Ricki Ruiz

Ricki Ruiz was born in Portland, Oregon. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social entrepreneurship from Warner Pacific University in 2016. Ruiz’s career experience includes working in the government sector.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ricki Ruiz is a proud lifetime resident of Gresham, Oregon and he is running to be the next State Representative in House District 50. He studied in the Reynolds School District from kindergarten through high school, and eventually became the first in his family to receive a high school diploma in 2012. Ricki was then awarded a full ride scholarship to attend Portland Community College and Warner Pacific University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Social Entrepreneurship in 2016.

Ricki's commitment to education and service helped get him elected to serve on the Reynolds School Board in 2017, and again in 2019. During his time on the Board, Ricki made it his mission to get to know the schools, teachers, students, and parents on a personal level, and has prioritized putting their voices first. He believes that by working together, we can address the challenges that our students are facing and help craft more success stories .

Ricki has an array of experiences, ranging from providing one-on-one and group support to students, planning and developing equitable policies, finding resources to implement and improve recreation amenities across Gresham, and advocating for family rights in things like immigration, safety, housing, healthcare and education. He looks forward to using his experience, together with the voices of House District 50 communities, to help guide meaningful work in the state legislature. To learn more about Ricki's campaign, please visit ricki4oregon.com

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?

Healthcare: We must invest in our healthcare system and introduce stronger laws and policies that protect our patients and our healthcare workers. Affordable & Stable Housing: Now more than ever, Oregonians are fearing evictions and foreclosures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We as a State need to make sure no one losses their home and invest in vouchers & programs that make sure to help those who need housing resources. Education: We have to make sure we keep the Student Success Act and find effective ways to welcome students back to the classrooms once the pandemic is controlled. We must also invest in distance learning materials equipping every student with the needed tools to attend school virtually just in case COVID-19 is not fully solved.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about education and making sure we find ways to fully fund the public education system. Within our schools, we need to invest in mental health supports, offer early higher education & trades opportunities, and make sure we are educating our students with up to date tools and materials. Fighting for sex & reproductive education is important for me and also making sure schools provide the healthcare resources that our students need.

The healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing and we as leaders need to address that matter. We can't want any longer to invest in proper policies that will protect our patients and healthcare workers. Mental health supports, setting a patient-nurse/doctor limit, and capping pharmaceuticals is what I have been fighting for and will continue to fight.

Our housing crisis is alarming. We have hundreds of residents and families who do not have a place to call home. Every person who needs and wants housing help deserves to receive it. Several of our houseless population are dealing with addictions that need to be addressed. I am committed to fight for addiction recovery services that are much needed in East Multnomah County and the state of Oregon.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to both of my parents. Ricardo Sr. immigrated to the United States at the age of 14 to change the future of our family. He worked in the fields for over 25 years without proper pay and healthcare coverages. He always has been a hard worker who dedicates his life to the agriculture world. Now that he is retired, he continues to fight for farmer rights and has shown me that our farm worker industry is in high need of support.

My mother, Juana has been a fighter since day one. She immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 17 following my father's steps and also worked in the fields for 15 years. She then dedicated her time to volunteer in schools helping run the nutrition and homework help services. She is currently fighting cancer and has shown me that nothing can stop her from living life. She motivates me to become better and always reminds me to stay humble to our family roots.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Books:

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Educated by Tara Westover

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Being approachable, honest, and having different lines of communication is important for an elected official. Every constiuent deserves to know what is going on in the state legislation. I am committed to offering multilingual communications to our district 50 constituents.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am determined, responsible, approachable, respectful, and funny.

