This weekend, an organization called Bernie PDX released their endorsements for Portland City Council. Several supporters have reached out, noting that my name was conspicuously absent from their list. I wanted to take a moment to explain why. But first, I want to congratulate the candidates who did receive their endorsement.

I am incredibly proud of my work on both of Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns. I traveled with him and on his behalf to countless states between the 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Together, we protested at the Homestead Child Detention Center, where he spoke out against the caging of children and visited small towns with water quality issues as severe as Flint’s. We also took diabetes patients to Canada to buy insulin for a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.

Because of this work, I have earned the endorsement of top leaders from both presidential campaigns, including Jeff Weaver (2016 Campaign Manager), Faiz Shakir (2020 Campaign Manager), Ari Rabin-Havt (Deputy Campaign Manager), U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna and Ohio State Senator Nina Turner (National Campaign Co-Chairs), as well as many other leaders and staff from the campaign.

Since 2020, I have fought for those in recovery and against corporate interests. I served as the lead lobbyist for a bill that now provides healthcare access to 55,000 Oregonians - migrant farmworkers and those truly in need. I have a proven track record, having worked in policy and electoral politics 19 out of the past 24 years.I am running for city council because of my experience. I believe that makes me well suited.  

While keeping up with this important work, I’ve had to make tough choices on time allocation. The reality is, candidates receive a large number of endorsement questionnaires during campaigns, each requiring time and focus. Bernie PDX’s questionnaire was more detailed than most. Lacking access to information regarding their plans in this election, I could not prioritize the time for their expansive questionnaire.

I have immense respect for the time and dedication that volunteer leaders in organizations like Bernie PDX bring to elections. At the same time, I remain deeply committed to addressing Portland’s homelessness and addiction crises, and ensuring that our city leads in combating climate change. To stay focused on these priorities within the bounds of my campaign, I chose not to complete this specific questionnaire.

After revisiting Bernie PDX’s wide-ranging questionnaire today, I believe it would be beneficial for the organization to follow the example of others and publish candidates’ responses online. This would provide voters with valuable insight into where prospective elected officials stand on the issues.