Town Where You Live
Hermiston
Your Experience/Qualifications
Hermiston City Councilor
County
Umatilla
Term
2023
Term Expires
2026
I was born here in Hermiston. I love my city and I am compassionate , caring, and concerned for the well being of Hermiston. My heart is Hermiston. For several years I went to City Council meetings as a concerned citizen. I also went to safety meetings. My love for Hermiston is why I ran for City Council and won. I serve on the Faith Based Advisory Committee, Public Safety Committee, and Community Accountability Board. I was on the Budget/Urban Renewal Committee and Library Board. I am a member of Altrusa International of Hermiston OR. and Hermiston Cultural Awareness Coalition. I am dedicated to serving the citizens of Hermiston OR.
With Hermiston facing a budget shortfall, I would prioritize infrastructure. Keeping our buildings, roads, power supplies current and operational is necessary for the function of a city. Thinks that are not functional for a city to thrive, I would suggest that we wait until we are financially able to provide. For example, Hermiston Library is small and does not need $4.5m to build a stairwell in the middle of it. A indoor swimming pool that would cost $40m isn't necessary at this time. I would emphasize maintaining necessary infrastructure that must be maintained.
My position on the legalization of cannabis is to let the citizens of Hermiston decide if they desire the legalization of cannabis or they do not want it legalize in Hermiston.
Campaign Phone (public)
541-720-1174
Town Where You Live
Hermiston
Your Experience/Qualifications
Hermiston City Councilor (current)- Oregon Disabilities Commissioner, Executive Committee (current)- League of Oregon Cities Women’s Caucus, Board of Directors (current)
County
Umatilla
Term
4 years
Term Expires
12/2028
I’ve not only raised my sons to be strong young men in Hermiston, I’ve raised myself to be a strong advocate for the people of Hermiston. Working in every position from classroom educator, to county fair security, I’ve been a participant in the struggle that is making a life when life is uncertain. Between this hard won life experience, my work as an activist with and for the disabled community, my academic backgrounds in education and business, and my outreach efforts to make Eastern Oregon’s voice heard across the state, I am prepared to tackle the multifaceted role of mayor.
Waste management and the infrastructure that includes drinking water and road planning will be my top priorities. If the toilets can’t flush, if the trash doesn’t go anywhere, and if the streets are too crowded to use, everything else stops in its tracks. Disease prevention via the ability to keep a space clean, roads that allow safety personnel to travel, and water to beat the summer heat and keep our livestock alive, all depend on these key elements.
The city asked residents in 2 surveys if they wanted it to be legal for cannabis stores to operate in Hermiston. In both surveys of over 400 people, ~75% said they wanted it. However, these survey results were set aside in the face of official entities, including one from outside the city, stating that the city council should not listen to the residents, but should instead decide if they personally wanted a shop in town.
This is no longer about cannabis shops, but voter’s rights, and what the job of an elected official is. Our job is to listen to the voters, and Hermiston voters should be deciding this matter.
Town Where You Live
Hermiston
Your Experience/Qualifications
12 years as Councilor with 6 as Council President
County
Oregon
Term
3
Term Expires
12/31/2024
I have been a community member since the 70s. I graduated from Hermiston High School.I have been a continuous volunteer in our community since 1983, as a rescue diver, and also Reserve Deputy Sheriff. I also worked for 31 years for the Oregon Dept of Corrections, the last 21 years as a Sergeant and Lieutenant. I was elected into the City Council in 2012. During that time, I have served 6 years as the Council President, which is the backup to the Mayor. I have also served on various local, regional and statewide committees, such as the Public Safety Committee, Community Accountability Board, and Oregon State Bar's House of Delegates.
Currently the shortfall in the budget has been corrected, however this does not mean that closer scrutiny is not warranted. We were very short in the last budget cycle and it required hard decisions to be made. Public Safety as well as maintaining critical infrastructure will always be first. Next would be the continuous maintenance of our streets utilities. We also need to secure funding for help with mental health and addiction treatment.
Having seen first hand the consequences that ALL drugs have on our people, I personally am against the allowing of cannabis sales within the city. The citizens of our city have VOTED several times on this issue. And I do not wish to go against that. It was recently brought before the council. At that time I stated that I did not feel that, as the citizens had already voted it down, that we should ask again. I believe it sends the message that we approve and the majority of those who I have discussed the issue with are strongly against. Similarly, I would not support opening a second liquor store in our community. It's not necessary.
Campaign Phone (public)
541-371-5342
Town Where You Live
Hermiston
County
Umatilla
Term
4 years
Term Expires
2029
A candidate like me who has grown up in the community and has seen the struggles of life in Hermiston from young and old is someone capable of working to find an improvement to our everyday struggles. Connecting with people from all walks of life here in Hermiston to find a solution to our housing, homeless, and funding problems.
Funds in Hermiston to me should always be benefiting the people in some way with community development and simply cutting those funds does not show progress but a lack of it. If we want to balance the budget, then we need to look at what makes the most money and is land efficient. That answer is our Mainstreet the history and engine of our town. We have to begin using our funds to build upon the wealth that’s already there and plan this city in a way that creates community and a budget-stable city. We cannot continue spreading ourselves out so much and expecting that we can sustain so much new infrastructure for the long term.
I am always going to listen to the people who overwhelmingly desire something to be added to their city but will always work to find a support system for something as serious as cannabis. From what I’ve seen simply accepting the selling or blocking the selling of cannabis does not show progress. By simply introducing it we allow our citizens to be addicted and our children exposed to the reselling of cannabis to them but blocking the selling doesn’t negate this problem either as I’ve seen and smelt cannabis at the high school from students before. To truly make progress let us install systems that prevent the reselling to our youth and support those who get addicted so that they may have a second chance in Hermiston.
