Clackamas County
Then Vs. Now
The past few months have been among the most interesting in my entire life. I started it off by being sworn in as Clackamas County Commissioner, which was and is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever experienced. This came after our county and many others throughout Oregon suffered through massive fires and the resulting smoke. Then there were the…
Continue readingBest for You
There’s always much discussion about the deep divides we face in this country. This is especially the case every two years, when we mark our ballots for our chosen political candidates during election season. The public health emergency that started just over a year ago with the COVID-19 outbreak has truly served to highlight and clarify the fundamental contrasts in…
Continue readingWorking for All of Clackamas County’s Residents
I’ve been serving on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners for about three months now. So far, it’s been a very interesting and educational experience, as there is a lot that goes into managing the daily operations of one of Oregon’s most populated counties. Because the commissioners are elected officials, we conduct our business in meetings that are open to…
Continue readingThe Ways in Which I Will Serve
A lot is involved with being a Clackamas County commissioner. Aside from being part of the board that manages the daily operations of one of Oregon’s largest counties, the commissioners also work with several different outside entities on a wide variety of public policy areas. On February 21, I was assigned to several positions on various committees, councils and commissions…
Continue readingSearching for Housing Solutions
Residents of Clackamas County, the Portland metropolitan area and all throughout Oregon have felt the crunch in recent years of skyrocketing housing costs. Rising rents add to the cost of living for families and individuals, and also make it more difficult to save enough money to buy a house. Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream and…
Continue readingPlanning Ahead for the Future
Clackamas County is in an interesting position right now. Even though it has the smallest population of the three counties in the Portland metropolitan area, it’s still Oregon’s third most populous county. As of 2019, around 418,187 people called Clackamas County home. Washington County was at 601,592 and Multnomah had 812,855 residents. Many of issues that our residents are most…
Continue readingIn Defense of the American Way
Like many of you, I’ve closely watched the events of the past few months, both locally and nationally. Oregon’s largest city, Portland, has become the poster child for the differing visions of what our great nation should be. Knowing that the riots and lawlessness are happening not too far from Clackamas County has been a huge source of discomfort for…
Continue readingWhat We Don’t Want to Become
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 readingFor the Sake of Safety
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