Michelle Ashon-Imoroa did her homework this year to compete in Keizer’s “If I Were Mayor” contest.

The extra effort paid off as she was named winner of the city’s contest for middle school students.

The city received no poster entries in competition for elementary school students or digital media submissions from high school students.

Ashon-Imoroa, an eighth grader at Whiteaker Middle School, was a finalist last year and studied the winning essay for pointers.

“I learned I didn’t put any evidence or statistics” in to back up her statements last year, she said.

Her essay cured that this year.

She cited a state report estimating Oregon needs 100,000 more homes while she proposed helping the homeless.

“As mayor, I would make it a top priority to create safe places for those in need. These buildings would offer shelter, food, and a chance for people to get back on their feet,” she wrote.

She said two years ago she went with her father on his birthday to serve meals at a Keizer shelter for women and families.

She wants Keizer to do better at sorting garbage from materials that can be recycled. She said the state reports that about 30% of what’s put in recycling bins is trash.

“That’s called ‘wishful recycling.’ It happens when people put stuff in the recycling bin hoping it can be recycled even if it can’t,” she wrote.

She also wants to add garbage cans to public locations, especially along River Road.

“I’ve noticed a lot of trash along River Road” but no garbage cans for pedestrians to use, Ashon-Imoroa said in an interview. 

She also proposed “Mini City,” a program to pair up students with professionals in fields they might want to pursue.

“They would meet with whoever – a teacher, a doctor, a mayor – and get a feel of what they want to be when they grow up,” she said.

She wants to be a pediatrician.

At Whiteaker, Ashon-Imoroa is in National Junior Honor Society, sings in choir, and plays flute and piano for band.

She read her essay to the city council and audience on Monday, March 16.

“I was a little bit nervous,” she said. “I hoped I don’t mess up. It was a great honor.”

She now advances to state competition sponsored by the Oregon Mayors Association.

Her essay:

By Michelle Ashon-Imoroa

Being a mayor is super important because they help identify problems in our community and encourage people to do what’s right. They run meetings, talk about city issues, and handle everything with honesty.

If I were the mayor, I would do everything I could to make my awesome city, Keizer, a better place for everyone. I’d focus on giving kids opportunities to learn skills for their future jobs and work on keeping Keizer clean. 

One big issue we have in Keizer is homelessness, and I know a lot of people need help. According to Oregon Housing and Community Services, Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, and between 2015 and 2019, our state grew a lot but didn’t build enough new homes to keep up. We need around 100,000 more housing units across the state to help out. As mayor, I would make it a top priority to create safe places for those in need. These buildings would offer shelter, food, and a chance for people to get back on their feet. 

We can make this happen by using our city budget wisely, showing that we care about our community. Together, we can make a big difference in many lives!

I also want to talk about recycling in our town. Did you know, according to the Department of Environmental Quality, in Marion County, about 10 to 30% of trash gets thrown in recycling bins? That’s called “wishful recycling.” It happens when people put stuff in the recycling bin hoping it can be recycled, even if it can’t. This can mess up the recycling process, and a lot of those items end up in landfills instead. We really need to pay attention to what can and can’t be recycled to help create a cleaner environment. As mayor, I would provide trash cans every other corner so that people won’t have to walk a long way to trash their disposals.

I have an exciting idea for our kids that could really change our future. You know how

everyone says, “We the people”? Well, I’ve noticed that kids, especially under 21, are usually left out of that. If I were the mayor, I would create a program called “Mini City.” This would give kids the chance to learn about different jobs from a young age. They would even get to vote for a kid mayor, who would meet with the real mayor every week to learn what it’s like to be in that position. This way, kids can start learning early about what they want to do when they grow up!

And let’s not forget about having fun! It’s important to connect with our neighbors because knowing the people around us makes our city better. When I walk around my neighborhood, I see some friendly faces and some people who like to keep to themselves.

If I were the mayor, I would organize a monthly get-together at one of our parks. This

event would be open to everyone and would be a great chance to have fun and connect! We could set up games, and everyone could bring some snacks to share. Kids could run around and play, while adults could talk and get to know each other. By coming together like this, we can really build a strong community and have a good time. Let’s make an effort to connect with one another!

Even though there have been recent cuts in government funding, I’m still hopeful about

improving our public spaces. These times are tough, but I believe in the power of community. If the government isn’t able to help, we can come together and fill that gap. I would lead a donation campaign to support our important projects. Together, we can make a difference and create a brighter future for everyone.

If I were mayor, I would do my best to make these changes happen. They might seem

big, but they’re really important. With my ideas, we can build a better community, clean up our environment, and make our city a great place for everyone. Who wouldn’t want something like that? It’s pretty awesome!

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