Jamie McLeod-Skinner on running for Oregon 5th District, top issues, what’s going right
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — KOIN 6 News contacted candidates who are running for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District in 2024, asking them to respond to these four questions:
Why are you running for office?
What is your prior government/civic experience?
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing the Third District and the state of Oregon?
In your opinion, what is going right in the Third District and Oregon? How do you plan to build on it?
Jamie McLeod-Skinner is running as a Democrat. Here are her responses:
Why are you running for office?
When I was a kid, my mom told me to always leave a place better than I found it, and that’s what I’ve done throughout my life. Too many Oregonians are hurting – working people, families, veterans, students, and seniors. I’m running for Congress because our fundamental rights are under attack, including our right to reproductive healthcare, our climate is in crisis, and Congress is not being responsive to the needs of everyday Oregonians in urban and rural areas, addressing the challenges of affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, and education. My experience on the ground and understanding of the district makes me best positioned to win this district and represent Oregonians in the 5th district.
What is your prior government/civic experience?
I was first elected to a city council in 2004 and have served in elected office for 12 years, in urban and rural areas, from the heart of Silicon Valley to rural Central Oregon. As a city council member, my committee work included economic development, housing rehabilitation, water, wastewater, transportation, power utility, redevelopment, recycling and waste reduction, audit, and ethics.
After my bi-partisan colleagues chose me to serve as Chair of the Jefferson County Education Service District Board, I led passage of a racial justice and equity policy, revisions to the Board Advisory Committee to expand community engagement from Tribal communities, and passage of policy to provide additional protections to staff during COVID.
I currently serve all Oregonians on the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), where my colleagues selected me to serve as co-chair of the Water and Climate Committee. OWEB’s mission is to work with landowners and communities to safeguard our natural resources, including salmon.
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing the Fifth District and the state of Oregon?
The cost of living and affordability of food, housing, healthcare, prescription drugs, childcare, and education;
Attacks on our fundamental rights, including the risk of a national ban on abortion, contraception, and fertility treatments; and
Preparing for and responding to the impacts of the climate crisis and the resulting weather extremes including wildfire, drought, heat domes, and ice storms.
In your opinion, what is going right in the Fifth District and Oregon? How do you plan to build on it?
What’s going right is that there are many examples of Oregonians working together to get things done, helping our neighbors when they are in need and building stronger and healthier communities. In Central Oregon, we’ve done a lot of work addressing food insecurity and helping farmers deal with drought. In Santiam Canyon, people are still recovering from the devastating wildfires and working on community resilience. Throughout the district, we’ve seen support for educators getting the resources they need to prepare students for a better future. We also have a shared commitment to protecting our environment, reproductive rights, and voting rights.
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