(Image source from: www.oregonlive.com)
Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's sister Susheela Jayapal on Thursday sworn in as a Multnomah County commissioner.
Her appointment made her the first Indian American to hold an elected county office in Oregon.
Jayapal, who left India at the age of 16 to attend college in the United States, had 7 ½ months to prepare to assume office, after conveniently winning a four-way race for the open seat back in May.
A longtime leader of nonprofit and community groups, Jayapal told the large crowd at the ceremony that she never thought to run for office but felt a "sense of urgency about the fact that the region has become unlivable for too many people."
"Our economy has been booming, and we all know the adage that says 'a rising tide lifts all boats,'" she said. "And you all know very well that’s simply not true."
"For too many in our region, they are drowning in that rising tide, or being pushed farther and farther from shore or, at best, just barely treading water. And those folks who are sinking are being pushed out or just barely keeping afloat, they are disproportionately black or brown, immigrant and refugee. That's not the kind of place I want to live in."
Jayapal, who represents North and Northeast Portland, ran on a platform that emphasized combating gentrification and homelessness, in part by providing rental assistance to help keep people in their homes. She also called for more focus on mental health and addiction treatment and for restorative justice programs in every school.
"I ran for office because I believe you don’t do this unless you believe in government. I ran for office because I believe that we can together find solutions - by taking down barriers between our systems and by focusing on root causes," she said.
Jayapal, who relied on advice from her younger sister, Pramila, who represents the Seattle area in Congress, gained the most backings and raised the most in contributions before securing nearly 60 percent of the vote.
-Sowmya Sangam
