COOS BAY — Jaynee Germond doesn’t like labels. Two in particular. Republican and Democrat. In her opinion, the two-party system has trampled on Americans’ rights and put the Constitution at risk.

“Those kinds of politicians have two main concerns: ‘Is this going to get me elected again?’ and, ‘What’s good for the party?’” she said.

Germond says the problem can only be resolved at the federal level, which is why she is running for a seat in Congress.

A 51-year-old mother of five, Germond is carrying the banner of the Constitution Party this fall, though she describes herself as a disaffected Republican. She wants to stop illegal immigration, start drilling for offshore oil and prevent government agencies from wiretapping Americans’ phones.



She supports states’ rights, arguing the federal government has seized too much authority on issues such as abortion and heath care.

She also supports term limits, one of her gripes with U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, the man she wants to unseat.

“He has done some good for our state, but he is a career politician,” she said. “It’s time to bring a fresh perspective.”

A Michigan native, Germond worked in a hospital for 23 years before spending three years as a middle school teacher. She moved to Roseburg four years ago and started Jalapeno Jayne, a small business that specializes in candied jalapenos. She has no elected experience, but she’s not sorry.

“I have had and do have a ‘real life,’ allowing me to be a true representative of the people,” she said.

Since announcing her candidacy, Germond has relinquished ownership of the store to one of her grown daughters and is campaigning full time.

Her tour of the district brought her to the South Coast this week, as she is attending the Coos County Fair.

She said most of her supporters in the Coos County area are Libertarians, in keeping with her goal of looking past party politics. She said she also has staff from both major parties in her offices in Linn County, and Constitutionalists in her Josephine office.

“We need to forget the labels and do what is best for America,” she said. “We need to work on being Americans.”