Diana Jackson is running for Hillsboro City Council Ward 1, Position A in the Nov. 3 general election. Three other candidates are also in the nonpartisan race: Cristian Salgado, Luis Garcia and Sarah Marugg.
Asked why she is seeking office, Jackson said in our candidate questionnaire: "I am a nine-year Hillsboro resident, union leader, Planning Commissioner, and single mom running to make sure the people who keep this city running can actually afford to live here."
Candidate information
Occupation: Jackson said in our questionnaire: "I work as a legal assistant at a public defense firm and I sit on the executive board of my union, Oregon AFSCME Local 3668."
Education: "Associates in Paralegal Studies from PCC," Jackson said in our questionnaire.
Family: "I am a single mom of two wonderful teenagers," she said.
Party affiliation: "I am a registered Democrat, and proud member of the Working Families Party," Jackson said in our questionnaire.
Government connections: Asked whether anyone in her family works in politics or government, Jackson said: "My brother works for the Portland Police Bureau."
Experience and public service
Asked about previous appointed offices, Jackson said in our questionnaire: "I serve on the Hillsboro Planning Commission since 2024."
She also works as a paralegal at a nonprofit public defense law firm handling indigent defense and serves as a bargaining committee member for Oregon AFSCME Local 3668, according to her campaign website. Jackson has volunteered as a food distribution coordinator at the Hillsboro United Mutual Aid Network, known as HUMAN.
On the issues
Affordable housing: Jackson said on her campaign platform page that she will fight for truly affordable housing in Hillsboro and ensure renters have a seat at the table. She described herself as a single mom and renter with firsthand knowledge of the financial squeeze as people are priced out of housing.
Land use and economic development: Jackson said she will fight to protect the Urban Growth Boundary and farmlands, support small businesses in the Downtown Hillsboro Urban Renewal Area and build a diversified economy not dependent on a single industry. She said she supports building up in the downtown corridor with multimodal transportation infrastructure.
Mental health and addiction treatment: Jackson said she supports building dual-diagnosis centers for addiction and mental health treatment together, plus wraparound services for housing and job training. She identified Oregon's Health & Education District as a suitable location, already zoned for such services and accessible via TriMet.
Immigration: Jackson said she will work to uphold and strengthen Hillsboro's sanctuary city status, which she said has been in place since 2017.
What sets her apart: Asked about critical differences between herself and other candidates, Jackson said in our questionnaire: "My experience on Planning Commission gives me an edge with land use knowledge and understanding how that process works. My experience working with the people who fall through the cracks of our system is something that none of the other candidates can speak to."
Accomplishments: Asked to cite evidence she can handle the job, Jackson said: "My time on the Planning Commission and my role on the executive board of my union shows that I can work with others to achieve consensus and move forward on complex policy goals and negotiations."
Endorsements
The following endorsements are listed on Jackson's campaign endorsements page:
- Farrah Chaichi, Oregon House of Representatives
- Susan McLain, Oregon House of Representatives
- Lesly Munoz, Oregon House of Representatives
- Nafisa Fai, Washington County Board of County Commissioners
- Olivia Alcaire, Hillsboro City Council
- Kipperlyn Sinclair, Hillsboro City Council
- Washington County Democrats
- Oregon Working Families Party
- Sunrise Movement PDX
- Friends of Smart Growth
- PCC Federation of Faculty & Academic Professionals
The race is on the Nov. 3 ballot. Hillsboro residents can read Jackson's full questionnaire responses and track the Ward 1 race at hillsborotoday.com.
