Candidate Forum April 24

Doors at 6:30, Forum at 7:00
Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River

Our state and county face some tough problems but we also have great opportunities. Find out how candidates for the Oregon legislature and county commission plan to tackle them. Come enjoy a glass of wine with your neighbors, meet the candidates and ask questions about the issues that matter most to you. Hood River Valley Residents Committee is happy to sponsor this event along with our partners Hood River League of Women Voters and Livable Hood River.

 

 

Candidate statements are printed as submitted and not corrected for punctuation, grammar, syntax errors or inaccurate information. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order according to the position for which they are running. Candidate photos were submitted in various formats and every attempt was made to post these here in an equitable manner.
 
Candidates for Chair of Hood River County Board of  Commissioners:
Rich McBride  
 
I want to bring a new style of governing to our county. Communication is a key to bringing our community together. Our community is made up of a diverse mix of cultures and interests. I believe we  all need to work together to move forward.
I have taken the road less travelled in my lifetime. It has given me a broad set of experiences which I use to inform my decision making process. I love a new challenge and that is what motivated me to leave the Port Commission and run for the County Commission.
I have learned to use my critical thinking skills to solve problems and my social skills to work with wildly different personalities.
I have lived in other communities and witnessed the changes that can occur, some good and some not so good.
Beyond the budget shortfall the county has a history of litigation over land use decisions. Public input insures the county applies the rules of the state correctly in land use decisions. A cause that I fully support. Oregon has strong land use laws and our forest and farm land protections set us apart from the rest of the country.
It is time for our county government to change its culture and I believe I can encourage that from the chair position.

 

Mike Oates

My name is Mike Oates. If elected Chairman of the County Commission, I hope to focus on three areas:

Livability; we need to maintain our infrastructure, to insure a safe, vibrant, and healthy
community. Roads, schools, health services, a Sheriff’s department, and emergency response teams are
vital for a healthy community.

Affordability; Our work force needs to be able to live in the community they work in.

Sustainability; We need an adequate funding method that will lead our county into the next
generation.

As a life-long resident of Hood River, I have always felt like Hood River is a part of who I am.
Consequently, I have always tried to be a part of Hood River by giving back to the community. My
experience includes: the Hood River County Planning Commission, the Hood River County School District
Budget Committee, the Hood River County School Board, the Hood River County School District Financial
Advisory Committee, the initial board for the Hood River County Library District, and the Hood River
County Education Foundation.

Thank you for your consideration.

Candidate for County Commissioner District 1

Karen Joplin

Commissioner Karen Joplin has lived in the Hood River Valley since 1975.  She holds a Masters degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Portland State University.  Karen is a 2012 graduate of the Luke Center for Catalytic Leadership, Pacific Program and a 2015 graduate of the Cambridge Associates County Leadership Institute.

Karen and her husband, Todd Clay, have two children and have owned and operated Gorge Electric, Inc. since 1999 and more recently Gorge Audio Video, Inc.  She has numerous years of experience in social service working with children and families and serving on the governing boards of service agencies.

Karen is a founding member of the Columbia Gorge Health Council, the regional CCO governance body and has remained Board Chair since inception.  She is also a founding member of the 4 Rivers Early Learning Hub for Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Wheeler and Gilliam County and is Board Chair of the regional CMHP, Mid-Columbia Center for Living. Karen holds two Governor appointed and Senate confirmed positions: Oregon Health Policy Board and the Oregon Public Safety Task Force.

Karen has a passion for developing effective public policy and ensuring the wise use of public resources. In her role as a convener, she has led projects with Oregon Solutions as well as a four county sequential intercept mapping initiative with the National Institute of Corrections. She strongly supports the use of  evidence based programming for justice-involved individuals and other vulnerable populations. Karen is committed to the success and vitality of Hood River County and the State of Oregon and welcomes the opportunity to play a key role in the stewardship of their future.

Candidates for Oregon House of Representatives District 52

Jeff Helfrich (Republican) 

I’m honored to be your State Representative and want to continue working together for a better community, District and State. 

