Kayse Jama appointed to Oregon Senate District 24 seat January 20 2021
Executive director of Unite Oregon appointed to fill spot vacated by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan
Commissioners representing Multnomah and Clackamas counties unanimously cast votes to approve Kayse Jama as the next state senator to represent District 24, covering portions of east Portland and northern Clackamas County. The magnitude of this moment is not lost on me, Jama said. My journey from a nomadic community in Somalia to the Oregon Senate is a testament to where I come from, the people of our district, and our shared values.
Jama executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Unite Oregon will join Oregon s legislative assembly ahead of a session that is expected to take aim at advancing issues of racial justice and fixing systemic inequities further exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Kayse Jama Appointed to District 24 Seat, Becoming First Muslim in the Oregon Senate Jama is longtime community advocate and former Somali refugee. Kayse Jama (center) speaks at a candidate forum in 2018. (Daniel Stindt) Updated January 6 Multnomah and Clackamas county commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday to appoint Kayse Jama to the seat representing Oregon Senate District 24. The vote made history: Jama becomes the first Muslim to hold an Oregon Senate seat. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan vacated the District 24 seat, which represents East Portland and parts of Clackamas County, after her victory in November.
New Clackamas County commissioners dive right into business
Tootie Smith, Mark Shull take seats to tackle reopening plans and wildfire recovery
One new and one familiar face joined the Clackamas Board of County Commissioners in its first meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, Jan. 5, to hear updates on several topics and issues facing the county.
County Chair Tootie Smith and Commissioner Mark Shull both elected to the board in 2020 took their official oaths of office in private ceremonies over the holidays and will participate in a ceremonial swearing on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Smith, a political veteran who has served as both a state legislator and Clackamas County commissioner, seemed not to miss a beat in her four-year absence from public service as she dove head first into county business while leading the meeting. Shull chimed in on occasion to offer his view or asking questions to clarify details.
The commissioners will choose from among the three candidates nominated by local Democratic Party representatives: Candy Emmons, Adrienne Enghouse and Kayse Jama.
Updated December 23, 2020
OREGON S COVID-19 VACCINATIONS BEGIN: In the first week since the vaccine arrived in Oregon, 4,475 health care workers have received a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for emergency use, Oregon Health Authority officials announced Dec. 21. Health care workers, as well as staff and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, are to receive priority for the vaccine, which is expected not to reach the general public till at least the spring. Oregon received 35,100 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last week and, after a reduction by the federal government, expects to receive 25,350 doses this week. Shipments of COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna, which the FDA approved last week, are also expected soon, though none has yet arrived.