Phone
503-381-7444
Email
ray4centralia@gmail.com
Town where you live
Centralia, WA
Experience (300 characters max)
First time running a for office. Project management, cabinetmaking, 36 years. Skills and safety instructor for a small, diverse manufacturing team. Semi-retired small business owner, currently doing part-time home renovation.
Prior to the election I plan to hold a couple Town Halls at the meeting room in the public library so that residents can get to know me and ask questions. After the election, I will do my best to gain consensus with residents on how they want to see their tax dollars spent, and understand other issues that may need attention. I will hold regular Town Halls, probably one every three months, more if needed, at the public library in order to understand how the residents of Centralia would like me to vote on issues important to them. Including things like additional infrastructure funding dollars that come to us from either state or federal coffers. I'd also want to understand what are the most important issues that residents want me or the larger council to work on.
When we stop polluting our environment, we start making things better for our earth and all that live here. The role of the city of Centralia should be to understand and support best practices for preventing and cleaning pollution. all the way from how we stop burning fossil fuels to minimizing packaging on all goods and groceries, and everything in between. The city should also develop some very basic educational materials to help in this work. This could be in the form of mailings every 6 months and including information on the city's website regarding pollution prevention.
This will be my first elected position. In my spare time, I attend The George Washington Park Peace Vigil on Saturdays. On Sundays I contribute to Cascadia Cares, feeding hungry families and their pets. I am a caretaker for stray cats. I am a philanthropist, and contributor to families in need, military Veterans, cash poor, minority, marginalized, and Indigenous people. I also offer free home repairs and assistance to Seniors.
I consider myself a helper. As such, I tend to rely on information and guidance from people who work closely with those experiencing homelessness. The first thing I'd like to see happen is an effort to decriminalize activities that are related to being homeless. Like sleeping in their car because they don’t have other shelter available. We should provide safe parking areas for people whose home is their vehicle. We should work to provide safe sleeping areas with Healthcare and social support nearby. Beyond this I would seek community partnerships with churches and others working to make things better for people experiencing homelessness. In my experience, the people that are already doing this work tend to have really good ideas and answers. I would listen to them and help enact their plans.
I envision a walkable, affordable, accessible city, where everyone can feel comfortable and welcomed and included. I like living in Centralia with wonderful neighbors all around. I've been here since 2021. We have lots of Green Space around the city but we lack local neighborhood parks. I would like to see more neighborhood parks where neighbors can gather. And maybe partner with Centralia College to open their sports fields to make them accessible to the public. As it is now they sit locked up and empty most of the time. The neighborhood kids play kickball in the street. I'd like to See them have access to a nearby park for this. I would pursue a Parks and Recreation Department, we don’t currently have one. I often talk to neighbors and parking near downtown and just west of downtown seems to be a common concern. I'd like to see how we can increase parking near the downtown area. I'd love to see our city with more local living wage jobs. I've seen some Increase in this over the last
Though events, council meetings, citizen groups, and neighborhood events and discussions.
I was on the Centralia Climate Advisory Team that discussed current and future climate problems and solutions that the city might face.
I am on the City of Centralia Historical Preservation Commitee.
I am on the Planning Commission.
I was awarded Centralia Volunteer of the year for 2024.
I have given thousands of dollars to people in need over the years. I have employed the homeless in the past with great results. Helping them overcome their drug and mental problems is the first steps. The final result, hopefully, is to help them become productive members of society again. I have seen this several times and I know it is possible. The city can help by providing conditional temporary housing to give them a starting point in getting their lives back together. Hope is a contagious thing.
I would like Centralia to maintain its small-town charm with responsible growth. I would encourage our small-town businesses to expand into new opportunities. I would like Centralia to become a "Destination City". Encouraging people from all over the state to visit or community to enjoy our local events and scenery, downtown, sport center, tractor parade, car shows and many more events that Centralia host during the year.
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