A County Commissioner is like a CEO for a county administration; they help make sure things run smoothly and that we're headed where we want to go. The core responsibilities of a Cowlitz County Commissioner are diverse and far-reaching. These include:
   1. Policy-Making: Developing county ordinances and working with state legislators on laws that affect our county. This involves regular meetings with other commissioners and engaging with community members to understand their needs.
   2. Budgeting and Finance: Overseeing the county's $70 million general fund, with a focus on responsible allocation of public resources. This includes major decisions on funding for law and justice, county facilities, and various departments.
   3. County Administration: Appointing and supervising department heads, managing personnel decisions, and ensuring efficient operations across all county departments.
   4. Land Use and Zoning: Making crucial decisions on land development while balancing growth with environmental conservation and agricultural preservation.
   5. Public Works and Infrastructure: Overseeing infrastructure projects and coordinating with state and federal agencies on larger initiatives.
   6. Community Services: Providing oversight for public health initiatives, social services, and emergency response strategies.
   7. Representation and Advocacy: Serving on numerous boards and committees, advocating for county needs at state and federal levels, and acting as a liaison between the county and external entities.
   8. Public Engagement: Hosting regular meetings with the public, ensuring transparent communication, and addressing community concerns.
   9. Intergovernmental Relations: Collaborating with neighboring counties, state agencies, and federal entities on regional projects and initiatives.

Importantly, this role requires adaptability, a willingness to learn constantly, and the ability to make difficult decisions that may not please everyone. It demands a deep commitment to the community and the resilience to face unexpected challenges.

Alexander Hamilton has been a significant influence on my political thinking. His ability to build complex systems and institutions, like our financial system, while balancing competing interests is something I deeply admire. Hamilton's commitment to a strong federal government that could effectively serve the people, while still preserving individual liberties, closely aligns with my own views on governance.

Frederick Douglass is someone I look up to for his unwavering commitment to justice and equality, as well as his powerful oratory and writing skills. His ability to articulate complex moral and political arguments in a compelling way is something I strive to emulate. Douglass's dedication to education and self-improvement, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, is truly inspiring.

Katie Porter is a more recent example, but one I find particularly relevant to my goals as a County Commissioner. Her ability to break down complex issues and hold power to account, often using simple visual aids, is a skill I greatly admire. Porter's focus on consumer protection and financial literacy demonstrates how elected officials can directly impact people's daily lives, which is a core part of my mission. These leaders exemplify the qualities I hope to bring to my role: Hamilton's system-building and pragmatism, Douglass's moral clarity and persuasive communication, and Porter's ability to make complex issues accessible while fighting for her constituents. Their examples guide me in my commitment to serve Cowlitz County effectively and transparently.

I believe the position of County Commissioner is critical for the county’s functioning and requires someone who knows how to get things done within a complex system. My initial motivation for running was to increase voter turnout for young people, but it’s become about serving my community and ensuring we all have what we need.

Commitment to Community: An elected official should prioritize the needs of the entire community, focusing on solutions that lift everyone up, especially those who are most vulnerable or underserved.

Open-mindedness and Flexibility: They should be willing to consider multiple perspectives and adapt their approach based on new information or changing circumstances. It's crucial to avoid being rigidly attached to any single solution or ideology.

Evidence-based Decision Making: Decisions should be grounded in facts and data rather than personal biases or political pressure. An official should be willing to research issues thoroughly and seek expert input when needed.

Transparency and Accountability: Elected officials should be open about their decision-making processes and willing to explain their choices to constituents. They should take responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions.

Respect for Individual Freedom and Collective Responsibility: They should strive to balance individual rights with the greater good of the community, recognizing that these can sometimes be in tension.

Focus on Outcomes: Rather than getting caught up in partisan debates or ideological purity, officials should prioritize achieving tangible, positive results for their constituents.

Accessibility and Responsiveness: They should be approachable and genuinely listen to the concerns of all community members, not just the loudest or most powerful voices.

Ethical Integrity: Officials must maintain high ethical standards, avoiding conflicts of interest and always putting the public good above personal gain.

Collaboration and Bridge-building: In our divided political landscape, the ability to work across differences and find common ground is crucial.

Long-term Vision: While addressing immediate needs is important, elected officials should also consider the long-term impacts of their decisions on future generations.

I'm a strong advocate for financial transparency and government accountability. These principles are fundamental to maintaining public trust and ensuring that elected officials serve the interests of their constituents.

