I had the chance to spend some time today with Jefferson Smith, founder of the Bus Project and currently a candidate in District 47 for the Oregon House of Representatives. Jefferson grew up in the neighborhood where my family now lives and after U of O and Harvard Law School he came back to Portland’s eastside where he has dedicated himself to the cause of encouraging young people to become engaged in the democratic process. Why is he running for the Oregon House? 70% of the kids at David Douglass are on free or reduced price lunch. Jefferson wants to give these kids a better life and to build a stronger eastside Portland. We share the same values. District 47 residents would be well served by sending Jefferson Smith to Salem. All Oregon would benefit from his voice.

Note: Churches are prohibited by federal law from endorsing candidates for public office.  I support that law and want to make clear that any and all endorsements that I make are personal and are not made on behalf of either my denomination or the church I serve. 

Photo credit:  www.jeffersonsmith.com