I am writing this letter in support of Lili Gomez for Hermiston School Board Position 3.

I have known Lili for over 20 years, both as a classmate and a respected friend. Lili and I both attended Rocky Heights Elementary, Armand Larive Middle School and Hermiston High School together. Lili is a strong, experienced and compassionate leader.

Lili understands the challenges that students who grow up Hermiston face, because she was a student who grew up in Hermiston. Lili understands the complexities and challenges that first-generation college students from Hermiston face, because she herself was a first-generation college student from Hermiston. Lili’s unique lived experiences allow her to relate to the growing challenges that so many young people in Hermiston are impacted by.

There is no question in my mind that Lili Gomez is the most prepared, most experienced and most willing to do the work for all of our students. A vote for Lili Gomez is a vote for representation, a vote for our students’ future and a vote for a Hermistonian. Please join me in supporting Lili Gomez for the Hermiston School Board.

Mitch Thompson

Hermiston

The East Oregonian does not run endorsements of more than 400 words.

The East Oregonian will institute a deadline for letters to the editor, so we can be fair with all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if necessary.

We run local letters of endorsement on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit your endorsement letters to the editor by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7. You can email them to editor@eastoregonian.com, or mail them to East Oregonian, c/o Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801.

We will publish our last letters on Saturday, May 15. Any letters received after the deadline will not run. Election Day is May 18.