I'm particularly enthusiastic about Washington State's Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) and the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). The PDC plays a crucial role in promoting transparency by requiring detailed reporting of campaign finances and lobbyist activities. This allows voters to understand who is influencing their elected officials and how money is being spent in political campaigns. The OPMA, on the other hand, ensures that the public has access to the decision-making processes of government bodies. It's a powerful tool for keeping government accountable and allowing citizens to be informed and engaged. I believe that all levels of government should strive for maximum transparency in their financial dealings. This includes clear, accessible reporting of budgets, expenditures, and financial decisions. In my view, taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent and why certain financial choices are being made. Accountability goes hand-in-hand with transparency. Elected officials and government bodies should be held responsible for their decisions and actions. This means not only making information available but also being willing to explain decisions, admit mistakes, and make corrections when necessary.

In practice, I support:
   1. Regular, detailed financial reporting that's easily accessible to the public
   2. Open budget meetings where citizens can ask questions and provide input
   3. Clear disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
   4. Robust systems for addressing citizen complaints and concerns
   5. Regular performance audits of government programs and expenditures

While perfect transparency and accountability can be challenging to achieve, I believe it's an ideal we should constantly strive towards.

1. Developing a 10-Year Strategic Vision: Collaborating with county directors and community stakeholders to create a comprehensive plan guiding our decisions and investments over the next decade.

2. Aligning Development Efforts: Creating an inventory of all existing initiatives by non-profits, cities, and the county to better coordinate our development efforts. This will help us leverage strengths, identify gaps, and ensure efficient use of resources under our strategic vision.

3. Addressing Basic Needs: Ensuring all residents have access to clean water, adequate food, and safe shelter. Too many in our community lack these essentials. We'll expand water infrastructure, support food security programs, and increase affordable housing options.
  
These priorities are interconnected. Meeting basic needs empowers community participation. A clear vision gives us direction. Aligning efforts accelerates our progress. Together, these will create a stronger, more resilient Cowlitz County for all residents.

I strongly believe the county should continue to have therapeutic courts. We can’t rely on punishing people out of addiction - we need more comprehensive solutions that acknowledge the uphill battle of getting clean.

Drug courts provide a structured program that combines intensive supervision, substance abuse treatment, and regular court appearances. This approach doesn’t just help individuals overcome addiction; it also reduces the burden on our criminal justice system and saves taxpayer money in the long run.

The mental health sales tax may not be the "ideal" solution, but it's an effective one that provides a stable funding source for these crucial services. It's important to note that the impact on individual households is relatively small - about $0.10 for every $100 spent. The measurable benefits these programs provide to individuals, families, and our community far outweigh the minimal cost to taxpayers.

We have numerous programs working to tackle this issue, but the lack of coordination across the county means these efforts are not as effective as they could be. As a commissioner, I would prioritize bringing our available resources and stakeholders together under one unified strategy, including cities and communities. We need to break down silos and foster a spirit of cooperation among all entities working on this issue.

My approach would involve:
1. An updated inventory of existing programs and resources available to the county.
2. Identifying gaps in services and areas where efforts are being duplicated.
3. Reworking our county-wide strategic plan to leverage our collective strengths and address our weaknesses.

We need to create an environment where non-profits and other service providers can focus on what they do best - directly serving those in need - while ensuring those efforts are part of a cohesive, county-wide strategy.

I believe we need to prioritize action that can make a tangible difference in our community's health outcomes. This means:
1. Refocusing on evidence-based public health measures that can improve the wellbeing of our residents, like initiatives to address substance abuse, mental health, and access to care.
2. Improving collaboration with state and local health officials to ensure we're aligned and leveraging available resources effectively.
3. Improving communication with the public about health initiatives and recommendations.

I want to work constructively with all board members, regardless of their backgrounds or ideology, to find common ground and make meaningful progress on the health challenges facing our county. I believe that focusing on practical, locally-relevant solutions helps us move beyond ideological debates and make real improvements in the health of our community.

The first area Commissioners can impact is through the functions of county departments. The Department of Health and Human Services provides essential support for families and children, including maintaining and dispersing the Cowlitz County Emergency Fund, encouraging additional structures through the Community Development Block Grant, and providing other essential services. Maintaining the function of this department and others like it which provide critical support for working families is absolutely necessary. Outside the county administration, Commissioners have discretion to support a number of other community development projects, and they ensure representation for working families in their appointments to boards/committees like the Disability Advisory Board, the Homeless Housing Task Force, and the Public Facilities District Board.

