October 6, 2022

What Really Matters

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Labor Day marks a turning point in every election year. That’s when races really start heating up and campaign season kicks into high gear. The upcoming November 2022 general election will follow the same pattern as most every cycle. Candidates who have spent months fundraising and building a base of support are going to start bombarding voters with advertisements through …

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October 4, 2022

Ideas Over Ideology

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It’s easy to think of every political race in the context of national partisan elections. The same rhetoric used by Republicans and Democrats running for Congress often trickles down to local races, even though the offices being sought are drastically different. So much emphasis gets placed on divisive social issues that have raged in the public consciousness for decades. But …

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September 28, 2022

A Voice for the People

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Challenging a sitting incumbent is no easy task. But that’s exactly what I’m doing in this November general election as I campaign for Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5. On one hand, a current officeholder has several advantages. They get the automatic photo ops. Local media outlets are eager to use their press releases and request interviews. The power of the …

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September 21, 2022

Reading Between the Lines

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There are a lot of nuances involved when it comes to public policy. Candidates will often stick to the most generic, reliable, poll-tested catch phrases to seem as inoffensive as possible and appeal to the broadest cross section of voters. The same phrases, if applied properly, can also mean different things to different people. That’s why it’s important to read …

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September 14, 2022

Are These Policies Working?

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Often times, candidates running for office make their pitches to voters based on partisan inclinations and considerations. So how’s that working out for all of us? I think that campaigns should be based on issues, candidates’ visions and practical considerations. The most important of those is whether or not they support policies that are working as they were intended. It’s …

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September 7, 2022

Ideology Shouldn’t Come First

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As I make my way around Clackamas County to campaign for commissioner position 5, people often ask why I’m running. I tell them about my track record of advocating for underdogs at the local, state and federal level, including my current stint as a Wilsonville City Councilor. But when they ask me about who is currently in the position I’m …

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August 24, 2022

Deep Roots and the Pioneer Spirit

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I’m proud to say that I’m a sixth-generation Oregonian. Given the influx of people we’ve seen move here from other states, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find people with deep roots in the area. I grew up in the same home as my father in North Portland (we even had the same childhood bedroom). As a construction worker, he had …

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August 10, 2022

The Benefits of Best Practices

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It’s true that Clackamas County is like nowhere else on earth. We have unmatched natural beauty and scenery, and many unique attractions and features enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. That being said, there are ways to go about managing the county’s resources to provide services to residents that are both required and requested. Many jurisdictions rely on the best …

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April 27, 2022

You Can’t Have It Both Ways

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A controversy that came up in late March was yet another reminder of why I decided to run for Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5. It demonstrated, again, why the current incumbent is out of touch and supports values that are wrong for the county and its residents. An organization called Reimagine Oregon was formed a couple of years ago and …

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April 20, 2022

Happy to Have Their Support

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Now that the May primary election is just around the corner, candidates have put together their voter pamphlet statements. Those will be mailed to voters and give candidates the chance to discuss who they are and what they stand for. Aside from candidates’ professional and prior government experience, these statements typically include endorsements they’ve received from other elected officials, prominent …

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