03/01/2024

Stop Tolling!

The weight that the taxpayer is now bearing on his/her shoulders is now becoming unbearable and therefore unsustainable. The bureaucracy of government, at all levels, is extracting more and more vitality out of the people and the economy. It is called the Deep State at the federal level; unelected government employees who see the county as being made up of…

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02/01/2024

Budget

I will continue to make motions to eliminate anything out of the county budget that’s paid for by hard-working taxpayers. We have to get back to a lean government, we have to get back to a cost-effective government, and you might agree that in the next few years we are going to be looking at a ever increasing paying taxes.…

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28/07/2021

Then Vs. Now

Male hand showing, offering a new dream house at the empty field with copy space-cm

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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27/10/2020

In Defense of the American Way

In defense of the American Dream-cm

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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21/10/2020

Using Tax Dollars to Campaign for Tax Dollars

Media interview-cm

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…

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07/10/2020

Birds of a Feather

Supporters waving American flags at political campaign rally-cm

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…

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30/09/2020

Just Say No to Metro

planning savings money of coins to buy a home, concept for property ladder, mortgage and real estate investment. for saving or investment for a house, growing business-cm

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…

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09/09/2020

What Clackamas County Government Should be Doing

Historical Arch bridge over Willamette River in Oregon City, Oregon-cm

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…

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02/09/2020

Getting What We Paid For

Paying Highway Toll-cm

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…

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19/08/2020

Clackamas County is on the Wrong Track

Heavy Traffic On The Interstate Highway-cm

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…

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