Address the traffic gridlock.
If you mention Wilsonville to just about anyone in the Portland-Metro area, they will bring up traffic. This has been a known, growing issue in town for years, yet little has been done to address it.
The City has blamed traffic congestion on I-5, which voters have largely accepted. The City, however, is not blameless as the rapid population growth without adequate infrastructure improvements has exacerbated the problem - leaving us under-engineered and over-developed. Until we make the traffic problem an absolute priority in the decision-making process, we will continue to get the same outcomes.
protect our quality of life.
Unmitigated growth coupled with a lack of attention to existing issues (like traffic) all but ensures a decreased quality of life and livability for families in Wilsonville.
The City of Wilsonville has experienced incredible growth - far outpacing the Portland-Metro area and the state’s growth. While expanding rapidly, Wilsonville has far surpassed the average amount of multi-family housing in the Portland-Metro area.
The Town Center Plan is more of the same - but worse. It promises to create a population density greater than Portland in the heart of Wilsonville. Those plans will pack and stack people into five-story apartment buildings with virtually no parking in the core of our city. This project would irreversibly and fundamentally change our town.
Take a stand against Tolling.
Given the current economic climate, tolling our citizens just so they can go to and from work would be devastating for so many families in our community.
Tolling is not dead. Our city must take a strong stance against any attempt to toll the freeways that have already been built with our tax dollars. Tolling is a regressive and inequitable tax that unfairly burdens working-class families. The vast majority of our residents travel elsewhere to work and local businesses rely on out-of-town employees.
Our neighbor, the City of West Linn, put opposing tolling at the top of their council's priority list. Meanwhile, the word "tolling" did not appear in our council's 2023-2025 work plan or their published goals. If any city should be working overtime to put tolling away for good, it should be Wilsonville. We must do more to protect our citizens' interests in regional and state matters.
I oppose tolling unconditionally.
Support local small business growth.
Wilsonville has earned a reputation over the years that the city is not a business-friendly environment. We need to change the culture in our local government to earn the trust of companies and entrepreneurs again.
We see too many empty businesses in town and the City must work hard and develop sound strategies that signal business owners that they can thrive in Wilsonville. We should welcome businesses that provide liveable wages and benefits to our citizens. Rather than hand out incentives to developers that would exacerbate our current issues, we should be incentivizing businesses that would help our city flourish to set up shop here.
The Aurora Airport.
I have family living in Charbonneau and understand the concerns of local residents regarding the runway extension at Aurora Airport. As changes to the airport are considered, it's crucial that Wilsonville has a strong voice in shaping regional decisions to protect our quality of life.
While it's clear that the runway extension is moving forward, we still have opportunities to influence the outcome. We should focus on securing the best possible terms for Wilsonville, especially for Charbonneau residents.
By advocating for flight paths that minimize the impact on our community south of the river, we can mitigate potential impacts. Engaging constructively in these negotiations is our best chance to achieve a positive outcome and ensure that our interests are well-represented rather than risking an unfavorable result through absolute opposition.
Guarantee Needed resources for first responders.
After undergoing extensive population growth over the past decade, we must seriously take inventory of our resources and ensure the city is providing adequate personnel to support the mission of our first responders.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and the Wilsonville Police Department - contracted through the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department - do great work for the citizens of our city. As a former police officer, I want to ensure they have the resources needed to do the important work they do for our town.
