Lawmaker Advocating for English-Only Workplace Policy Reportedly Working from Spain

A Portland city council member has sparked controversy after it emerged they have been performing their duties remotely from Spain. This revelation follows a recent incident where the council member, Mary Nolan, who uses they/them pronouns, was recorded asking their Latino colleague, Juan Carlos González, to speak in English during a council meeting, despite González using English fluently.

According to reports by The Oregonian, Nolan, who is 71 years old, has been working from Spain since at least February 5. This isn’t the first time Nolan has managed their responsibilities from abroad, as they previously worked remotely from Spain on several occasions throughout the previous year.

Specifically, Nolan’s remote work in Spain was recorded from March 24 to June 5, July 24 to September 18, and again from November 3 to January 8. Responding to the situation, Nolan explained to The Oregonian that they travel to Spain “occasionally” to visit family or provide assistance to a relative in need.

Nolan reportedly worked from Spain from March 24, 2025 to June 5, July 24 to September 18, and November 3 to January 8. 

Nolan told The Oregonian that they visits family in Spain ‘occasionally’ or when a relative ‘needs help.’ 

Portland does not require its councils to attend meetings in person, but it does require them to live in their respective district. The position, which is not required to be full-time, pays $68,000 a year. 

Nolan was working remotely during the February 24 meeting, where they asked González to repeat what he said in English while discussing a housing policy. He had already stated his original response in the language perfectly. 

Nolan was also working remotely on February 26, when they apologized in both Spanish and English to González. 

Mary Nolan has been working remotely from Spain since at least February 5 and has spent several extended periods in the country while working as a lawmaker for Portland 

Earlier this week, Nolan was thrust into headlines after a recorded council meeting caught the moment they asked their coworker, Juan Carlos González (pictured above), to repeat what he said in English, despite already giving his answer perfectly in the language 

‘I was shocked again for the second time in a week,’ González had told the outlet previously. ‘It did not feel great.’ 

Nolan had asked the bill’s sponsors, which includes González, to define what they meant by regionalism in the policy. 

‘My concern and worry is that in the definition of regionalism, you’re moving forward, or that you had – that we talked about – includes decimating funding to Washington and Clackamas County,’ he responded in part, while speaking perfect English.

‘There’s language that is kind of very needs-based and that to me is like sending signals to some really strong shifts in the framework of SHS entirely.’

Nolan responded by asking: ‘Councilor, can you say that in English? I don’t understand what you just said.’

The comment caused the entire board to pause in shock, with Councilman Ashton Simpson putting his head in his hands.

González sat in silence for a moment before responding: ‘Um, okay. Let me try to repeat that in English, which is the language I was speaking.’

In a later meeting, they apologized for disrespecting his ‘heritage,’ as he is the first Latino member to sit on the board. 

Several members of the council were shocked by their request, including González

González said they shocked him again when they apologized in Spanish and in English at a meeting two days later 

Nolan reportedly worked from Spain from March 24, 2025 to June 5, July 24 to September 18, and November 3 to January 8, and now since February 5 

‘On reflection, I realized one of my questions to you on Tuesday [February 24] during our discussion of the RPOC [Regional Policy and Oversight Committee] disrespected you, as well as people in our audience,’ they said. 

Nolan promised to give ‘more thought and sensitivity’ to their future comments.

While they were speaking, González rubbed his forehead, and Simpson covered a look of surprise. After they finished the statement, González thanked them for their apology before the council moved on to their agenda items.

Nolan told the outlet that they didn’t mean to use the term English in reference to the language he was speaking, but rather in the more colloquial way of asking for clarification due to his ‘vagueness’ and meant ‘no malice’ toward the councilman.

They have since spoken on the phone, but neither has revealed the contents of their conversation.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Nolan for comment.