Issues

Jamie was interviewed by DemCast USA and stated that the COVID crisis is the biggest issue Oregonians are facing. She highlighted her previous experience working in crisis relief.

See part of the interview below, and read the whole interview on DemCast

What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?

The COVID-19 pandemic is, of course, the biggest issue we’re all facing. After the pandemic has subsided, it’s important that we audit our response to determine what we did well and what we could have done better will prepare us for the next major challenge. My experience with the International Rescue Committee, leading humanitarian relief teams in former war zones, running refugee resettlement programs in the U.S., and going through National Incident Management System (NIMS) training gives me an uncommon understanding of the issues people face when their lives have been upended by crisis.

The growing political divide is another major issue as it is eroding our trust in government and in each other. Across our state, Oregonians feel unheard and overlooked, even when we agree on desired outcomes. Our history has painful chapters, and our politics are filled with conflict. When we are defensive rather than responsive, we enable a future that reflects the past. We need to do the hard work of building an equitable and inclusive Oregon so our government works for all of us. Democracy works when people’s voices are heard, the public is engaged, and our political process is responsive to our concerns.