19 May 2023

It’s official: There will be no tolling on I-5 or I-205 for at least the next couple of years.

Governor Kotek has directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to put a stop to those plans until 2026. At one point, it was considered inevitable. We were told it was a foregone conclusion. But those of us who were against...

21 December 2022

Investing in Our Communities

As the chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, one of my most important jobs is to ensure that we spend public resources in ways that best benefit our residents. Not only does that include county property tax revenues,...

7 December 2022

The Short End of the Stick

For over 40 years, Clackamas County has lacked the ability to control its own destiny. That’s how long the county and its residents have been subjected to the additional layer of government, bureaucracy, taxation and regulations that have accompanied our...

23 November 2022

Is Oregon in Denial?

I love Oregon. My family has called this state home for multiple generations. In fact, I still live not too far from the farm where I grew up with my parents and two siblings. I’m a proud graduate of local...

2 November 2022

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...

21 September 2022

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...

24 August 2022

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...

23 March 2022

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...

5 January 2022

Are We Being Ruled or Governed?

One of the main debates of our time is one that is nothing new. Society has always seemed to be split between people subscribing to two competing political philosophies—some want to be governed and some want others to rule over...

3 November 2021

Standing Up for Our Essential Workers

As chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, I take much responsibility for what happens with the county, its residents and its employees. The governor’s most recent COVID related mandates drew my attention because of their potential impacts on...