This isn't an issue that I expect to deal with as a County Commissioner, but in general, I believe that abortion access must be available as a medical treatment. While I recognize that for many in our community, abortion is a sensitive subject, I also believe that the privacy between a woman and her doctor is important to maintain. The government is not equipped to make decisions in the timely manner that is necessary to make the best decision for a mother and her child, which means the choice must remain with the mother.

I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church, I am the son of a pastor, and I have a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Theology. The church has been a part of my life for many years, but today I no longer identify as a Christian. I believe there is probably a spiritual force out there, but I don't claim to know who it is or what they want.

Yes, I support the collective bargaining rights of public employees. While public sector employment lacks the profit motive that can lead to worker exploitation in private businesses, it's still crucial for public employees to have the ability to unite and advocate for better working conditions and fair compensation. Government work often involves balancing multiple, sometimes conflicting, priorities. Leaders who recognize the importance of their employees in delivering essential services should prioritize creating positive work environments with appropriate pay. This not only benefits the workers but also enhances the quality of public services.

The relationship between employers and employees, whether in the public or private sector, should be dynamic. The "push and pull" that comes from workers advocating for their rights creates a healthy tension. This process of negotiation and compromise ultimately benefits society by ensuring fair treatment of workers while maintaining efficient public services.

Yes, I generally support apprenticeship programs, local hire initiatives, and community benefits agreements for public projects. These programs can create valuable opportunities for local workers and help ensure that public investments directly benefit the communities they're meant to serve.

Apprenticeship programs provide crucial on-the-job training, especially for young people or those changing careers. They're a great way to build a skilled workforce while giving individuals a chance to earn while they learn. Local hire initiatives help keep taxpayer money within the community, potentially boosting the local economy. Community benefits agreements are particularly interesting because they allow neighborhoods to have a say in how major projects impact them. This could mean anything from guaranteeing local jobs to ensuring affordable housing or green spaces are included in development plans.

That said, I do have some reservations. These programs can sometimes increase project costs or timelines, which needs to be balanced against their benefits. There's also a risk of these agreements being used unfairly to benefit certain groups over others. I don’t think these concerns will come up very often, but they’ll inform the questions I ask if we get to that point in discussion. Overall, I believe the potential for creating good jobs, developing skills, and ensuring community input outweighs these concerns. The key is implementing these programs thoughtfully, with clear goals and oversight to make sure they're truly benefiting the workers and communities they're meant to serve.

I have significant concerns about privatization. There's a significant risk of prioritizing profit over public good, which could compromise the quality or accessibility of essential services. I’ve seen first-hand how a shift to focus on profit has harmed my company’s ability to provide quality service. Public sector jobs often provide stable employment with fair wages and benefits, which contribute to the overall health of our communities. Privatization can sometimes lead to job cuts, reduced wages, or loss of benefits for workers.

Additionally, privatization can reduce public oversight and accountability. When critical services are in private hands, there's a risk of losing transparency and democratic control over how these services are delivered. I'm particularly wary of privatizing core government functions or services that affect vulnerable populations. Areas like public safety, education, or social services often benefit from the stability and public accountability of government management. Any privatization efforts should include strong oversight mechanisms, performance standards, and protections for workers and service recipients.

In general, I lean towards keeping essential public services under government control, while remaining open to private sector partnerships or innovations that demonstrably improve outcomes for workers and the community.

I think the biggest questions of my credibility would root from claims of “inconsistency”. I maintain that any person should be allowed to change their mind when presented with better information, and there are many times in my life where my perspective has changed/adjusted as I’ve learned more. For example, when I was 19, I voted for Donald Trump for President, which I’ve explained in a recorded interview. For a short time in 2021, I identified publicly as an “anarchist”. I served on the executive board of the Cowlitz County Democratic Central Committee for nearly a year, and in late 2023, I resigned from that board to run for office as an Independent.

I’ve had many experiences that have prompted me to adjust my perspective, and as a result, I’ve tried to be very clear in my motivations for my decisions and explaining their implications and how they relate to my values as a person and as a leader. I expect this will always create some question of credibility, and I’m prepared to answer for myself to anyone who wants to understand how and why my opinion has changed over time.