Local Voices, Local Policies, Local Control
It’s tough to remember a time when our leadership didn’t despise and actively work against the will of St. Helens’ residents. This is a common feeling I hear from my family members, neighbors, and colleagues. And, I completely agree: our leadership has never been further away from what this community wants and needs. A brighter future requires local voices, local policies, and local control.
The central crux of a healthy democracy is keeping the decision-making power with the people. This is a crucial area of focus for local elections as these elected officials are making decisions that impact us the most. When local leaders make decisions that go against our values we have to live with the consequences every day. That is why it’s crucial to elect leaders who understand the history of St. Helens, recognize what makes it special, and are committed to making us, the residents, the loudest voice in city decisions.
The best decisions for St. Helens are made by those who live and work here. Every day, we pour our hearts into making this community better, safer, and more viable. Sure, we have problems and challenges, but nobody has better solutions than us. By setting our own priorities and coming up with our own answers, we’ll build a St. Helens that reflects our values, meets our needs, and stands as a beacon for other communities looking to reclaim local control.
St. Helens is blessed with some of the friendliest, brightest, and most capable people in the entire state. We represent a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and political persuasions. That diversity gives us more raw materials to work with when building a brighter future for everyone. We need to embrace the 1st Amendment to increase participation, give everyone a voice, and let the best ideas come to light.
We’re living with the disastrous consequences of outsourcing our control to Portland-facing elites. We don’t need career politicians telling us what issues to focus on, where to spend our money, or how our city should look. Decisions and policies that shape our future should only come from the people who actually call this place home, not from bureaucrats who are out of touch with what this community needs.
St. Helens needs to protect its identity and what makes it special. We’re a community built on small-town values like livability and affordability, neighborly support and friendliness, a slow pace of life, safety, and respect for law and order. But, the policies coming out of our current administration don’t just overlook these values – they undermine them. Every decision should work to preserve what makes St. Helens a great place to live, not push us toward Portland.
I’m not running for mayor as a stepping stone to a political career. I’m running because I love this community, and I don’t like the direction we’re headed. I want to put the people of St. Helens back in charge. If you’re eager for real change – local voices, local policies, and local control – I encourage you to support my campaign by donating or volunteering. Together, we can ensure St. Helens has the bright future it deserves.