Hey there, I'm John Toran
John knows Portland, because John is Portland
Born at Kaiser Permanente off of Interstate, John was reared in Northeast Portland and graduated Grant High School in ‘93. Downtown too served as a centerpiece to his life, spending time as he did after school traveling in and visiting his father’s law offices. John continued his education downtown at Portland State University, and after graduating in 2002 struck out as an entrepreneur. It was also in 2003 that John dipped his toe into the political waters, helping successfully pass Senate Bill 5 as part of the Portland Baseball Group to set aside $150 million to (one day) bring baseball to Portland!
John knows how things get done, because John gets things done
As owner and operator of RJ’s Leaf dispensary, John successfully navigated a complex and emerging legal landscape surrounding marijuana regulations to create a beloved and thriving local business with a fiercely loyal customer base. Exceptional customer service and great prices through strategic vendor relationships were hallmarks of RJ’s, hallmarks that also defined John’s two subsequent business forays, construction and procurement.
Time in construction taught John first-hand what’s needed in a leader to ensure projects are completed on-time and on-budget. As acting signatory for Operating Engineers Local 701, John created local union jobs whose labor was recognized time and again for delivering high-quality projects on budget and on time.
In his next life in procurement, John demonstrated an exceptional ability to negotiate and win highly competitive contracts with agencies like the US Army, Navy, and Department of Homeland Security. More impressively, he demonstrated the ability to keep those contracts by delivering the goods through a relentless devotion to results-driven versatility.
For John, helping Portland thrive runs in the family
John’s family has been building Portland up from the very start. It was shortly after WWII that John’s grandparents, Benjamin and Mary Rose Dean, moved from Vancouver, WA, and built Dean’s Beauty Salon and Barbershop on Northeast Hancock; a neighborhood institution and proud 2022 inductee to the National Register of Historic Places, Dean’s continues to deliver fresh cuts to this day as Oregon’s oldest black-owned business.
History-makers too in their own rights, John’s father, John Toran Jr., was a founding member and the first president of the Association of Oregon Black Lawyers (AOBL), while his mother Kay Toran, has built a storied career through her decades of service in State Government and as the long-standing CEO of Volunteers of America.
John's 'Best of Southwest'
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Thankfully, rumors of their potential closure were greatly exaggerated, because for fried chicken you can’t miss at Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken.
DelToro Steak Truck
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
The best steak in the city has to be DelToro Steak Truck, located in Multnomah Village. Juicy New York cuts cooked to perfection every time (though I highly recommend bringing your own cutlery)
Rich's Cigars
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Tacos, tacos, tacos
Rich's Cigars has been a highlight of Old Town for over 125 years, and continues to be the place to go for the best service and the best selection.
Tacos, tacos, tacos
Cider Mill & Fryer Tuck Chicken
Tacos, tacos, tacos
It’s impossible to pick favorites here, so I’ll just say I’m fond of trying any new taco in town and always ready to grab a drink at our hundreds of independent local coffee shops.
John's Rapid-fire Favorites
Favorite parks
The beautiful South Park Blocks by PSU or the much underappreciated Duniway Park
Favorite bars
Top of the list is Momo’s, but Scooters or Paddy's are fantastic too
Favorite Coffee Shops
In no particular order Wild Rose, Stumptown, 40LBS and In J(oy)
Favorite weekend activity
Besides hitting up my favorite park, bar or coffee shop? The Portland Saturday Market, or exploring one of the incredible number of parks in District #4 I haven't discovered yet. I'm committing here to see them all!
