See Our Endorsements Below!
About Nafisa: Nafisa Fai is a small business owner and public health expert dedicated to improving the health and strength of our region. A twenty-two year resident of Oregon, Nafisa was inspired by her experience as a refugee to create the Pan African Festival. As a Commissioner, Nafisa will prioritize tackling our affordable housing crisis, leveling the playing field so all working families can succeed, and working to create a Washington County that is a prosperous and inclusive place for everyone.
Why We Support Nafisa: 1 in every 3 residents in Washington County are Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and 1 in 5 residents are immigrants, refugees, or asylum seekers, making Washington County the most rapidly diversifying county in Oregon. Nafisa’s lived experiences as a Black woman, an immigrant, a refugee, and a celebratory community advocate illustrates and anchors the progressive approach she will take as Commissioner. Her background in public health makes her the only candidate with the expertise to lead us through the devastating realities of Covid-19. Her experiences working with Oregonians from diverse backgrounds to celebrate cultural, economic and social vitality are the skillsets we need from our Washington County leadership.
About Wlnsvey: Wlnsvey currently works as the Case Manager for Family Promise of Beaverton where she helps families experiencing houselessness find their new homes.The proud daughter of immigrants, she grew up in a low-income, single-parent, Latino household. Early on in life, she took on adult roles and responsibilities such as being a translator; navigating conversations and documents at places like the doctor’s office, the bank, the grocery store and more. These very normal, daily errands for most families – were survival experiences for her – that made her into an advocate at the young age of 8 years old – and the advocate she is today. She brings life experiences that many in her community can relate to but which remain sidelined and devalued in the political world.
Why We Support Wlnsvey: Wlnsvey Campos is a fighter for social and economic justice who will work towards material advances for the lives of the marginalized, particularly the working class, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and our BIPoC communities. As your state representative, Wlnsvey will champion affordable housing and higher wages, make climate justice a priority and fight for an Oregon Green New Deal, and will advocate for healthcare services that are accessible to everyone– regardless of a person’s race, gender, zip code, immigration and incarceration status.
About Nadia: As the child of immigrant parents and a mother of three young children, Nadia has advocated for years as a parent, a teacher, and a community organizer. The Beaverton City Council needs bold, new champions who believe that residents all deserve access to the rights, resources and recognition needed to thrive. The global pandemic has exposed the gaps in our social safety net and the work that needs to be done to dismantle systemic racism. She is running because she believes that, together, we can all create a Beaverton in which our children and community members call home.
Why We Support Nadia: Beaverton School District experiences the highest rate of student houselessness in Oregon with about 1,900 unhoused students. When Covid-19 hit and schools decided to cut school lunch programs, Nadia fought to ensure that vulnerable students remained fed despite school closures. As your city council member, Nadia will continue to uplift students, families, and those most marginalized in our community. If elected, she will also be the first Indian Pakistani woman and first Muslim on City Council.
About Gina: Gina works as a school administrator in Portland Public Schools in SE Portland working with staff, students and families during this unusual year in education. She was born and raised in the Pacific NW to an immigrant mother and hard working father from a migrant farm worker family. Gina has been a resident of Hillsboro for over 20 years and proudly raises her family here. Gina has worked as a K-6 educator in Hillsboro coordinated Migrant Summer School, and even helped open South Meadows Middle School as the Dean of Students.
Why We Support Gina: As Hillsboro has grown over the years, Gina asks how decisions are made and whose voices are at the table. Now is time to expand on how to involve all voices and remove barriers for residents to participate. This will be important as we look to move forward on solutions for affordable housing, what equity means in Hillsboro and continuing to create an inclusive community. Gina’s lived experiences as a proud Latina serve as a basis for how she plans to build connections, mentorship opportunities, and continue to establish partnerships with schools and community organizations as well as leading collaborative efforts to cultivate relationships with marginalized portions of the community.
About Dacia: Dacia Grayber is a proud Union firefighter, paramedic, community advocate, and mother of four who’s unafraid to break down barriers. She stands with and represents working families, people committed to justice, and proud Oregonians defined by their deep love for our communities. A firm believer that we all belong at the table, Dacia will work hard to ensure that marginalized voices are at the forefront and center of social change.
Why We Support Dacia: Dacia is the embodiment of courage, strength, and optimism. As your state representative Dacia will work towards rebuilding a fair economy for working people and small businesses, not special interests, by expanding relief programs for folks harmed by the Covid-19 crisis. Dacia promises to create healthy and safe communities by increasing access to healthcare and dismantling oppressive systems that target Black and Brown Oregonians, and conserving clean air and water. As a supporter of public education, she will work to protect K-12 funding, ensure equitable access to remote learning, and will fight to pass universal pre-K and lower costs to higher education.
About Kelly: Kelly Lemarr was born and raised in Oregon she went to school at Willamette University, J.D.; George Fox University, B.A.; and Aloha H.S. She has spent the last 16 years serving as a nonprofit family attorney at St. Andrew Legal Clinic. She advocates for people experiencing issues that disproportionally impact BIPoC and low-income communities: housing and food insecurity, mental illness, domestic violence, sexual assault, and immigration status. As a judge Kelly would provide equal access to justice for all, fairness in the judicial process, and compassion for working families and underrepresented communities.
