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      Just Say No to Measure 110

      Just Say No to Measure 110

      It’s well past time to admit the obvious: Measure 110, which decriminalized extremely dangerous drugs, has been a disaster. Presented to voters as the “Drug Addiction and Recovery Act,” this ill-conceived measure is actively destroying the quality of life for...

      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...

      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...

      Rights and Responsibilities

      Many of the most important public policy debates these days are the result of fundamental disagreements on what, exactly, rights are. Some people are quickly to declare everything they want to be a “right,” meaning that the rest of society...

      The Perils of Progressive Policies

      As of right now, so-called progressives have been in charge of Portland for decades, the Oregon Legislature for years, the U.S. Senate and Congress and the White House. So what, exactly, do we have to show for it? We are...

      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...

      Fleeing from a Free-for-All

      Over the past year, I’ve written about the decriminalization of two of the biggest problems facing the residents of the Portland metropolitan area and Oregon—drug use and homelessness. Now, some people are hoping to add prostitution to the list of...

      Enough is Enough

      Every election is about choices, and the upcoming May 19 primary voters will never see a bigger contrast in two candidates. Citizens decide every two or four years if they’re happy with their political leadership. If are, they stay the...

      My Closing Arguments

      The May 19 primary election is just around the corner. Voter pamphlet statements have gone out, and people have received their ballots. Many have even turned them in by now. Yard signs are up, and so are field signs. Campaign...

      Why the New Clackamas County Courthouse Would be a Horrific Waste of Tax-Dollars

      The current Clackamas County Board of Commissioners has announced its plans to build a new courthouse. There are many reasons I am opposed to this horrific waste of taxpayer dollars. For one, polling has shown that 78 percent of county...