate lived experiences into actionable policy proposals and advocacy strategies.
Legislative Director
Oregon Student Association
07.2017 - 06.2018
- Developed and led a statewide legislative agenda representing post-secondary students across Oregon, advancing priorities related to affordability, access, student basic needs, and higher education equity.
- Monitored legislative committees, HECC proceedings, and state policy developments to identify opportunities and risks affecting Oregon students.
- Drafted and advanced policy proposals, testimony, policy briefs, and advocacy materials to elevate student interests in legislative and regulatory processes.
- Supervised statewide Legislative Associates, coordinating campus-based advocacy efforts with organizational strategy and legislative priorities.
- Collaborated with legislators, state officials, higher education leaders, student governments, and coalition partners to influence education-related laws, budgets, and administrative policies.
- Organized student outreach and advocacy campaigns, mobilizing students for lobby days, hearings, public comment, and statewide policy initiatives.
Education
MBA - General Studies
Portland State University
05-2025
B.S. - Business Management
Southern Oregon University
05-2017
Certificate - Nonprofit Management
Southern Oregon University
05-2017
A.S. - Business
Rogue Community College
05-2015
Skills Tools
- Legislative analysis
- Bill drafting
- Fiscal notes
- Rulemaking/RACs
- Government relations
- Budget strategy
- Stakeholder engagement
- Coalition management
- Program oversight
- Public testimony
- Issue/risk management
- Project management
- Microsoft 365/Google Workspace
- CRM & tracking tools
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Legislative Portfolio
- Oregon Worker Relief Fund: Catalyzed >$100M in combined state/local allocations for relief and legal representation (universal representation).
- Higher-Education Investments: Supported HB 5025 securing $25M to regional universities for financial sustainability; advanced HB 3415 (Title IX in Higher Education) and SB 1563 (Tuition Equity 3.0).
- Democracy & Elections: Contributed to efforts around the Oregon Voting Rights Act (HB 3310) and statewide elections policy modernization.
- Public Safety & Justice Reform: Supported SB 577 (Hate Crimes Reform), SB 1008 (Youth Sentencing Reform), HB 3201 (Pre-Trial Diversion), and transparency/accountability measures (e.g., HB 3224).
- Economic Mobility: Advanced policies including HB 2015 (Driver Licenses for All) and tax-credit initiatives (e.g., SB 1528 / Oregon Opportunity Fund).
- Universal Representation: Over $5 million in allocations for the Oregon Worker
Relief Fund from affirmative and defensive immigration legal representation. - Gun Violence Reduction: Drafted over $4 million investment to community
organizations working in gun violence reduction. - US Department of Justice Settlement Agreement: One of five leading
negotiators for the 2022 settlement amendments including body-worn cameras. - PPA/ City of Portland Bargaining: Negotiated on labor relations/ bargaining with
Portland's police union leading to a successful collective bargaining agreement in
2021.
Timeline
Deputy Chief of Staff - Government Relations
Oregon Secretary of State
01.2025 - Current
Director of Government Relations
Western Oregon University
01.2023 - 01.2025
Policy Director
City of Portland
11.2020 - 01.2023
Director of Advocacy
Latino Network
12.2019 - 01.2021
Policy Associate
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon
06.2018 - 12.2019
Legislative Director
Oregon Student Association
07.2017 - 06.2018
MBA - General Studies
Portland State University
B.S. - Business Management
Southern Oregon University
Certificate - Nonprofit Management
Southern Oregon University
A.S. - Business
Rogue Community College