Why We Support Kelly: Kelly Lemarr is running for Washington County Circuit Court Judge because thousands of families navigate our courts every year, they need experienced and compassionate judges who can make thoughtful decisions. Out of 15 judges in Washington County, only 2 have a background in family law, and only 4 are women. Kelly’s experience will add balance to the bench. Her experiences, both as a lawyer and as a volunteer Judge Pro Tem for the past 2 years, have prepared her to serve the justice system with compassion and integrity. As a judge, Kelly will work to ensure impartiality in every case and make sure that people get a fair trial, regardless of immigration status.
About Lacey: Lacey Beaty is a dedicated wife, mother, and working professional. She is deeply invested in her community and for the past five years has served on the Beaverton City Council, and is the youngest person and only 13th woman to hold an elected position on that council. Lacey is also a combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army as a radiology technician and combat medic, who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004. Lacey’s worked to help shape the healthcare environment in Washington County, Oregon as the Director of the School Based Health Center at Virginia Garcia where she worked to change policies around access to contraceptives in 5 school districts leading to over 81,000 students having access to contraceptives and education.
Why Vote for Lacey: Lacey Beaty has stepped up and fought for our community when others didn’t– and that’s why she’s running for Mayor. Her record and reputation as the leader willing to stand alone in a fight for what’s right and fair are why we can trust her as Mayor to fight for: Affordable housing and an end to houseless discrimination; Helping Families Succeed (both at home and work) by supporting pro-family policies, such as Paid Family Medical Leave. As your mayor, Lacey will continue to advocate for livable, walkable, and safe neighborhoods by fighting for local and regional investments that will improve, not worsen, traffic. As an advocate for climate justice, she has plans to create a community commission with oversight authority to make sure the city meets its climate goal. Lacey will center youth voices in this fight by ensuring that half of the membership is under the age of 30.
About Senator Shemia Fagan: Senator Shemia Fagan is a working mom and civil rights attorney who grew up in rural eastern Oregon. Fagan’s dad was a single parent who struggled to keep his three kids housed and fed, while her mom battled addiction and homelessness in Portland. Fagan credits her Oregon public school educators for giving her the confidence and drive to put herself through college and law school. Shortly after graduating from Lewis and Clark Law school, Fagan was elected to the David Douglas school board and began her public service, giving back to the Oregonians who stood up for her. On the school board, and later in the Oregon House and Senate, Fagan has developed a reputation for her no-nonsense style and shaking up the status quo while winning fights for families like hers, such as helping to pass paid family leave. On voting rights, Fagan has been a champion, helping shephard Oregon’s first-in-the-nation automatic voter registration and expanding Oregon’s vote by mail with prepaid postage. At a time when vote by mail is under attack from the President of the United States, Shemia is running for Secretary of State because it’s never been more important to lead the fight for protecting and expanding the fundamental right to vote in Oregon.
Why Vote for Shemia: Shemia is a Democrat that has spent her career fighting for working Oregonians, holding big corporations accountable, and speaking truth to power. She’s been on the forefront of fights for rent control, expanding health care access, transgender rights, and much more. She’s dedicated her career to ensuring that children growing up without much – like she did – still have the opportunity to get ahead and to dream of more. It’s why she’s running for Secretary of State – to bring progress within reach for all.
About Measure 108: Measure 108 would increase taxes on distributors of tobacco products and other nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping products. Measure increases the cigarette tax by $2 per pack and increases the maximum tax on cigars by $1 per cigar.Tax revenue would be allocated to fund the state’s Medical Assistance Program, including prevention and cessation programs, addressing tobacco- and nicotine-related diseases.
Washington County Ignite supports Measure 108 and encourages a “yes” vote because tobacco use disproportionately affects youth, BIPOC and low-income communities at higher rates because Big Tobacco has historically targeted these communities. Tobacco companies have strategically marketed their products to appeal to youth and BIPOC due to tobacco retailers being much more prevalent in low-income neighborhoods and areas with a higher population of Black and Latinx folks. Voting Yes on Measure 108 keeps our youth, BIPOC and low-income community members safe.
About Measure 109: Measure 109 would create a program for administering psilocybin products, such as psilocybin-producing mushrooms and fungi, to individuals aged 21 years or older. Establishes a regulated psilocybin therapy system at supervised, licensed facilities.
Washington County Ignite supports Measure 109 and encourages a “yes” vote to create a new breakthrough program that can help people break through a variety of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and addiction.
About Measure 26-218: Measure 26-218 would authorize the Metro Council to impose a payroll tax up to 0.75% on companies with more than 25 employees to fund traffic, safety, and transit improvements and transportation programs along roadway and transit corridors in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington counties within district boundaries. The measure excludes taxing companies with 25 employees or less and local governments. The tax would apply to nonprofits and government agencies. The tax would take effect in 2022.
Washington County Ignite supports Measure 26-218 and encourages a “yes” vote because our community deserves safe improvements to roads and sidewalks to walk, drive and bike. This measure also makes critical and necessary investments to underserved neighborhoods and makes transportation accessible and safe.