Willy Chotzen is a public defender and a father to two young children. Born in Ashland, Oregon, he has spent his adult life fighting for equity and working to uplift people who have been historically marginalized.

 

As a middle school math teacher, Willy taught his students to use math as a tool for advocacy and empowerment. Feeling called to address the systemic inequities facing his students, Willy left teaching to attend Harvard Law School, where he spent much of his time working in a legal aid clinic fighting wage theft, evictions, and foreclosures, while also teaching an undergraduate course in economics.

As a Chief Attorney at the Portland public defender's office, Willy trained and supervised new attorneys, shaped court policy, and advocated for his clients, both in the courtroom and in the community. His wife is a career educator and restorative justice specialist for Portland Public Schools, and they are raising two wonderful children, who remind them every day that a better, more equitable future is worth fighting for.​

​

Willy is an optimist at heart. He sees that many of our systems are broken, but he believes that we can solve big problems by working together. He is honored by the overwhelming support from voters in the May 2024 Democratic Primary, and he hopes to earn the opportunity to represent House District 46 and work collaboratively toward a brighter future for Oregon.