GOALS

Give Metro District #1 a Stronger Voice and Presence in Metro

It is often stated that the west side of the Metro region, west of the Willamette River, has been more effective influencing region-wide discussions, and has had more economic prosperity than the east side of the Willamette River, particularly east Multnomah County.  Part of the reason for this, I believe, is due to the fact that the cities in Washington and Clackamas counties are working together to discuss and deliberate Metro issues before coming to the table at the Metro Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) and the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT).  Multnomah County does not have a county-wide coordinating committee where the County Commissioners, Mayor’s and elected leaders discuss Metro issues.  The cities in Multnomah County have not worked together to the same degree as the cities in Washington and Clackamas counties

I have spent many hours with the leaders of the cities in Metro District #1, along with the leaders of Multnomah County, developing relationships with each of them. One of the roles I will play as the District #1 Metro Councilor is to encourage and help facilitate discussions between the District’s elected leaders. A divided District #1 has less influence in the region; a united district will become a force to be reckoned with.

There are major transportation decisions to be made, and funding challenges to be met, that transcend the cities in Metro District 1. These are critical to the future economic development of the sub-region.  To be economically prosperous the cities must develop some common goals.  I am the candidate who can create an environment that will help District #1 come together to do this.

The work has already begun. I congratulate the Multnomah County Commissioners, Mayors and elected leaders who are working toward the development of a Multnomah County Coordinating Committee, which could become the forum to discuss region-wide issues, develop common goals and become one voice at Metro.  As a Gresham City Councilor I have been strongly advocating for this. The development of a coordinating committee will take the east part of the Metro region one step closer to being more economically viable.

This article was also published as a Guest Opinion in the Gresham Outlook, November 28, 2009.  CLICK HERE.