To the Editor:
It’s an easy call this election for Tillamook County Commissioner, position number one. Erin Skaar is the perfect choice. Unlike Home Rule counties in Oregon which have a full-time paid county administrator and a board of commissioners, Tillamook County is like most smaller counties where the commissioners are both administrators and policy makers.
That’s why Erin is the natural choice for that position. She has significant experience as the Executive Director of CARE, the county’s premier social service agency. She oversees a staff of 80 plus employees and contractors and a multi-million-dollar budget.
She also serves on the Tillamook County’s budget committee. As the chair of that committee, I have watched her quickly learn the details of a complex, $90 million budget. I have also seen her take a leadership policy role on the governing board of our local hospital.
Erin grew up in Maupin, Oregon in the family’s hospitality business. She’s familiar with rural Oregon where the economy is based on natural resources, agriculture, tourism and ranching. She will clearly understand and support our traditional industries in Tillamook County of forest products, dairy, tourism and agriculture. Again, a perfect fit.
On top of all that, she’s intelligent, educated, patient and a very good listener. With recent events, the next few years will be very challenging for Tillamook County. Erin Skaar is the right person to lead us to the next level.
Doug Olson
Pacific City, OR