Let's Keep Moving Forward

What skills and experience have prepared you for the role on the Newberg City Council?

• During my 20 years working at the Newberg paper mill, I had the honor of serving as a shop steward in the local AWPPW union. I was appointed by the Yamhill County Commission to serve on the advisory board for Yamhill County Parks. I believe I listen and respond well to colleagues, and I understand when people are trying to voice their concerns.

What do you consider to be the biggest issues facing Newberg residents currently, and how do you think those issues should be addressed?

• I believe that in Newberg it is the condition of our streets and infrastructure.

In your opinion, which facets of Newberg government are working well, and which could use improvement?

• Our staff is working great, as well as responsiveness to our residents. I think we can improve on our ability to reach out to, and include, residents’ perspective who simply don’t know or don’t think to ask us. 

The Newberg City Council has experienced a sea of change over the past two years. Do you believe that is for the better or worse? Why?

• The community is much safer (officially Oregon’s 6th safest community of all sizes from the recent FBI statistics). Last year the city won the CIS innovation award and that has never happened in the city’s history and the city has won several other regional and/or statewide awards in the last two years. 
• Some examples of getting things done:
•  -The complete overhaul of all the city’s software and internal processes. 
• -Launching the staff’s customer service standard.
• -Cutting unnecessary positions to make the city run more efficiently and in a leaner way. 
• -A complete re-build of the city’s System Development Charge System to make it the most competitive of any medium sized -Oregon community. 
• -Repealing the CET tax made it more expensive to build housing in Newberg. 
• We are proud of what has been accomplished with leadership and our City staff.

Even though council spots are nonpartisan, partisan politics have crept into the institution over the past several years. Do you think it’s possible to operate the city’s highest body in a non-partisan manner? Why or why not.

• I would be curious what partisan entities have crept in, because I do not see it. We work together well at the City. There has certainly been controversy in the past, but I wouldn’t call it a partisan thing.

Do you think Newberg’s budget is healthy? Would you set any budget priorities differently?

• I believe it is extremely healthy. Our budget is being run extremely efficiently. We have had no budget increases between last year’s operating budget and this year despite being fully staffed.  No other medium sized city in Oregon is fully staffed and as careful with our money as this hard-working council.