I have always remained myself and lead in a way that is welcoming and inclusive to all. I am an advocate at heart, I speak, read, and write in English and Spanish, and will always stand with our diverse, and most vulnarable communities.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Core responsibilities must include showing up to work, maintaining an approchable mind set, making sure teamwork is being honored, and remaining true to values that reflect the constituents one represents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I simply want the next generations to see that a brown, first generation Oregonian can be elected to office to represent and fight for the values of our marganilized communities. I hope to broaden the way and inspire others similar to me to run for office in the future.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I clearly remember the unfortunate event of 9-11. I was 7 years old when this happened. I clearly remember that my family and I were on our way to Party City to get birthday materials for a friend. Before we even left the house, we heard on the radio about the breaking news. We made a u-turn, turned on the tv and saw what was happening. I remember how scared and fearful we were. At 7 years old, I had witness an event that changed my life forever. That was the also the first time that I felt that we as a nation were in this together.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was as a long-term intern with Multnomah County as an Assessment & Taxation Technician. I proudly held that internship for 2 years, from 2013 - 2015. I sold strips of land to adjacent owners, did tax assessments, farm deferrals, and residental appraisals.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The New Jim Crow, a very great read that talks about our criminal justice system and racism exists in many aspects of the governmental world. It's a must read in my opinion.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Goku. I grew up watching Dragon Ball and the show helped me learn English.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lovely Day by Bill Withers

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I struggle with not seeing enough representation in our elected offices and in our workforce. It is time we elevate eachother and make sure we change that habit for the best.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The two legislative chambers are: Oregon State Senate and Oregon House of Representatives.

One of the main differences between the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives is the amount of people that they each represent. Oregon Senate has 30 members and they serve a 4 year term.

While the House of Representatives has 60 members and they serve a two year term.

Both chambers work alongside the Governor to create laws and establish a state budget. They also have the authority and responsibility to pass bills on public policy matters, setting the levels of state spending, raising and lowering taxes and voting to uphold or override governor's vetoes.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe its important for state legislators to have previous life experiences around the most sound issues in the state of Oregon. Whether or not there is previous government or politics experience, it is important that new legislators go in with the expectations of learning, serving, and relying on the public knowledge.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The state of Oregon continue to grow, which means that one the biggest challenges will be to provide services to a growing state. The 2020 census is important and we must have as much participation as we can. With COVID-19, there will be a lot to recover from. The 2021 and future legislative sessions will be extremely important in making sure we are allocating the needed resources to the systems that need it the most. A recession is supposed to begin, we as a state need to be ready to handle a recession and make sure our Oregonians are protected.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature needs to be professional and upholding accountability. It is important that we maintain constant communication, accoutability, and a space of growth to make sure our state is working in a effective and positive way.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I truly believe that building relationships with other legislators is very important. One thing is maintaining a legislative relationship and making sure we are all respecting eachother. Another thing is building personal relationships that don't need to be ruined due to political decisions and views. Everyone's views deserve to be heard in a respectful and meaningful way.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education - As a school board member for the Reynolds School District, I have learned how important it is too carefully invest in our education system. We have a lot of work to do in the State in order to fully recover from all the cuts that has been implemented to education for the past couple of decades. I have developed a passion to education and want to bring innovative ideas on how to find a longterm investment to get us in the top 10 ranking when it comes to education.

Healthcare - There are many opportunities in which healthcare can be improved. I am not an expert when it comes to our healthcare systems but know that many of our working families and residents need better healthcare coverages that are reliable, effective, and affordable.

Human Services and Housing: Our State needs to continue to push for renters rights and help develop longterm solutions on how to keep our families and residents safe in their home without having to worry that an eviction can come next. There are many local efforts that are being tried that seem to be working. The voucher system allows residents to obtain monthly vouchers depending on their income and life situation. The vouchers allow residents to stay at their home without having to move away. Continuing affordable and stable housing is needed.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I am not a current legislator but I am very much looking forward to becoming one for House District 50

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Yes! Any role of leadership that is presented to me, I will gladly take.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I have several.

State Representatives: Chris Gorsek, Teresa Alonso Leon, Diego Hernandez, Janelle Bynum, Carla Piluso, & Anna Williams

State Senators: Shemia Fagan, Lew Frederick, & Rob Wagner

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Maybe. We will take it one step at a time. Right now, I am focused on becoming the next State Representative for my home District 50.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Currently, I am hearing a lot of worry from our immigrant and refugee residents regarding COVID-19 and ICE raids. There is no question that we are living in a very difficult time. I am committed to protecting our immigrant and refugee residents in making sure we protect them all. There are many organizations like El Programa Hispano, Causa Oregon, PCUN Oregon, and East County Rising who are doing amazing work in making sure everyone knows their rights and how to best prepare if the pandemic lasts months. I am proud to be living in a district that is full of amazing leaders who care about their neighbors and are not afraid to take risks.