Looking out my study window past the wellhouse to the deer in my driveway

I want to secure your rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness for you – today, tomorrow, and far into the future – whether you’re urban, suburban, or rural. I’m running because I care about all Oregonians. The 911 limitations and the problems they’ve caused in Columbia County are terrible but not atypical for rural life.

I’m running because I know what it’s like to live in rural Oregon, with the many logistical challenges it presents with water, electricity, Internet, and roads. The last three miles of road to my home are gravel. I rely on a well, a septic tank, and a furnace that burns heating oil from a 250 gallon tank. On January 16, I paid $2.98/gallon. On April 1, I paid $5.88/gallon – almost twice the price. I bought 675 gallons in the last 12 months. I still have a land line because cell service isn’t reliable and stopped altogether last summer when the Verizon tower in Buxton failed. And I’d rather keep my 200′ tall Douglas-firs and western red-cedars that block Starlink from working.

Less than half of us in the district live in cities. Our cities are small enough that they have a rural feel. Regardless of where you live, life is quite different from Portland, with distinct needs and challenges to address in the legislature.  I’m here for that.