Oregon Kid Governor Emerie Martin To be Sworn In Tuesday

PORTLAND, OR — Meet Oregon's next governor. At least meet Oregon's next Kid Governor.

Emerie Martin, a 5th-grader from Pleasant Hill, outside of Eugene, will be sworn-in in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday morning.

You can watch a live stream of the event here beginning at 11 a.m.

The Kid Governor program was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015 as a way of teaching kids about civics. Oregon became the second state to adopt the program two years later.

It operates in conjunction with the Secretary of State's office.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan says that the program "is an incredible civic education program teaching young Oregonians about how their government works. I support this program because it gives a real-life civics education to young kids."

Any Oregonian 5th grader was eligible to run. All they had to do was make a video between one and three minutes long talking about their leadership skills, why they should be Kid Governor, pick an issue that's important to them, and explain three steps that they will take to address the issue.

Martin ran on the issue of preventing animal abuse in the state.

Her three-point plan:

• The Lend a P.A.W. Initiative: Participate by volunteering in animal shelters Acknowledge animals need love, care, and attention Welcome them into your loving home;
• Organize fundraisers and supply drives; and
• Stop people who have been convicted of animal abuse from adopting another animal.

You can watch her video here.

Martin ran oShe beat out six other candidates in a statewide election in which only 5th graders were allowed to vote. The Secretary of State's office says that more than 2,000 5th graders registered to vote in the election.

The other six candidates will serve as her "cabinet."

Martin will serve a 1-year term.