As voters in Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties are scheduled to decide on a payroll tax to pad Metro’s pockets, that agency is facing an elections complaint. The complaint was recently filed by Tootie Smith, the incoming chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners. In the May primary election, Smith defeated incumbent chair Jim Bernard, who has been found…
Continue reading
I can remember when Portland was considered a clean, safe, affordable city. Decades ago, it had the distinction of being one of the nicest big cities in the entire United States. Because of its natural scenic beauty, “livability” became one of Portland’s big draws. All along, the city was already known for being somewhat quirky. “Keep Portland Weird” became the…
Continue reading
An old cliché states that you can judge a man by the company he keeps. If that’s the case, it certainly does not bode well for current Clackamas County Commissioner Ken Humberston, who has gone out of his way to be associated with outgoing Commissioner Jim Bernard. Bernard was defeated in the May primary election due largely to some of…
Continue reading
Ideally, government agencies exist to serve the public and solve problems. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Some agencies seem to do more to create and perpetuate those problems for the sake of justifying their own existence. And when those same problems persist, bureaucrats at those agencies claim it’s because they need more money. Taxes are raised over…
Continue reading
A few weeks back, catastrophic wildfires began burning more than one million acres all over Oregon, leaving behind a huge wake of devastation. Those fires continue to rage, bringing with them evacuations, loss of life, destroyed homes and the unhealthiest air quality in the entire world. These kinds of fires have, unfortunately, become the norm in recent years. That is…
Continue reading
To me, true fiscal conservatism means spending taxpayer dollars the same way in which you manage your household budget. Think about it this way—most people get paid on a regular basis and have to prioritize bills. Rent, utilities, and insurance usually come first, along with debt service like car and student loans and credit card payments. But before you even…
Continue reading
It’s no secret that our nation is divided. This is typically the case in election years, and especially when we’re set to decide our next presidential administration. All the heated rhetoric and soundbites circulate through traditional media outlets and are now shared and spread on social media, often causing longtime friends and family members to lose touch because they disagree…
Continue reading
I’ve long maintained that freedom of mobility is a critical component of our quality of life. We are, and should be, free to travel and come and go as we see fit. I believe that one of government’s most important roles is to provide the infrastructure that makes this all possible and keep it up. We benefit from the use…
Continue reading
The concept of safety has been on my mind a lot lately, possibly because it seems in such short supply in nearby Portland. Throughout my military career, one of my primary responsibilities was ensuring the safety of the men under my charge. That was particularly challenging at times, especially when we were in the middle of an active combat zone…
Continue reading
After retiring from the military, I set about starting the next phase of my life as a civilian, and I settled into the home that I built north of Sandy. I was happy to enjoy the slower pace of life in my peaceful rural setting. After a while, I started looking around and noticing that things were not as good…
Continue reading