John — I’m not wasting a single moment to start moving Oregon forward.

One of the things I heard from people around the state during the campaign is that the challenges facing Portland affect the whole state.

Earlier this week, I had a constructive first meeting with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, where we discussed several urgent issues.

We discussed the City's efforts to address homelessness and street camping, the Portland Police Bureau's staffing challenges and action plans to improve response times, and how we can partner with major employers to revitalize downtown.

I also requested to meet with him every two weeks going forward to ensure we continue to share information and take on the biggest issues facing the state's largest city.

And it’s not just about Portland. I made a promise to be a Governor for all of Oregon, and I know that we can tackle the biggest issues through partnerships with local leaders across the state.

This is just the beginning of working together to build a stronger Oregon. As Governor, I will be committed to working directly with community members and leaders to implement plans that will solve issues that face Oregonians daily.

Like my meeting with Mayor Wheeler, I am excited to dig in and get the job done.

Thank you, and I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

— Tina