TSCC Commissioners & Staff

Matt Donahue | 2022–2029

Chair of TSCC

Matt Donahue is an investment banker and financial adviser to local governments in Oregon. Matt started his career in public finance as a debt manager for the State of New Jersey Treasury. Since moving back to Oregon in 2010, Matt has worked on over 150 bond transactions with local governments in Oregon of all shapes and sizes including the state, school districts, cities, counties, community colleges, and special districts. He currently holds Series 7, Series 63, Series 50 (Municipal Advisor Representative) and Series 53 (Municipal Securities Principal) designations. Matt graduated from Harvard College cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Afro-American Studies. He also holds an MBA with a focus in finance from the Yale University School of Management. Prior to pursuing a career in public finance Matt worked in education as a teacher and for an online learning startup. In 2015, Matt chaired the Governor’s School Capital Improvement Task Force and helped draft the legislation that established the State Office of School Facilities and OSCIM grant program. Matt lives in Portland, Oregon and in his spare time plays drums and the guitar.

Why I Joined TSCC: “I am excited to join TSCC as a commissioner. It is not every day that I have the opportunity to serve my community and apply my specific skills and knowledge towards its care and improvement. I see serving as a TSCC commissioner an opportunity to do just that and am excited to work with the staff and other commissioners on behalf of the citizens of Multnomah County.”

Dr. Rita Moore | 2025–2028

Vice Chair of TSCC

After receiving a PhD in Political Science (with specializations in regime change and human rights), Rita Moore taught at universities in the United States and Eastern Europe, and served as external evaluator for a UN-accredited international genocide prevention program. After returning to the US, her work as an advocate and policy analyst in a variety of non-profit and public sector agencies focused on improving services for children and families. An active volunteer in the community, she has served on multiple non-profit boards working on poverty reduction and educational advocacy. She has long been deeply immersed in the budget of Portland Public Schools, the largest school district in Oregon, as a member and Co-Chair of its Community Budget Review Committee (2011-2017) and an elected member of the Board of Education (2017-2021).

Why I Joined TSCC: “It is often said that public budgets are moral documents, concretely revealing underlying values and priorities. Since the needs of communities typically exceed available resources, budgets necessarily represent the difficult, often wrenching, choices between competing obligations made by local governments. TSCC’s budget reviews can provide an informed, independent perspective on those choices that communities can use as a tool for accountability. As a former policy maker, I am eager to contribute my insights and skills to the work of TSCC.”

Tod Burton | 2023–2027 (Option for 2nd Term)

Tod retired from the Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD) in 2019 where he was involved with budgeting, capital planning, rates and charges, debt management, treasury, and investments. He served as both TVWD’s Budget Officer and Investment Officer. His prior experience included positions with Clean Water Services, the Portland Development Commission (now Prosper Portland), and as an economist for Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services. Post-retirement, Tod held interim finance-related positions with Clackamas County and Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation. Tod has an MBA from Claremont Graduate University and BS from Lewis and Clark College. In 2017-18 he served as President of the Oregon Government Finance Officers Association (OGFOA) and presently serves as Treasurer.

Why I Joined TSCC: “As a 35-year resident of Portland and Multnomah County I care deeply about our community. Without question our local governments and schools face many challenges, difficult policy questions and often limited resources. My background and knowledge in public finance/budgeting provide a good fit. Serving as a TSCC Commissioner is a wonderful opportunity to engage with residents and community leaders. I hope to contribute to our region in a financially sustainable manner.”

Dr. Will Terry | 2026-2029

Dr. Will Terry is a public finance specialist and former UO professor with an extensive analytical background in government, academic, and financial settings. He holds a master’s in economics from Caltech and a Ph.D. in quantitative political science from UCSD. His dissertation — which evaluated the tax and spending implications of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — was awarded a highly competitive dissertation grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Dr. Terry is currently a Senior Economist and Project Director at ECOnorthwest.

Why I Joined TSCC: “As a former altar boy and senior class president, the son of two former Army officers and brother of a midwestern fire chief, public service seems to be an essential part of who I am! I’m delighted to bring the skills I’ve acquired as an academic and financial analyst to the TSCC. Without question, the state of Oregon and the Portland metropolitan region face some of the most daunting economic challenges they’ve seen in decades. The TSCC will play a vital role in the area’s resurgence by ensuring our local public finances are on solid footing.”

Erik Kvarsten | 2026-2029

Erik Kvarsten has 36 years of experience as a City Manager in Oregon. Most recently, he served as City Manager of Gresham for over 15 years. He also held a similar position in Troutdale for eight years, and prior to that served as City Manager in Independence and two other cities in Oregon. In these positions, he was responsible for overall city operations and support of policy development and governance processes. Erik now serves as a Partner Consultant for Jensen Strategies. Erik is a recipient of the League of Oregon Cities Herman Kehrli Award recognizing valuable contributions and commitment to the highest standards of public service. Erik served on the State of Oregon Board of Public Safety Standards and Training and was a longtime member of the Transportation and Growth Management Advisory Committee. He is a life member of the International City/County Management Association. He graduated from the School of Community Service and Public Affairs at the University of Oregon and is currently a member of the Dean’s Council for the College of Design at the University of Oregon

Why I Joined TSCC: “I’m delighted to be part of the Tax Supervision and Conservation Commission with it’s rich history of helping ensure effective local government budget practices. In my time as a City Manager I oversaw the development and adoption of over 35 annual City budgets. I always enjoyed the process, as the budget served as the pivotal document translating the priorities of elected officials into programmatic action. I look forward to joining my fellow Commissioners and the fine staff in the good work ahead.”

Allegra Willhite | 2021–

Executive Director

Allegra oversees the daily operations of the Commission. She has over 14 years of experience in state and local government. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Whitman College and earned a master’s in public administration from Portland State University. Her career has included positions at the state, the League of Oregon Cities, Multnomah and Clackamas counties, and the City of Gresham. Allegra’s work has focused on budget and financial analysis, leadership, project management, training, and communication.

Brittanie Abayare | 2025–

Budget & Research Analyst

Brittanie researches, analyzes, and summarizes financial information to produce comprehensive reports, including the TSCC Annual Report on local government budgets and budget reviews for the TSCC Commissioners. Brittanie brings over a decade of experience in data management, financial reporting, and compliance to the team, including time with The Multnomah Group and the State of Oregon (PERS).