REDMOND, OR -- Josefina Riggs is running for Redmond City Council because she wants to give immigrants and the LGBTQ community a voice in local government. She says her work with special needs students and as a caregiver is what prompted her to run for the Council, "I think, with my experience working in the different areas in the community, and how the people in different areas - make myself a voice for the people in the community." She tells KBND News, "If you can prioritize the things that people needed, you can do the best job. And I want to do that."

Riggs believes many remain under-represented, "I am [an] immigrant. The immigrants need to have a voice. Not only the immigrants, [but] the LGBT groups; different people that have different backgrounds. I want to support that people." She wants to make supporting those outside the mainstream a priority, "I [am] going to support Measure 105, because that is not okay; they are going to target the people, the way they look." 

She says, "I want to be part- not like regular people who work for the government. I want to [be] more friendly, and I want they can count with me."

Riggs is one of four candidates vying for three open positions on Redmond's City Council. Jon Bullock, Jay Patrick, and Krisanna Clark-Endicott are also running. The top three vote getters in November earn a seat on Council. The Central Oregon Association of Realtors will host a public candidate forum Thursday, for the four Council candidates and two running for Mayor. It starts at 1 p.m. at Geno's Italian Grill. Click HERE for details. For more information on the local candidates running for office in November, visit our Elections 2018 page.