seancruz's blog

OLMC opens doors to opportunity for minority candidates!  

The Oregon League of Minority Candidates will host its kickoff gala on the evening of May 12, at the Oregon Convention Center.  

The Oregonian issued its Senate District 23 endorsement on Saturday, noting the dearth of races with more than one name on the ballot.

I received the news in an early-morning phone call from Avel Gordly herself, pleased by the Oregonian Editorial Board’s validation and affirmation of my qualifications to serve as her successor in the Oregon Senate.

Now that the deadline for Oregon candidate filings has passed, voters have the opportunity to size up the field and see what their options are, both in specific races and in terms of how the larger pictures shape up, policy-wise.

Most legislative primary races are uncontested.

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. ("Won't Get Fooled Again," The Who)

Yet the voters want change, fresh voices, new perspectives, access to power for real citizens, not just the same career politicians again and again.

The voters want legislators that reflect the changing demographics of our state, so that no citizen is left behind.

That may have to wait until the next go-round.

There is only one House and one Senate race in the May 20 election that would bring the legislature a step closer in reaching these strategic goals.

The marvelously-gifted Cyreena Boston will likely be successful in her bid to re-integrate the House. May other community members have the courage in the future to step up and serve beside her there.

To Mayor Tom Potter and the four city council members who voted for the Voz day labor site contract: Bravo!

I also want to applaud your choice of Voz to administer the project. They are the key to a successful public partnership, and they will do a fine job for the city.

Your support for people who are willing to stand out on a sidewalk in all kinds of weather for an opportunity to do hard labor bespeaks also your good intentions in seeking a way to honor the great Mexican American hero, Cesar Chavez.

I did not support renaming either Interstate or Fourth Avenues, but I did recognize that you were sincere and that you suffered greatly.

May this day labor site prove salve to heal some wounds in the city, and know that they can never take the good that you do away from you.
--Sean Cruz

I have previously described my qualifications to succeed Senator Avel Gordly in the Oregon Senate in terms of my life experience in Parts 1 and 2, and in terms of my five years-plus of Senate legislative experience, as Senator Gordly’s Chief of Staff, in Part 3.

In Part 4, the focus is on our veterans and their families:

I am running to correct the under-representation of Oregon veterans and military families in the structure of the legislature itself, and to serve on a new Senate or Joint Veterans Affairs Committee in support of our veterans, our Guard members and their families.

My plan cuts straight to the heart of the problem, to the lack of a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee:

Unlike the other policy committees, where the Senate and House each have equivalent committees, the Oregon Senate has no counterpart to the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Portland Monthly Magazine feature scores support for “The Underdog”, Sean Cruz, candidate for Senate District 23.

“The Underdog” feature in Portland Monthly Magazine drew this comment by email today from reader Nan W.:

Portland Monthly Magazine’s current (March) feature on the Sean Cruz for Senate campaign, titled “The Underdog” has inspired me to share a page from the Sean Cruz for Senate campaign manual: