County Commissioners set policy and adopt budgets for their counties. They supervise County departments either directly or, when there is a County Administrator, indirectly. Counties provide a wide range of important public services, from managing elections to maintaining roads. To qualify, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, a resident of the district for at least a year prior to the General Election, and 18 years of age or older.Term: 4 years. This position is nonpartisan.A video of the League of Women Voters forum for this race may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9pBpPjwWN8. Participating were Chris Castleman and Drew Farmer; Bob Main declined to attend.Here is an article about all three candidates from the Coos Bay World: https://theworldlink.com/news/local/main-faces-two-challengers-for-position-1-in-county-commissioner-race/article_40abcd84-01c5-11ef-9f5a-7366cad4f61b.html.
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Contact Phone
541-217-1171
Campaign Phone (public)
541-217-1171
Town Where You Live
Coos Bay, OR
Your Experience/Qualifications
Occupation History: Consultant, Farmer’s Field Executive Director, Oregon Coast Community Action Executive Director, Bay Area Enterprises Educational Background: Bachelor’s of Science, Sociology Present Government Experience: Coos Bay City Council (2016-Present) Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency (2016-Present) Homelessness Response Office Mental Health Advisory Committee Board of Trustees, City-County Insurance Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee Civil Commitment Workgroup
County
Coos County
The housing crisis, the mental health crisis, and the drug epidemic.
Housing - We must continue to push for opportunities to develop new land and to reduce restrictions to housing development. I achieved a change to EO 23-02 to bring new development opportunities to rural Oregon and will build on that success.
Mental Health - Our public health entity must feel empowered and be supported by the board of commissioners to innovate. I will collaborate with our public health entity with the targeted goal of increasing our supported housing stock.
Drugs - We need more sober living opportunities and a stronger response to suppliers. I will see the county partner with local recovery programs and pursue additional funding for SCINT.
I have demonstrated my ability to make change in government by achieving an exemption to include EO 23-02 for all of rural Oregon, by driving the 2023 conversation around a lawsuit against the state over the mismanagement of the state hospital, and my commitment to my community through my seven years as a Coos Bay City Councilor. I have demonstrated my ability in business through my expansion of Bay Area Enterprises from just Coos County to run from Brookings to Lincoln City and my leadership of Oregon Coast Community Action, a 200+ person employer.
Tough decisions are my bread and butter, and now perhaps more than ever, Coos County is facing tough decisions. I've served my community since I was in the Navy, I will continue to serve.
The county must press for legislative change to Oregon's development, zoning, and urban growth boundary restrictions. My experience in the field of housing development and production strategies will be critical here, to include having served on 2019's HB 2001 and 2003 rulemaking committees.
For county land, we need a comprehensive review of housing development criteria on county land outside of cities. Policies have changed rapidly over the past five years and we could be missing opportunities for greater density.
For cities, the county must support and assist cities in efforts to expand their urban growth boundaries. Based on my experience in city government, I have better awareness of our limitations than the other candidates.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
