Michelle Emmons
Democratic candidate for Oregon House District 12
Michelle Emmons
• RESIDENCE: Oakridge.
• OCCUPATION: Deputy Director, Willamette Riverkeeper; Executive Director, Oakridge Trails Alliance.
• OCCUPATIONAL/WORK HISTORY: District Outreach Administrator, REI.
• PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Oakridge Economic Development Advisory Committee.
• EDUCATION: University of Oregon, Bachelor’s degree, Public Relations.
• FAMILY: Husband, two daughters, two stepdaughters, three grandchildren.
• WHY I’M RUNNING: Schools are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and education is the foundation of a healthy economy. It is essential that teachers and students have access to the tools and infrastructure to ensure our students are equipped to enter the real world. I support Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs and expanded options for trade school and apprenticeships.
Removing public school resources by introducing a voucher system under the guise of "school choice" does little to enhance majority students' experience, and instead, subsidizes those who can already afford private education. We must protect taxpayer investments in our public schools.
To aid in attracting and keeping new businesses, Oregon must first invest in the basics. Our communities deserve living wage job opportunities and equitable access to benefits for all workers. Tax incentives and targeted investments in small business enterprises, particularly rural sectors of agriculture, tourism, forestry, wood products, and green innovation, are crucial to our success in attracting and growing our local business communities.
Oregon must consider how affordable housing is integrated throughout both urban and rural areas, based on individual community needs, including limited equity cooperatives and other preferred incentives for low-income residential ownership. While recent Middle Housing legislation was intentioned to expand local inventory with diversified housing options, implementation for these projects needs to integrate "affordable housing" minimums and employ a decision making process at the local level to determine appropriate development.
Transportation, water delivery, electricity, and communications infrastructure must be strengthened if we intend to grow our communities. Based on community feedback, Oregon legislators will be tackling a new transportation bill in 2025. By boosting the number of trips, expanding rural lines within our district, or incorporating more train stops into regional tourist hotspots, the state may specifically promote more alternative transportation options in rural regions.
• WEBSITE: www.emmonsfororegon.org
ª FACEBOOK: facebook.com/oregondirtroaddemocrat
• X: twitter.com/EmmonsForOregon
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emmonsfororegon
• TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@emmonsfororegon
• OCCUPATION: Deputy Director, Willamette Riverkeeper; Executive Director, Oakridge Trails Alliance.
• OCCUPATIONAL/WORK HISTORY: District Outreach Administrator, REI.
• PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Oakridge Economic Development Advisory Committee.
• EDUCATION: University of Oregon, Bachelor’s degree, Public Relations.
• FAMILY: Husband, two daughters, two stepdaughters, three grandchildren.
• WHY I’M RUNNING: Schools are the lifeblood of our rural communities, and education is the foundation of a healthy economy. It is essential that teachers and students have access to the tools and infrastructure to ensure our students are equipped to enter the real world. I support Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs and expanded options for trade school and apprenticeships.
Removing public school resources by introducing a voucher system under the guise of "school choice" does little to enhance majority students' experience, and instead, subsidizes those who can already afford private education. We must protect taxpayer investments in our public schools.
To aid in attracting and keeping new businesses, Oregon must first invest in the basics. Our communities deserve living wage job opportunities and equitable access to benefits for all workers. Tax incentives and targeted investments in small business enterprises, particularly rural sectors of agriculture, tourism, forestry, wood products, and green innovation, are crucial to our success in attracting and growing our local business communities.
Oregon must consider how affordable housing is integrated throughout both urban and rural areas, based on individual community needs, including limited equity cooperatives and other preferred incentives for low-income residential ownership. While recent Middle Housing legislation was intentioned to expand local inventory with diversified housing options, implementation for these projects needs to integrate "affordable housing" minimums and employ a decision making process at the local level to determine appropriate development.
Transportation, water delivery, electricity, and communications infrastructure must be strengthened if we intend to grow our communities. Based on community feedback, Oregon legislators will be tackling a new transportation bill in 2025. By boosting the number of trips, expanding rural lines within our district, or incorporating more train stops into regional tourist hotspots, the state may specifically promote more alternative transportation options in rural regions.
• WEBSITE: www.emmonsfororegon.org
ª FACEBOOK: facebook.com/oregondirtroaddemocrat
• X: twitter.com/EmmonsForOregon
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emmonsfororegon
• TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@emmonsfororegon