Vision and Priorities

“My vision for Camas is a sustainable, thriving community with a small town feel that provides opportunities for families to live, learn, work, worship and play, both today and for generations to come.  It’s one where natural green spaces, vibrant neighborhoods, excellent schools and thriving businesses come together to promote a safe, healthy and warm-hearted community.”

Those of us fortunate to live in Camas know that we have something very special here. It is up to all of us, working together, to honor our past as we forge into the future.

KEEP CAMAS LIVABLE

My vision is to strengthen Camas through long-range planning that ensures infrastructure resiliency and supports future generations. Well-planned development will attract businesses that contribute to the city’s tax base—funding our schools, parks, roads, infrastructure, and community amenities. By focusing on safe and connected neighborhoods, preserving our natural environment, and supporting strong schools, we can keep Camas livable while preparing for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Thoughtful planning and community-driven policies will allow Camas to thrive for decades to come.

THOUGHTFUL GROWTH

As a member of the City Planning Commission I have spent hundreds of hours listening to Camasonians share their vision of our city’s future, and I have drawn extensively from my civil engineering experience to add detail in many of the subject areas.

One of the most pressing challenges is how to grow our city. There is a shortage of housing not just here in Clark County, but across Washington state. As a result, the State has mandated that all cities, including Camas, grow quickly under the Growth Management Act. For Camas, that means adding more than 4,000 housing units in the next 20 years. We must grow carefully to protect the character of our neighborhoods and capacity of our infrastructure.

Growth done right strengthens our community;
growth done wrong costs us far more.

One of the most important ways we can shape Camas for the next 20 years is to develop a comprehensive plan. I support this process because it gives us a framework to manage growth responsibly. Goals Include:

  • Ensuring housing, jobs, and infrastructure all work together. For example, roads must be improved to handle new traffic at the time of development, not years later.
  • Avoiding uncontrolled sprawl by prioritizing redevelopment of underutilized urban properties to protect surrounding natural resources, farmland and forests.
  • Prioritizing Open Space Preservation and connectivity of greenways and trails.
  • Planning in ways that supports economic development and job opportunities.

One major opportunity in this plan is the future of the Georgia-Pacific paper mill site. How we redevelop that land will define Camas for generations. It gives us a chance to expand housing choices, add jobs, waterfront trails and parks, and more schools in a thoughtful manner that balances growth with preservation of the natural beauty that surrounds us.

NONPARTISAN, COLLABORATIVE STANCE

Good governance relies on transparency, accountability, collaboration and compromise. The City of Camas Council is a nonpartisan governing body, and I believe it is the ethical responsibility of its members to set aside state and national party platforms in order to work together for the greatest good of all Camasonians.

As a Councilor, I will be nonpartisan in my deliberations, respectful of diverse opinions and committed to building consensus to address issues and solve problems. My track records as an engineer and as a planning commissioner reflect my ability to get the job done.

I am grateful for the support I’ve received. Together, we can protect what we love about Camas and build a strong future for the next generation.