Willy Chotzen

“The Trump administration continues to threaten and harm Oregon communities. In just one year of his presidency, Donald Trump withheld $4.6 billion of federal funds that legally belonged to Oregon–money that helps low-income families put food on their tables, keeps domestic violence shelters open, and funds life-saving emergency preparedness programs. He sent roving groups of masked ICE agents to terrorize our community and abduct our neighbors–leaving immigrant families afraid to go to work, seek medical care, and take their children to school.”

“Willy fought back. Leading the legislature’s federal response and immigrant justice package, Willy helped pass laws that require ICE agents to unmask; direct schools to alert families of ICE presence on campus; strengthen protections for patients and providers of gender-affirming healthcare; gave people the right to seek legal justice when law enforcement enters their property without a warrant; bars the use of immigration status in civil cases; and more.”

“Affordability THE CHALLENGEMany Oregonians are struggling with stagnant wages and increasing inflation as wealth and income inequality soars. Donald Trump’s policies help large corporations and individuals maximize their profits while workers and consumers pay the price. Medical debt and predatory lending worsen the conditions for those struggling the most.WILLY’S SUCCESSESWilly fought to combat wage theft and ensure businesses pay their fair share of taxes. He worked with legislators to make homes more available to Oregonians rather than Wall Street investors and protect Oregonians from out-of-state predatory lenders. This year, Oregon Democrats passed legislation to retain Oregon tax revenue that would have been lost with Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy.WILLY’S VISIONOur economy should be centered around people, not big corporations. Willy will fight for everyone’s right to earn a living wage, afford a home, access healthcare, and take time for their loved ones. Through supporting unions and fair labor standards, Willy will fight for a future of economic justice where opportunity is not limited by zip code or background.”

“Many Oregonians are struggling with stagnant wages and increasing inflation as wealth and income inequality soars. Donald Trump’s policies help large corporations and individuals maximize their profits while workers and consumers pay the price. Medical debt and predatory lending worsen the conditions for those struggling the most.”

“Willy fought to combat wage theft and ensure businesses pay their fair share of taxes. He worked with legislators to make homes more available to Oregonians rather than Wall Street investors and protect Oregonians from out-of-state predatory lenders. This year, Oregon Democrats passed legislation to retain Oregon tax revenue that would have been lost with Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy.”

“Our economy should be centered around people, not big corporations. Willy will fight for everyone’s right to earn a living wage, afford a home, access healthcare, and take time for their loved ones. Through supporting unions and fair labor standards, Willy will fight for a future of economic justice where opportunity is not limited by zip code or background.”

“Data Privacy THE CHALLENGEOur phones, smart watches, cars, and other technology keep track of where we go, every minute of every day, revealing the most sensitive and intimate things about us. This information–which can reveal that someone is seeking reproductive healthcare, receiving immigration legal services, attending a protest, or fleeing a dangerous relationship–is currently sold to the highest bidder as part of the multi-billion-dollar data broker industry.​WILLY’S SUCCESSESWilly passed the strongest location privacy law in the nation, preventing children’s data and precise location data (up to 1,750 ft.) from being sold to data brokers.WILLY’S VISIONOur information should be our property, not a product for others to profit off of without our consent. In an increasingly technological world, we deserve our privacy protected as a fundamental freedom in our lives. Willy plans to fight for our privacy and against surveillance pricing, ensuring greedy corporations cannot set exploitative prices using our data.”

“Our phones, smart watches, cars, and other technology keep track of where we go, every minute of every day, revealing the most sensitive and intimate things about us. This information–which can reveal that someone is seeking reproductive healthcare, receiving immigration legal services, attending a protest, or fleeing a dangerous relationship–is currently sold to the highest bidder as part of the multi-billion-dollar data broker industry.”

“Public education THE CHALLENGEOregon’s public education requires significant changes. Our students continually rank near last in our country for test scores and days in class; families struggle to access early childhood education; higher education costs continue to rise; and ICE presence on campuses has invoked fear in students and their communities.WILLY’S SUCCESSESWilly worked with his colleagues in the Oregon legislature to secure $11.4 billion in school funding, direct an investigation into chronic absenteeism in Oregon, secure investment in early literacy and summer learning programs, and create legislation to alert families of ICE presence on school campuses.WILLY’S VISIONEducation is one of the most powerful tools for a well-functioning democracy and thriving economy, and it remains the highest return on investments of government dollars. As a former teacher, Willy knows that Oregon’s future requires every Oregonian, regardless of income and zip code, to have the right to a high quality and free education. Willy plans to fight the state’s education crisis by consciously investing in our education and youth—prioritizing what works and creatively solving what doesn’t.”

“Oregon’s public education requires significant changes. Our students continually rank near last in our country for test scores and days in class; families struggle to access early childhood education; higher education costs continue to rise; and ICE presence on campuses has invoked fear in students and their communities.”

“Willy worked with his colleagues in the Oregon legislature to secure $11.4 billion in school funding, direct an investigation into chronic absenteeism in Oregon, secure investment in early literacy and summer learning programs, and create legislation to alert families of ICE presence on school campuses.”

“Education is one of the most powerful tools for a well-functioning democracy and thriving economy, and it remains the highest return on investments of government dollars. As a former teacher, Willy knows that Oregon’s future requires every Oregonian, regardless of income and zip code, to have the right to a high quality and free education. Willy plans to fight the state’s education crisis by consciously investing in our education and youth—prioritizing what works and creatively solving what doesn’t.”

“Criminal Justice Reform THE CHALLENGEThe approach we have historically taken for public safety does not work. Oregon prisons hold more than 12,000 incarcerated individuals, all of whom require our tax dollars to house and support–as many of these individuals are growing older, sicker, and in need of medical care. As working Oregonians struggle with affordability, now is not the time to spend even more taxpayer dollars on building more prisons for larger prison populations.WILLY’S SUCCESSESSince being elected to the state legislature, he has prioritized making our criminal legal system more just, fair, and efficient. He passed legislation to modernize the expungement process for juvenile convictions, ensuring that bureaucracy is not a barrier for young individuals who have bettered their lives. He fought to secure funding for restorative justice programs, make compensation for wrongful convictions easier to obtain, and create a process to allow review of past convictions that were based on discredited junk science.WILLY’S VISIONAs a public defender, Willy knows that incarcerating more individuals and building more prisons will not stop crime. Investing early into social welfare programs, affordability, and education will. Willy plans to continue investing in the existing restorative justice programs that work while preventing initial incarceration by fighting for a healthier, safer community from the start.”

“The approach we have historically taken for public safety does not work. Oregon prisons hold more than 12,000 incarcerated individuals, all of whom require our tax dollars to house and support–as many of these individuals are growing older, sicker, and in need of medical care. As working Oregonians struggle with affordability, now is not the time to spend even more taxpayer dollars on building more prisons for larger prison populations.”

“As a public defender, Willy knows that incarcerating more individuals and building more prisons will not stop crime. Investing early into social welfare programs, affordability, and education will. Willy plans to continue investing in the existing restorative justice programs that work while preventing initial incarceration by fighting for a healthier, safer community from the start.”