Selected Issues:
One of the most frequent comments I hear from voters is, "We love Oregon, but we’re disgusted with Oregon state government."
And with good reason. Oregon is awesome. However, we face some serious problems, all of which have their roots in bad policy, poor governance and failed execution. Today's challenges did not mysteriously fall from the sky. They have been years in the making. The fact is, they came from bad decisions on the part of elected officials and appointed bureaucrats. Judge Oregon Government by Its Results.
I’m running for State Representative to help design and support solutions to:
And with good reason. Oregon is awesome. However, we face some serious problems, all of which have their roots in bad policy, poor governance and failed execution. Today's challenges did not mysteriously fall from the sky. They have been years in the making. The fact is, they came from bad decisions on the part of elected officials and appointed bureaucrats. Judge Oregon Government by Its Results.
I’m running for State Representative to help design and support solutions to:
Curb Inflation, Reduce Taxes and Lower the Cost of Living
While much of our economic problems have been caused by poor Federal policy, Oregon state government is directly responsible for many of the challenges we face. We need to immediately revise our state tax policies and our state spending – both in terms of amount and priorities.
While much of our economic problems have been caused by poor Federal policy, Oregon state government is directly responsible for many of the challenges we face. We need to immediately revise our state tax policies and our state spending – both in terms of amount and priorities.
Address Homelessness, Mental Health and Addiction
Many of our problems here are directly attributable to state government failure. But there are compassionate, commonsense approaches that can make a big difference. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Many of our problems here are directly attributable to state government failure. But there are compassionate, commonsense approaches that can make a big difference. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Support Public Safety – Law and Order
The first duty of government is to preserve law and order and to assure that the community is safe from criminals. Yet, in Oregon, our elected officials have defunded and obstructed the police, released hardened criminals, failed to prosecute serious offenders, allowed homeless camps to proliferate and turned a blind eye to child abuse and trafficking. Our state government is failing us at the most fundamental level. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
The first duty of government is to preserve law and order and to assure that the community is safe from criminals. Yet, in Oregon, our elected officials have defunded and obstructed the police, released hardened criminals, failed to prosecute serious offenders, allowed homeless camps to proliferate and turned a blind eye to child abuse and trafficking. Our state government is failing us at the most fundamental level. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Protect Small Business and Jobs
Oregon is not friendly to small business. As a business leader I’ve observed and experienced the heavy burden borne by small businesses, and the challenges posed by restrictions, lockdowns, excessive regulations and taxes. Only business makes money. Everything else is funded by the value produced by business. We need to protect and support small businesses, the jobs they create and the economic vibrancy they can bring to Oregon. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Oregon is not friendly to small business. As a business leader I’ve observed and experienced the heavy burden borne by small businesses, and the challenges posed by restrictions, lockdowns, excessive regulations and taxes. Only business makes money. Everything else is funded by the value produced by business. We need to protect and support small businesses, the jobs they create and the economic vibrancy they can bring to Oregon. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Stop Government Overreach
The Governor's exercise of powers claimed under emergency declaration in 2020-22, and the subsequent abdication of responsibility by the Democrat dominated Oregon Legislature, has been directly responsible for incalculable damage to the education system, our children and grandchildren, to countless small businesses and those they employed, to our economy, to families, marriages, friendships and community...plus the extreme levels of mental illness, addiction, alcoholism, suicide and homelessness sadly present in our communities. The impact of the executive orders has also been elitist and exceptionally discriminatory. It has cut especially hard against single moms, hard working two career couples and the economically disadvantaged. We must close the loophole that allowed this to happen, re-establish local decision-making and put an end to government overreach.
The Governor's exercise of powers claimed under emergency declaration in 2020-22, and the subsequent abdication of responsibility by the Democrat dominated Oregon Legislature, has been directly responsible for incalculable damage to the education system, our children and grandchildren, to countless small businesses and those they employed, to our economy, to families, marriages, friendships and community...plus the extreme levels of mental illness, addiction, alcoholism, suicide and homelessness sadly present in our communities. The impact of the executive orders has also been elitist and exceptionally discriminatory. It has cut especially hard against single moms, hard working two career couples and the economically disadvantaged. We must close the loophole that allowed this to happen, re-establish local decision-making and put an end to government overreach.
