NEWS FROM OREGON DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICALS
Gallegos Wins HD 30 Nomination
July 21, 2012
Air Force veteran, small business owner, college professor will prioritize economy, schools in 2012 campaign
HILLSBORO- Joe Gallegos, an Air Force veteran, small business owner, and university professor gained the Democratic nomination to run in Oregon House District 30 on Saturday.
Gallegos said he will focus on putting Oregonians back to work and ending cuts to public schools, while reining in wasteful giveaways.
“Politicians in Salem have spent too much on giveaways to special interests, at the expense of our kids and grandkids,” said Gallegos. “When I’m in the Legislature, stopping the cuts to our schools and creating jobs will be my focus. It’s time Hillsboro had a representative who will stand up for the priorities of our middle class families.”
Gallegos is professor emeritus at the University of Portland, and owns a consulting firm, Western Research Associates. He has been a long-time leader in the Latino community, and has influenced state and national social policy through his work as a fellow at the American Leadership Forum of Oregon.
As a young child, Gallegos and his family moved to Washington County where he worked as a farm laborer. He worked in the Portland shipyards to support his parents and pay his way through college.
Gallegos beat fellow Democrat David Robinson in a two-way race for the nomination by Democratic Precinct Committee People in House District 30. He complimented Robinson after the election.
“Like me, David Robinson has served his country in the military and has a strong ethic of service to his community. I know he and I share a commitment to growing jobs in Oregon and beginning to reinvest in our public schools. Now, I look forward to an exciting campaign and a victory in November.”
Gallegos served in the United States Air Force then Oregon Air National Guard during the Vietnam era; he is one of four Democrats running for election or re-election to the House who are Vietnam or Vietnam-era veterans.
Gallegos has already hired a full campaign team and is expected to quickly mount one of the most robust campaigns in the state.
