Eduardo Morales

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Eddy Morales completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morales' responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" id=\"heading-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI first learned about organizing by watching my mom. Raised by a hardworking and community-minded immigrant woman in Oregon, I saw her share meals or offer basic necessities to neighbors in need. It was through moments like these I learned how her choices were strengthening the entire community. \r\n<p>I started my organizing career as a student helping coordinate a boycott in support of farm workers earning unfair wages. After seeing the impact of solidarity, it quickly became my life’s work. For twenty years I worked on countless progressive causes — from restoring voting rights in Florida, to supporting immigrants under attack in Arizona, to joining Stacey Abrams to flip Georgia blue. I brought these lessons home, where I founded East County Rising and joined the board of Planned Parenthood. \r\n</p>\nI was elected as City Councilor in Gresham and served as Council President for two consecutive terms, where I helped create multi-generational affordable housing, increased public safety solutions, and advocated for underrepresented constituents. Through this work, I’ve learned what it takes to bring people together to reach a common goal.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" id=\"heading-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Affordable Housing: Growing up my family was housing insecure, and my mother would exchange childcare for a place for us to live. Most affordable housing being built does not meet families’ needs. In Gresham, I built multigenerational housing with 4 bedrooms so aunties, uncles, and grandparents can live with each other. We've also created workforce housing for people with disabilities, designed by people with disabilities, that is run on solar so their energy is cheaper and greener. We also launched affordable home ownership programs.</li><li>Public Safety: I’ve lost two brothers to gun violence. That’s why I worked to create a first-of-its-kind Youth Violence Prevention Program partnering with community groups to address the root causes of crime in our communities. And on Gresham City Council, I worked to bring funding for police training and retention, while supporting strict accountability and transparency for officers to improve community relations. In Congress, I will fight for the resources we need to keep our communities safe.</li><li>Defend and expand our rights: LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, immigrant rights, worker rights, voting rights, and countless others are under attack. In Congress, I’ll continue organizing and fighting to protect and expand our rights such as access to birth control, abortions, and reproductive healthcare, and to ensure families like mine are protected and everyone in America can live their lives with respect and dignity.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-207403-2024-04-21\" id=\"heading1-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-207403-2024-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-207403-2024-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI have dedicated the last 25 years of my life organizing on key issues to make concrete improvements in working families’ lives. I’ve worked in Oregon, and across the country, on the Affordable care Act, comprehensive immigration reform, electing progressives to office, and supporting organizers in their local fights. The only way to cut through the chaos and dysfunction in Washington, DC is through engaging and organizing communities directly impacted by the policies we hope to change and building broad coalitions to move policy.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-207403-2024-04-21\" id=\"heading2-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-207403-2024-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-207403-2024-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAs a young boy, I never saw an elected official that looked like me or even dreamed of representing my community. Over the past 25 years, I have come to understand the importance of representation. As a second generation immigrant and a Queer Latino, I have taken space at the table, brought others to the table, and advocated for others.<br/>\n<p>One of my proudest moments was when I was elected to represent my community in Gresham. I have lived everyday working hard to be deserving of my community and their support. <br/>\r\nI know how to mobilize a community and present their concerns to policy makers, and my career has been staked on building coalitions. In Congress, I will bring the voices of those most impacted by an issue to advocate for solutions and tackle it head on.<br/>\n</p>\nI am running to represent Oregon so that young boy from all those years ago can finally be represented. In two years, as the first LGBTQ+ and person of color to serve in Congress from Oregon, I hope that my impact is measured by tangible improvements to Oregonian’s lives, especially when it comes to housing, public safety, immigration, and the expansion of our rights.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-207403-2024-04-21\" id=\"heading3-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-207403-2024-04-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhy should people vote for you instead of one of your opponents?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-207403-2024-04-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-207403-2024-04-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI have dedicated the last 25 years of my life organizing on key issues to make concrete improvements in working families’ lives. I’ve worked in Oregon, and across the country, on the Affordable care Act, comprehensive immigration reform, electing progressives to office, and supporting organizers in their local fights. The only way to cut through the chaos and dysfunction in Washington, DC is through engaging and organizing communities directly impacted by the policies we hope to change and building broad coalitions to move policy.