I’m running for City Council in the City of Yachats in the November 2018 election.
Serving on the planning commission and budget committee shaped my perspective on local government.
Policy made on the local level influences people’s lives on a daily basis. That’s especially true in a small town.
Planning commission and budget committee helped me see that up close.
Originally I thought I’d wait until a future election.
But watching things play out on the national level recently, it really hit home how much — good or bad — can get done in a short period of time.
The decision to run now came after talking with a significant number of friends and other citizens here in Yachats.
I want to make sure the day-to-day policy outcomes do good for people and businesses in Yachats. I believe I’m ready to help make that happen now.
City Council needs to think long-term in a strategic way.
More than any one issue, the way we think through long-term policy matters most.
When we create a new policy, its effects usually go beyond the one area we intended it to affect.
Planning commission in particular taught me that. Whether we’re looking at neighborhood density or water shortages, we have to consider how each decision impacts different areas down the road.
And of course with the budget, we have a finite amount of money to work with. Putting money in one area necessarily means that it doesn’t go somewhere else.
We can’t assume that all negative side effects are easily avoidable or reversible. Therefore it’s crucial for policy makers to listen to citizens and advisors, do research, and make decisions thoughtfully and transparently.
What I bring to the table
The work I do in local government and in my professional life leads me to think strategically about the future all the time.
On planning commission, we recently completed the first update of the city’s comprehensive plan this decade. We also significantly rewrote the sign ordinance for the first time in 25 years. Policy needs to be able to withstand the test of time because revisions and updates aren’t simple matters.
As a website designer and strategic planning analyst, I build websites to support a business’s needs and goals for multiple years. Researching and anticipating market trends is crucial to my responsibilities.
Even my basketball scouting and consulting work comes in handy here. When I evaluate and try to project young prospects, I must consider not only who the player is now, but where I think he’ll be years down the road.
Planning commission and budget committee allowed me to become intimately familiar with the details of issues that matter, such as the sign ordinance and neighborhood density.
These roles put me in position to learn the municipal code and budget.
I learned how to communicate with fellow commission/committee members in meetings. In August’s planning commission regular meeting, we got through four public hearings in about an hour and a half. To do that, you need to be on the same page with your fellow commissioners.
I believe that my experience and perspective makes me a good fit for city council.
You can read more about my background, upcoming events, and my statement that will appear in the county voters’ pamphlet.
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