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      Armchair Quarterbacks Should Stay on the Sidelines

      Armchair Quarterbacks Should Stay on the Sidelines

      When I ran for chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in 2020, I knew what the position entailed. I knew that once elected, I would face the task of getting a majority of my fellow commissioners to agree...

      Putting the Cart Before the Horse

      It’s no secret that I’ve been a vocal critic of Metro throughout the multiple decades of my life as an elected public official. Even prior to my stints as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives and Clackamas County...

      Too Little, Too Late

      Housing is, and has been, one of the top issues for the citizens of Clackamas County for years now. The simple fact of the matter is that the amount of available housing has not kept up with the demand created...

      Constructing a Courthouse While Containing Costs

      For many years now, it’s become increasingly obvious to Clackamas County residents and leadership that the current courthouse would someday need to be replaced. The courthouse was constructed in 1936, nearly 100 years ago. Clackamas County had fewer than 50,000...

      Holding ourselves accountable. An 18 month check-in.

      Long before I ever served in any public office, I believed in holding elected officials accountable for upholding the promises they made while campaigning for their positions. All these years later, I still feel the same way. This is especially...

      Managing Tax Dollars the Right Way

      I’ve long maintained that government agencies should manage taxpayer dollars the same way individuals and households manage their finances. As chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, I take this fiduciary duty very seriously. I have to live within...

      Upholding the Social Contract

      There are certain expectations that come from living in a free society. The most important is that, as long as you work hard, obey the law and don’t hurt anyone else, you’re generally free to go about your business peacefully....

      All Eyes on Clackamas

      Even though much of Clackamas County is rural in nature, it’s considered part of the Portland metropolitan area. The “tri-county area” consists of Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties. Those three jurisdictions are also part of Metro. Due to the close...

      The Myth of Induced Demand

      Did you know that, at one point, there were multiple other freeways planned for the Portland metropolitan area? It’s true. If the transportation systems envisioned in past decades had materialized, the freeway system would operate in more of a loop...

      The Freedom of Mobility

      The thought of having to have a vaccine passport to conduct commerce and engage in voluntary transactions with other free individuals is understandably offensive to myself and countless people throughout this country and the world. This is largely because many...