Jennifer Smith announces for City Council Ward 3

Robin Bloomgarden: Union leader and community organizer Jennifer Smith has qualified to run for Eugene City Council Ward 3.

Smith is the elected president of SEIU 503 Local 085, representing over 1,700 classified workers at the U of O, and works as a project coordinator at the University of Oregon Labor Education Research Center.

She also serves as a governor-appointed member of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and was a member of the 2017 city of Eugene Permanent Shelter Task Force.

‘I am running to stand up for working families in Eugene and to ensure that our ward’s progressive values are represented at the City Council. As the cost of living increases and our community is facing a housing and climate crisis, we need bold leadership at the City level like never before,’ said Smith.

‘My experience as a lifelong community organizer and the president of SEIU 085 has taught me how to build coalition and consensus around important issues, a skill which I will bring to bear at City Council to pass policies to benefit all Eugene residents.’

Smith is running on a platform focused on affordability, tenant protections, climate action, protecting social services, and fighting against the creeping fascism of the Trump administration.

‘This administration is attacking the very foundations of our nation’s democracy. Even in progressive Eugene, we are feeling the impacts of Trump’s fascist policies with ICE kidnapping people off of the street and tear-gassing community members exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and protest,’ said Smith.

‘If elected, I will use my platform to lift up the voices of our community and oppose this administration’s unconstitutional and despicable attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ people and other vulnerable communities.’

You can learn more about Jennifer Smith at her campaign website, ElectJennifer Smith.org.