CAMPAIGN - Platform

     This post is intended to summarize how I would approach the office of Douglas County Commissioner, and how I would conduct myself as the public's elected representative. Detailed information about specific issues will be posted in the days to come, with a different focus on each day's post.

CAMPAIGN PLATFORM

     Creating a campaign platform for Douglas County Commissioner is more difficult than developing a platform for a national or state office. Congress and the state legislature deal with numerous social issues: abortion, health care management, immigration reform, etc. It's easy for a candidate to take a stand on an issue and make that their "platform."
      However, county commissioners rarely have an impact on social issues. One notable exception in Douglas County would be the natural resources industry and advocacy for the timber industry. (I'll discuss my position on this issue in a future blog entry). Douglas County Commissioners primarily deal with policy issues. They supervise county departments and act as mediators when a disagreement arises in the country structure. If a citizen doesn't like a decision made by the county planning commission or other advisory board, they can sometimes appeal the decision to the commissioners.
     During the twenty years that I worked as a journalist covering Douglas County events, I learned a lot about the Umpqua Valley's diversity and the opinions of its residents. I learned to become a good listener. I learned to never make a decision until I had the chance to talk with all sides of an issue. I have a good working rapport with Douglas County residents who are on opposing sides of the same issue. In other words, I don't walk into a meeting or gathering with a pre-conceived notion of what the solution is to a problem. An equitable solution isn't possible until everyone has had the chance to offer their input.
SMALL GOVERNMENT IS GOOD GOVERNMENT
     I believes it's best to cut taxes and reduce government excess wherever possible, instead of raising taxes and creating more entitlement programs.
COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY
     I intend to drive my own car to work instead of driving a county vehicle at taxpayer expense. If the average citizen has to fill their own tank with gas, then county commissioners should be held to the same standard. One more commissioner who pays for their own gas won't make or break the county budget. But it will set an example for other county employees, and hopefully inspire them to look for money-saving solutions as well.
COMMISSIONERS SHOULD PROTECT THE CONTINUITY OF NEEDED SERVICES
     I believe county employees and the public deserve security in how county services are provided. I don't believe it's appropriate to make sweeping radical changes to a county department just because it's possible. For one thing, elected officials (such as the sheriff or county clerk) are elected by the people directly and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners. But county offices that are supervised by the county commissioners deserve the same type of support in doing their jobs. Put simply, it's not any one commissioner's job to tell another county employee how to do their job. If changes are being considered in how a county department serves the public, then such decisions need to have public input and be decided by the entire board of commissioners.
COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
     I often have a copy of the Oregon Public Records and Meetings Manual within arms reach. I believe that all public records should be provided to the public in an prompt manner with a minimal amount of cost to the person requesting the information. County commissioners should monitor their advisory boards and committees, making sure that all advisory boards are providing meeting agendas with a list of items to be discussed, to the news media and the public at least 24-48 hours before the meeting is scheduled.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY PLATFORM!