 I’ve been active as a public servant-leader for over 30yrs. I’m an Air Force-Operation Desert Storm veteran, retired public safety officer/sergeant with over 25yrs experience, and former Cascade Locks City Councilor and Planning Commissioner. I was also active on the Cascade Locks Port/City Joint Work Group on Economic Development, CL Budget Committee, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Board of Directors, and 2015 Oregon State Parks Columbia River Gorge Management Unit Plan advisory committee. 

As your legislator, I serve on Economic Development/Trade and Joint Ways/Means Public Safety committees. I sponsored 25 bills that passed related to the Four E’s of education, economic development, environmental stewardship, and emergency preparedness, as well as health/drug cost transparency and public safety. HB4044, identifies effective programs for recruiting/retaining/mentoring educators; and HB4152, the Eagle Creek Fire Recovery bill training/equipment for Hood River and Multnomah County public safety agencies funding. I’m dedicated to working with you to address challenges/achieve success TOGETHER. 

I’m a devoted father, husband, veteran, community member and State Representative. Let’s continue working together to get things done!

Anna Williams (Democrat)

Anna Williams is a social worker, teacher, mother, and community builder. She has worked closely with underserved communities through Local ID, Meals on Wheels, Veterans Service Office, and Volunteers in Action. Her work with the Columbia Gorge Health Council showed her that people across Oregon are struggling to find affordable housing costs and suitable transportation.  Anna has worked across systems to craft long-term solutions to common struggles in rural and suburban communities. Her priorities in the legislature are stabilizing school funding, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and passing sensible gun reform to help keep students and communities safe. Anna’s social work values and public health lens bring a valuable new perspective to Oregon’s House of Representatives.

Anna says, “I’ve worked directly with local students and their families, with seniors and veterans, and with small businesses across Oregon to build sustainability into local economies. I understand the needs and priorities of our region and the common sense solutions that can make a real difference. I am knowledgeable about issues and passionate about people. I’m running because the legislature needs people who know their neighbors and will stand up for rural values like taking care of our neighbors and protecting our environment.”

Candidates for Oregon Senate District 26

Chrissy Reitz (Democrat)

As a neonatal intensive care nurse, I was present at hundreds of births, always humbled by the infinite potential of a newborn baby. However, as a school board member and mother of two, I am acutely aware of the numerous factors that impact a child’s ability to succeed. These factors – education, stable families, healthcare, food, shelter, environment – all have an impact on our kids’ ability to thrive. This desire to see all children reach their potential is the driving force behind my candidacy for Senate District 26.

Through my work as Vice-Chair of the Hood River County School Board and community involvement, I have helped craft policies aimed at giving all kids the chance to fulfill their ambitions. When elected, there are three pivotal areas I will focus on: securing stable funding for schools so we can improve graduation rates and access to Career-Technical Education; building strong families by prioritizing access to healthcare, living-wage jobs, and affordable housing; and protecting our district’s natural beauty by balancing a healthy environment with sustainable agriculture.

As a long-time resident of the Hood River Valley, I am invested in strengthening our community and motivated to work hard for our kids and working families.

Chuck Thomsen (Republican)

Sen. Chuck Thomsen has served in the Oregon Legislature for nearly eight years. He had been a Hood River County Commissioner for 16 years, and served on the Hood River Planning Commission for four prior to that.

He has stayed true to his values, by remaining the same person in office that he was when first campaigning – resisting special interests and becoming known for calm, reasoned decision-making.

Sen. Thomsen’s priorities are to ensure that schools, public safety and other core functions are funded first. He has also kept his promise to balance the budget without raising taxes. He encourages responsible economic growth, with a focus to help foster a stable business climate where real family-wage jobs are created.

Chuck lives in Pine Grove with his wife, Kristi. He is a pear grower, and is now the last full-time farmer in the entire Legislature.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Full Ways and Means; Oregon’s main budgetary committee

Business and Transportation; influencing economic and transportation policy

Interim Emergency Board; convening for time-sensitive matters and emergencies

Education; advocating the improvement of Oregon’s quality of education

Ways and Means Education Subcommittee; specializing in the K-12 and Higher Ed budgets