Tillamook County Transportation District Director Position 1 Choose 1
Special districts in Oregon are formed to provide specific local government needs. They are created by a vote of the people in the local area being served. Examples include people’s utility districts, library districts, water districts, fire protection districts, and more. They are governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for management and financial accountability. Special districts are empowered to levy any necessary taxes and fees to fulfill their mandate. Board members are not paid but may receive a per diem reimbursement.Transportation district boards are responsible for funding and developing transit systems that address the transportation needs of the residents in their service area.Qualifications: If the district has a supporting ordinance, employees of the district are not eligible. ORS 267.112Term: 4 years
Biographical Information
What skills and experience, including prior board experience, would you bring to this position?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you see as the current gaps in transportation service in the District?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What should the District be doing to ensure compliance with public records and public input laws?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Contact Phone
5038017866
Campaign Phone (public)
5038017866
YouTube Video (leave blank if not applicable)
http://https://youtu.be/VLi22mVC5TA
Town Where You Live
Bay City
Your Experience/Qualifications
Public Employee since 2012; elected City Councilor 2016, elected Mayor 2020 & 2022.
County
Tillamook
Term
4-year
Term Expires
2029
What skills and experience, including prior board experience, would you bring to this position?
I have worked with the public my entire career. I was President of the Tillamook Farmers Market, as well as elected City Councilor in 2016, Mayor in 2020 and 2022. I have been staffing public meetings since 2012, and as City Manager since 2023. I have extensive experience in not only public meetings, but also Oregon Budget Law.
What do you see as the current gaps in transportation service in the District?
The District was forced with tough choices at the beginning of 2024, when the local dialysis center closed. The District was suffering from driver shortages experiences across the country, and was challenged with the task of driving patients to locations outside their normal service area three times a week.
The District chose to prioritize lifesaving medical transport (dialysis) for these patients who had no other reliable means of transportation, and this came at the cost of less vital services. This led to route reductions.
Thanks to ongoing efforts to hire and train new drivers, the District is posed to resume many services this summer, returning to levels customers had come to expect.
What should the District be doing to ensure compliance with public records and public input laws?
The Board hears public comments at each board meeting, as required by Oregon law.
The District publishes its meeting agendas, as well as complete board packets, online in advance of the meetings. The packets include minutes, financial reports, contracts, resolutions, as well as any presentations made.
The meetings are open to the public, both in person and via Zoom.
In my opinion the District is in compliance.
Several years ago the Board chose not to allow recordings of the meetings. Though not required by law, I would support a recording of the meetings, to ensure that minutes accurately reflect what's said, and to increase transparency.