Fifth grader from Pleasant Hill will raise awareness about animal abuse in Oregon

Pleasant Hill, OR – Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced the winner of the 2022 Oregon Kid Governor® (ORKG): Emerie Martin of Pleasant Hill. Secretary Fagan traveled to Pleasant Hill Elementary for the announcement and to congratulate Emerie Martin in person. Every candidate for Oregon Kid Governor chooses an issue platform in order to run for this office. Emerie’s community issue is animal abuse in Oregon; her campaign video can be viewed here. Emerie was selected from numerous candidates across the state by Oregon fifth graders. A "breaking news" video about Emerie's selection is here.

The Kid Governor program was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015 to introduce Civics Education to fifth graders. In 2017, Oregon became the second state in the nation to implement the program. Oregon Kid Governor is open to all fifth graders in Oregon and those interested create a 1-to-3-minute video explaining:

• Why they should be Kid Governor
• Their leadership skills
• A community issue that is important to them
• Their three-point plan to address the specific community issue

Seventeen videos were submitted this year and were narrowed down to seven by a panel of independent judges, who individually watched and voted on the videos. Once the seven candidates were finalized, fifth graders from schools across the state voted, and selected Emerie as Oregon’s next Kid Governor. Emerie is Oregon’s fifth Kid Governor.

“More than 2,200 students registered to nominate and vote for a candidate in this year’s election,” said Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. “The Oregon Kid Governor program is an incredible civic education program teaching young Oregonians about how their government works. I support this program because it gives a real-life civics education to young kids. The free program provides toolkits, lesson plans, and exciting Oregon specific education tools celebrating Oregon democracy.”

Emerie’s one year term will begin in January 2022, with her inauguration at the Oregon State Capitol.

The other final candidates and their community issues included:

• Andy, Adams Elementary, Eugene: Homelessness Help
• Benjamin, Hawks View Elementary, Sherwood: Creating a Stronger Community
• Gwendolyn, Skyline K8, Portland: Climate Change
• Katy, Pacific Ridge Elementary, Seaside: Equal Opportunities
• Kinley, Territorial Elementary School, Junction City: Reducing Food Waste
• Vedant, Springville K-8, Portland: Physical and Mental Health in Kids Development

To learn more about the Kid Governor Program and to view all the candidates' videos go to: http://or.kidgovernor.org/.

You may also contact Nikki Fisher, Civic and Education Elections Director at 503-302-9618 or Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org