Financial Stewardship – for Today and Tomorrow

My promise: taxpayers’ money will always be treated with respect, and additional revenue (new taxes) will always be the last resort, NEVER the first step.

As Vice-Chair of City of Canby’s Budget Committee, I’ve seen first-hand how Canby responsibly stewards our tax dollars. I commit to supporting responsible stewardship with responsible policy.

Our city staff budget conservatively, with policies to ensure smart and responsible reserves. I will advocate to continue those policies. I will also advocate for the completion and delivery of projects budgeted for in reserves to ensure Canby delivers investments to better the city – particularly, our parks, library, and streets.

I will be a tireless proponent of emphasizing efficiency in service delivery and a CUSTOMER-FIRST philosophy at the City, with stewardship being the guiding philosophy in how your hard-earned tax dollars are used.

Local Control – Oregon Cities Know Best!

Local control needs to be a focus point in reimagining how Oregon government works.

Cities know best how to manage issues like land use and homelessness in a way that works for their communities, their priorities and their values. I will be a relentless advocate for maintaining and expanding local control.

Returning to a focus on local control that solves problems at the level where they are managed best – locally – will be a step in the right direction for Canby and for Oregon, and something I will champion.

While the state struggles to deliver an effective housing strategy, we have opportunities at the city level to leverage local decision-making and community priorities to deliver results and – just maybe – be an Oregon leader in smart, community-oriented development.

Responsible Residential and Commercial Growth

I want Canby to be top-of-mind and the first choice for residential and commercial developers – bringing much-needed living spaces and economic opportunity to Canby. One way we do that is by fostering a CUSTOMER-FIRST attitude in City business.

By emphasizing smart land use decisions, honoring the character of the community, reasonable development fees, and a cohesive vision, my goal is for Canby to be a city that grows responsibly, and sustains its future along the way by making sure that “growth pays for growth”.

Canby can be a community of growth, while maintaining the small-town values that make it a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

PERS Reform

Even though this isn’t a “Canby City Council” issue at first glance, this issue affects every city, county, school district and level of government and needs to be in the spotlight. Through investment mismanagement and misdirection, PERS is one of the single-largest financial liabilities faced by city governments like Canby’s.  I will advocate with our state partners to make this issue front and center – for the sake of Canby’s future.

Effective Partnerships

I believe we should have strong working partnerships with our county, state, and federal partners.

A focus for me will be building and maintaining these partnerships to find efficiency where we can and results where we need them – all around the guiding philosophy of stewardship for your hard-earned tax dollars.

Community-Focused Leadership

Canby stands in contrast to the rest of the State of Oregon – we’re growing, financially-sound, and embody what the rest of Oregon should aspire to. We’re very much a part of the Portland metro area, but let’s keep Portland’s problems in Portland!

My commitment: I want to work for the citizens of Canby to keep it that way.