Let’s Preserve St. Helens’ Small-Town Values
St. Helens is defined by its small-town values of community spirit, local pride, and neighborliness…just to name a few. As an adopted resident, I know what it’s like to live in a place without these unique characteristics. What we have here is something that you don’t see every day.
Instead of embracing and championing what makes St. Helens special, our current leadership is steering this community towards a Portland-style fate. It’s time to take a stand, by recognizing the core values at the heart and soul of St. Helens and actively preserving them for future generations.
St. Helens is a place where people feel a genuine sense of belonging. Here, community spirit isn’t just an empty slogan; it’s a way of life. Whether it’s volunteering, running for local office, or simply being a good neighbor, we take pride in caring for each other.
When people visit St. Helens, they notice everyone looking out for each other instead of over their shoulders. This subtle yet profound difference is a major strength that contributes to St. Helens’ safety and quality of life.
This spirit of community contributes to St. Helens’ safety. Our police force is highly respected because we recognize their crucial role in our community and salute their sacrifices. We have a deep respect for the rule of law as it leads to a more secure, prosperous, and just place to live.
At the same time, St. Helens embodies the true essence of freedom. With its roots as a remote port city, the sovereign spirit lives on. We believe in more voices, not fewer. Here, diversity means everyone gets to speak, not just those with the “right” opinion. We value open dialogue and handle differences openly rather than letting them fester.
Life moves at a different pace in St. Helens. Here, we take time to appreciate the simple things whether it’s a sunset along the Columbia River, a stroll through town, or chatting with a neighbor. It’s a slower, more intentional lifestyle that prioritizes quality of life rather than speed.
That quality of life is strengthened by one of our greatest achievements: finding the perfect balance between affordability and livability. In most other places, you would have to spend a fortune to enjoy the same level of safety, community spirit, and excellent public services that St. Helens offers.
Our small-town values aren’t something to shy away from. We should be embracing them, doubling down on them, and actively pursuing them. By protecting our values, we can ensure that St. Helens remains the special place we know and love for generations to come.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen local leadership sacrifice our small-town values at the altar of progressive, Portland-focused policies. They’re ignoring what we want on the most fundamental issues, preferring to continue down a failed path that’s led Portland to ruin.
I’m running for mayor to build a brighter future for our community. A bright future isn’t about abandoning what we love about St. Helens. It’s about recognizing what we have, reinforcing our strengths, and preserving what makes this city a wonderful place to live.
St. Helens needs common-sense leadership that puts the will of people back in the driver’s seat. We need to unlock our economic potential with slow, smart growth. This financial autonomy gives us the ability to create distance between our community and Portland’s influence.
Our current leadership is willing to throw away everything that makes St. Helens our home, but together, we can stop that! Join me in reaffirming and preserving our small-town values by volunteering or donating to my campaign.