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Tawna Sanchez, family services director at the Native American Youth and Family Center, announced Tuesday she would run for the legislative seat being vacated by state Rep. Lew Frederick.
House District 43 covers North and Northeast Portland, and it's already attracted candidate Roberta Phillip-Robbins, a youth and gang-violence-prevention specialist for Multnomah County.
Sanchez, who lives in the Humboldt neighborhood, is a lifelong Portlander who identifies as a member of the Shoshone-Bannock, Ute and Carrizo tribes.
She says income inequality, housing affordability and improved services for foster care children are among her top priorities. She's worked for NAYA for 18 years but is making her first foray into elected politics.
"This is definitely a new process for me," she says. "I'm hoping to take this next step."
Frederick announced last month he wouldn't seek re-election to the House, because he wants to run for state Sen. Chip Shields' seat. Earlier, Shields announced he wouldn't run again.
Willamette Week