<br/><br/>\r\nI know how to build broad coalitions, mobilize a community and have them present their concerns to policy makers, and my career has been staked on building broad coalitions to achieve tangible policy wins. In Congress, I will bring the voices of those most impacted by an issue to advocate for solutions and tackle it head on. It’s what I did to help pass the ACA and establish DACA. It’s how we were able to build affordable housing and tackle gun violence here in Gresham. And it’s how I will work every day to deliver for Oregonians.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nEddy Morales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morales' responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I first learned about organizing by watching my mom. Raised by a hardworking and community-minded immigrant woman in Oregon, I saw her share meals or offer basic necessities to neighbors in need. It was through moments like these I learned how her choices were strengthening the entire community. I started my organizing career as a student helping coordinate a boycott in support of farm workers earning unfair wages. After seeing the impact of solidarity, it quickly became my life’s work. For twenty years I worked on countless progressive causes — from restoring voting rights in Florida, to supporting immigrants under attack in Arizona, to joining Stacey Abrams to flip Georgia blue. I brought these lessons home, where I founded East County Rising and joined the board of Planned Parenthood. I was elected as City Councilor in Gresham and served as Council President for two consecutive terms, where I helped create multi-generational affordable housing, increased public safety solutions, and advocated for underrepresented constituents. Through this work, I’ve learned what it takes to bring people together to reach a common goal. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Affordable Housing: Growing up my family was housing insecure, and my mother would exchange childcare for a place for us to live. Most affordable housing being built does not meet families’ needs. In Gresham, I built multigenerational housing with 4 bedrooms so aunties, uncles, and grandparents can live with each other. We've also created workforce housing for people with disabilities, designed by people with disabilities, that is run on solar so their energy is cheaper and greener. We also launched affordable home ownership programs. Public Safety: I’ve lost two brothers to gun violence. That’s why I worked to create a first-of-its-kind Youth Violence Prevention Program partnering with community groups to address the root causes of crime in our communities. And on Gresham City Council, I worked to bring funding for police training and retention, while supporting strict accountability and transparency for officers to improve community relations. In Congress, I will fight for the resources we need to keep our communities safe. Defend and expand our rights: LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, immigrant rights, worker rights, voting rights, and countless others are under attack. In Congress, I’ll continue organizing and fighting to protect and expand our rights such as access to birth control, abortions, and reproductive healthcare, and to ensure families like mine are protected and everyone in America can live their lives with respect and dignity. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I have dedicated the last 25 years of my life organizing on key issues to make concrete improvements in working families’ lives. I’ve worked in Oregon, and across the country, on the Affordable care Act, comprehensive immigration reform, electing progressives to office, and supporting organizers in their local fights. The only way to cut through the chaos and dysfunction in Washington, DC is through engaging and organizing communities directly impacted by the policies we hope to change and building broad coalitions to move policy. What legacy would you like to leave? As a young boy, I never saw an elected official that looked like me or even dreamed of representing my community. Over the past 25 years, I have come to understand the importance of representation. As a second generation immigrant and a Queer Latino, I have taken space at the table, brought others to the table, and advocated for others. One of my proudest moments was when I was elected to represent my community in Gresham. I have lived everyday working hard to be deserving of my community and their support. I know how to mobilize a community and present their concerns to policy makers, and my career has been staked on building coalitions. In Congress, I will bring the voices of those most impacted by an issue to advocate for solutions and tackle it head on. I am running to represent Oregon so that young boy from all those years ago can finally be represented. In two years, as the first LGBTQ+ and person of color to serve in Congress from Oregon, I hope that my impact is measured by tangible improvements to Oregonian’s lives, especially when it comes to housing, public safety, immigration, and the expansion of our rights. Why should people vote for you instead of one of your opponents? I have dedicated the last 25 years of my life organizing on key issues to make concrete improvements in working families’ lives. I’ve worked in Oregon, and across the country, on the Affordable care Act, comprehensive immigration reform, electing progressives to office, and supporting organizers in their local fights. The only way to cut through the chaos and dysfunction in Washington, DC is through engaging and organizing communities directly impacted by the policies we hope to change and building broad coalitions to move policy. I know how to build broad coalitions, mobilize a community and have them present their concerns to policy makers, and my career has been staked on building broad coalitions to achieve tangible policy wins. In Congress, I will bring the voices of those most impacted by an issue to advocate for solutions and tackle it head on. It’s what I did to help pass the ACA and establish DACA. It’s how we were able to build affordable housing and tackle gun violence here in Gresham. And it’s how I will work every day to deliver for Oregonians.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]