I’ve always thought it’s important for candidates who are running for office to be familiar with whatever that position entails. That way, they have a better sense of what they’re getting into. But more importantly, it means that they’re also aware of the limitations of what they can and cannot do after they’ve been elected. Many people try to get …
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Out of all the basic functions of local government, public safety is easily among the most important. This has been made abundantly clear over the past couple of years. Political activists demanded that law enforcement agencies be stripped of the critical funding they need to get the job done. Candidates have run for district attorney’s offices nationwide under the banner …
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As far as I’m concerned, tolling is the single biggest issue in the race for Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5. The entire race boils down to this simple question: Do you want to pay to drive on I-5 and/or I-205? If the answer is no, then I am asking for your support so I can work to help stop this …
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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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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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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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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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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 …
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