Eli is the son of an electrician and a teacher. His father taught him the value of quiet hard work. His mother taught him that nothing in life matters more than human relationships.
Eli arrived in Portland in 2001 where he met his wife Nichole. They had their first child and realized they couldn’t afford to live in the city so Eli joined the Army to access health insurance and education opportunities. He served in numerous job fields, from electronics repair, to intelligence analyst, and eventually became a Blackhawk helicopter pilot.
Two years, away from family, surveying the destruction of civil society in Afghanistan made him want to refocus on healthy communities. The first step was running a community garden program at his duty station in Georgia. Next was leaving the military and returning to Portland, where they were finally able to buy a home.
Eli decided to become a Police Officer, which he describes as being a Community Dad at Large. He found the job highly rewarding, but also frustrating. Eli became a member of the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team and a Field Training Officer. He was able to respond to people’s needs in their moments of crisis, but unable to address underlying problems at their root. It became clear to him that the social fabric of the city was fraying and no one was stepping in to repair the damage.
At the core of Eli’s approach is a belief that you must know a problem to solve it. He believes that his hands-on experience with homelessness, crime, policing, and livability issues is a needed perspective. He wants to help repair the damage and be an agent of change to restore the Portland we all know and love.
About Eli
A Letter from Eli’s Mom:
My name is Anastacia McCarney. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired
educator living in a small rural agricultural community where I raised my four children. I am both humbled and honored to share a glimpse of who my son, Eli Arnold, was as a
child and who he has become today. My hope is to offer some insight into the values
and experiences that shaped his deep commitment to family, community, and service.
As a young boy, Eli was curious, energetic, and deeply engaged with the world around
him. Eli’s childhood was filled with both responsibility and adventure. He played little league, built forts in the fields, and cared for a variety of pets, including a dog, cat, and even a duck. Our family life balanced strong expectations for responsibility with meaningful time together including camping, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, visiting museums, and exploring national and state parks. These experiences instilled in him a deep appreciation for nature, community, and shared responsibility. We always believed
in leaving places better than we found them, a principle Eli continues to carry into his life and work.
Today, Eli is a devoted husband, father, and uncle. Family remains his first priority. He
invites his nieces and nephews to Portland, creating lasting memories as he shares with them the city he loves—from the rose garden to the zoo. He is equally committed to his broader community, choosing a career of public service with the goal of making a meaningful and lasting difference.
Many people may not know the breadth of Eli’s talents. He is self-taught in many areas
including painting landscape oils, brewing beer, playing guitar, writing, and even
developing a science fiction game. I have long called him a “Renaissance Man”
because of his wide-ranging interests, creativity, and willingness to pursue new
challenges with curiosity and confidence.
What defines Eli most is his character. He is thoughtful, calm, and analytical, yet deeply
collaborative. A big-picture thinker, he can map a clear path to meaningful goals while
ensuring others are included and recognized along the way. He believes in actively engaging with community—through neighborhoods, youth programs, and professional service—and in being part of the solution. He lives with intention, guided by integrity, perseverance, and respect for others.
As his mother, I am incredibly proud of the man he has become. His experiences and
character have shaped him into a committed and capable leader, ready to serve and make a positive impact for the people of Portland.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my son.
Sincerely,
Anastacia McCarney
September 21, 2026