One of my core philosophies is that the government should work on doing a handful of things and try to do them as well as possible. Where government agencies frequently run into problems is when they try to do too much and lose focus on those things they’re supposed to be doing in the first place. The State of Oregon …
Continue reading
Back in 2016, voters in Clackamas County took a chance and chosen then-Commissioner Jim Bernard to serve in the chair position. They also voted Ken Humberston onto the board of county commissioners that same election. Because Bernard had previously been a commissioner, that meant his seat would become vacant. A replacement would have to be appointed. The newly left-leaning board …
Continue reading
Even though Clackamas County is considered suburban, the truth is that the vast majority of it consists of small towns in rural areas. I think that’s an important perspective to keep in mind as I campaign for Position 5 on the board of county commissioners. I’ve been fortunate enough to serve my community as a member of the Wilsonville City …
Continue reading
Many people don’t know this, but Metro has been around in some form or fashion for about 65 years. It began as the Metropolitan Service District in 1957 and ran under that name until 1966, at which point it became the Columbia Region Association of Governments. A statewide ballot measure passed in 1978 that created its current incarnation. So what …
Continue reading
As a longtime Wilsonville resident, I’ve gotten to watch the traffic through town get gradually worse over the years. What began as your typical rush hour years ago now extends for several hours and often sitting bumper to bumper on I-5 on Saturdays and Sundays. These kinds of traffic issues are especially concerning to me in my role as a …
Continue reading
Housing is, and has been, a huge issue, especially in Clackamas County and the Portland metropolitan area. It’s easy to see why—constant increases in rent and housing prices have been straining household budgets for years now. However, when politicians talk about “affordable housing,” it’s taken on a different meaning. It’s become a euphemism for subsidized housing and other expensive government-run …
Continue reading
The COVID pandemic has been challenging for all Oregonians in the last two years and much has been learned and changed since it started. However, many of Governor Brown’s COVID mandates and administrative rules from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) disproportionately impact lower-income households, small businesses, children, communities of color, rural communities and our most vulnerable populations. These misguided policies …
Continue reading
Too often in politics these days, we see a lot of virtue signaling and empty symbolic gestures. And while they seem nice on the surface, the reality is that they often accomplish very little, or nothing at all. My approach is much different. I prefer tangible action that helps the vulnerable people who need it the most. And I’m proud …
Continue reading
As a longtime Wilsonville resident, I’ve noticed the traffic congestion on I-5 getting gradually worse over the years. Continued population growth in the Portland metropolitan area and Clackamas County has put a strain on our existing road infrastructure. Yet, despite the increased numbers of people living, working and commuting in the area, there has been literally no effort made to …
Continue reading
For as long as anyone can remember, part of the American Dream has always included owning a nice home with a small yard. However, that dream has become increasingly unobtainable for young families in Clackamas County, the Portland region and throughout Oregon. One of my top priorities as a county commissioner candidate is to create the conditions for more people …
Continue reading