A conservative member member of Vancouver city council for 17 years (1986 - 2003). Gordon also served on the Board of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and was appointed to the first board of the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink).
Gordon is also a regular lecturer on transportation and land use for the City of Portland, Oregon and Portland State University. In addition, he has written extensive essays on Vancouver and transportation issues and has been published in numerous journals. He recently won the Plan Canada Award for Article of the Year.
He also writes a monthly column for Business in Vancouver on civic issues, and sits on the Board of Northwest Environment Watch and the International Center for Sustainable Cities. He is at present Adjunct Professor at the School of Community & Regional Planning.