"As county chair, I will treat our homeless situation as the emergency that it is."

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for our community, but one that requires flexibility and adjustments. I won’t be afraid to change course, try something new, and partner with anyone willing to bring ideas, energy, or resources to the table, be they community groups, faith organizations, businesses, cultural organizations, or philanthropy. Policies that are working we will continue, and those efforts that aren’t delivering as we’d hoped will be discontinued. I’m proud to run for county chair on my track record, and put my skills to use tackling homelessness, gun violence, climate change, transportation and the other challenging issues facing our community. Working together, we can do great things.

JVP's Vison for Multnomah County as an Incoming Commissioner

If you’re a voter in East Portland, chances are your choice for Multnomah County commissioner will be an easy one. State Rep. Jessica Vega Pederson is running unopposed for the county commissioner seat representing District 3, an area that extends roughly from Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Southeast 148th, bordered by Interstate 84 to the north and Clackamas County to the south. The first Latina elected to the House, Vega Pederson has spent the past four years representing District 47 in Salem, serving on the Joint Committee on Department of Energy Oversight, the House Committee on Judiciary, and as the Chair of the House Committee on Energy and the Environment. She will replace Judy Shiprack, who has served as county commissioner for District 3 since 2008.

An intimidating list of endorsements for the competition

By Rachel Monahan September 21, 2021 at 6:19 pm PDT Three leading Oregon elected officials—Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle and House Speaker Tina Kotek—as well as City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Metro President Lynn Peterson and a slew of legislative leaders all have endorsed Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson in the 2022 county chair’s race. It’s a formidable list of endorsements that also includes community leaders Rukaiyah Adams and traffic safety advocate Ashton Simpson, as well as the farmworkers’ union United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555.

Former Gov. Barbara Roberts joins dozens of prominent state and local leaders endorsing Jessica Vega Pederson for Multnomah County Chair

September 21, 2021

Former Governor Barbara Roberts has joined dozens of prominent state and local leaders endorsing Jessica Vega Pederson for Multnomah County Chair. Vega Pederson’s impressive list of endorsers reflects her record of collaborative and committed public service and a clear vision for the future. Since announcing her campaign earlier this month, Vega Pederson has earned the support of leaders across the county and state — everyone from Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio to Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle to thousands of frontline workers at UFCW Local 555. “From school board to County Commission to Governor, I’ve served at nearly every level of Oregon government,” said Roberts, who served as a Multnomah County Commissioner before going on to become Oregon’s first woman Governor. “I know first hand that meaningful change is driven locally. Jessica Vega Pederson shares that belief and works to make it happen. She’s a true champion for our community and that is why I believe she’s the right person to lead Multnomah County into a new chapter as County Chair.” As the County Commissioner for District 3 since 2016, Vega Pederson has been a progressive champion for her community and has successfully passed landmark policies, including Preschool for All and a 100% Clean Energy resolution. Vega Pederson got her start in public service in 2012 when she became the first Latina elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. In the legislature, she championed the renewal of the Clean Fuels Program and Paid Sick Time for All. Vega Pederson’s record of fighting for working families helped her to earn the endorsements of UFCW Local 555. The union represents thousands of frontline essential workers who serve Multnomah County, including grocery, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare workers. "Jessica is a tireless champion for Oregon workers both on the job and in our communities," said Thomas Mosher, Government Affairs Director for UFCW Local 555. "We always know that we can count on Jessica to fight for what's right, and she has shown up and spoken out for our frontline essential workers throughout the pandemic. She's the leader we trust to deliver real change for working families.” Vega Pederson’s full list of endorsers is below: Former Gov. Barbara Roberts Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek UFCW Local 555 Reynolds School Board Member Ana Gonzalez Muñoz Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero Multnomah Education Service District Chair Jessica Arzate Mt. Hood Community College Board Chair Annette Mattson Metro Chair Lynn Peterson Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González David Douglas School Board Hoa Nguyen Portland Public School Board Chair Michelle DePass David Douglas School Board Member Stephanie Stephens Former House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson Former State Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer State Representative Andrea Valderrama State Representative Courtney Neron State Representative Dacia Grayber State Representative Khanh Pham State Representative Karin Power State Senator Kayse Jama State Representative Teresa Alonso León Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington Washington County Commissioner Pam Treece Meyer Memorial Trust CIO Rukaiyah Adams City of Roses Disposal & Recycling owner Alando Simpson Community leader Ashton Simpson Community leader Candace Avalos Community leader Duncan Hwang Community leader Ernesto Fonseca Community leader Sarah Iannarone Business leader Tom Kelly Community leader Tony DeFalco Jessica Vega Pederson and her husband Aaron live in East Portland in the Hazelwood neighborhood where they are raising their two children. She is currently the Multnomah County Commissioner for District 3, serving southeast Portland between SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard and SE 148th Avenue. ####