Improve the Educational System
I have the highest regard for teachers. My grandparents and parents were teachers. I am a teacher. However, our public school system is not working. Even the auditors hired by the Oregon Secretary of State recently reported that the Oregon education system is badly broken. We must fix this. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
I have the highest regard for teachers. My grandparents and parents were teachers. I am a teacher. However, our public school system is not working. Even the auditors hired by the Oregon Secretary of State recently reported that the Oregon education system is badly broken. We must fix this. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
Steward our Natural Resources
I’m an outdoorsman. I spend most of my free time on a mountain, in a river, or sleeping under a tree somewhere. Our air, water, land, forests must be protected. But we must do so in a commonsense way, without needlessly disrupting and devastating the overall quality of life for Oregon families. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
I’m an outdoorsman. I spend most of my free time on a mountain, in a river, or sleeping under a tree somewhere. Our air, water, land, forests must be protected. But we must do so in a commonsense way, without needlessly disrupting and devastating the overall quality of life for Oregon families. Click the link above for my suggestions - Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español.
One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things over and over while hoping for different outcomes. Elitist Democrat party leadership has dominated Oregon politics for decades, and the challenges above are the result. Our "leaders" have failed us. It's time for big changes in Salem. I want to help.
These are not the only issues. They're just some of the main ones I hear the most about from people in HD 53. If you have a valuable perspective on these issues or others that you'd like to share, I welcome your input. Please reach out to me on the Contact Page.
Any political candidate who says they have all the answers on these issues is blowing smoke. Here's what I do know. Growing up as a farm kid and the son of a cabinetmaker, I learned quickly how to discern what matters from what doesn't matter, to separate nonsense from common sense, to set priorities, to figure out what needs to be done, to not accept excuses and to get on with it. "Figure it out and get it done" has been my approach as an Army officer, entrepreneur, husband, father, grandfather and community leader. It will be my approach as your State Representative.
These are not the only issues. They're just some of the main ones I hear the most about from people in HD 53. If you have a valuable perspective on these issues or others that you'd like to share, I welcome your input. Please reach out to me on the Contact Page.
Any political candidate who says they have all the answers on these issues is blowing smoke. Here's what I do know. Growing up as a farm kid and the son of a cabinetmaker, I learned quickly how to discern what matters from what doesn't matter, to separate nonsense from common sense, to set priorities, to figure out what needs to be done, to not accept excuses and to get on with it. "Figure it out and get it done" has been my approach as an Army officer, entrepreneur, husband, father, grandfather and community leader. It will be my approach as your State Representative.
The Job
Here's how I see the 4-part job of a State Representative:
Listen and Learn. Steven Covey, in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, wrote, "Seek first to understand." The way my Grandad put it was, "Don't go off half-cocked." The issues we face in our region are complex. Everything is interconnected. You can't push on one thing without affecting another. Very few issues are absolutely cut and dried, one way or another. Therefore, I see the initial role of a Representative as to seek to understand the various challenges and concerns of those I represent, to sort out the interrelationships, to assess the likely consequences of any action and to act with care.
My cabinetmaker father taught me to: "Measure twice, cut once." |
Protect and Defend. As an Army officer, I swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So did all your elected officials. Many have conveniently forgotten or are blatantly ignoring that oath - at both the Federal and State level. So the first things that need defending are the US and Oregon State Constitutions, and your rights as a citizen, as set forth in the Bill of Rights and the Amendments to the Constitution. Those are being trampled on by our current president and governor. That has to change. The second thing that needs protecting and defending is Central Oregon. We have a special way of life, a funda- mental code of conduct, a basic sense of morality and a spirit of community that is unfortunately not shared by our larger neighbors over the hill. We need to protect it - and we need to share it with the rest of the state."
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