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…
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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…
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Oregon’s state motto was adopted in 1987. It’s “Alis Volat Propriis,” which is Latin for “She Flies With Her Own Wings.” In many respects, that motto reflects the state’s pioneer spirit. But taken further, it’s almost become an excuse for Oregon to do things that none of the other 49 states are willing to do. A prime example is the…
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Before I decided to run for Clackamas County Commissioner, all of my public service experience was as a member of the United States military. I was initially commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps, followed by service with the US Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the Bronze Star druring the Iraq War. As such, the world…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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On Friday, February 5, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down California’s stringent restrictions on indoor religious service gatherings. The 6-3 decision was in the case of South Bay United Pentecostal Church vs. Gavin Newsom. Justices Breyer, Kagan and Sotomayor were all in dissent. Up until the ruling, California had the most extreme restrictions on worship in the entire United States.…
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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…
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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…
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