By Jim Heffernan
I don’t want to stir up trouble, and perhaps I’ve grown a little too emotional about the situation, but I’ve been thinking about TCTD (Tillamook County Transportation District) morning and night.
Sometime in the Spring of 2023, a woman joined in one of our TillCoDems sessions and said that somebody should run for Transportation District Board in the upcoming special election. I really knew nothing about the functions of the Transportation District Board, but I knew what a bus was. I did not want the position to fall to a Republican by default. So I paid my $10 and registered to contest for Position 1, which was the only position that was just a 2 year term. I liked the idea of having the option of an early exit.
I did not have the money to invest in signs and mailings, so I decided to just talk to people. I made myself a crude “Vote for Me” badge and cards with the same message and I began my campaign.
I started by riding buses, thinking I should learn about what the district does. I felt an instant kinship with the drivers. I pledged to become a voice for the drivers on the board. It wasn’t a reasoned strategic decision — it was just what my heart told me to do.
I won the election. I think I was helped immensely by the fact my opponent was simultaneously contesting in four other races.
The board welcomed me and I found I had a lot to learn. In the campaign, I saw people who promised to make sweeping changes in the District if they were elected. The board doesn’t work that way. First off, there are seven directors. Nothing happens unless a majority agrees. The prime duty of the board is to set and oversee the budget.
TCTD operates with a budget of 5+ million dollars a year. About 2% of that money comes from county property taxes (My house is assessed at $142,820 and I pay $28.57 per year to support the District) but the bulk of the revenue comes from STIF (State Transportation Improvement Fund) grants. I never really understood the budget. Thankfully, the rest of the board did, because of years of experience on the board and from their professional backgrounds. Day-to-day operation is left to management and the board is not expected to interfere.
From outward appearances, things were working very well. Then one day last month, four of the “Town Loop” routes were abruptly cancelled because of a “driver shortage”. At the board meeting in March, management put on their sad faces and bemoaned the lack of drivers. In April, three more routes were cancelled.
It confused me. The District just approved a generous contract for drivers, dispatchers, and mechanics. Working for the District is a well-paying union job with guaranteed raises and good health benefits for full-time employees. There are also part-time positions with no benefits but flexible schedules.
I decided to talk to drivers about their views on the root causes of the shortage. I started riding buses seeking information. The drivers were very professional about not talking about the District in the presence of patrons. I passed out cards with my e-mail and phone number and waited for responses.
I was not prepared for the response I got. I talked to a dozen people, current drivers, and ex-drivers. I also sought advice and background from people outside the District. All the current and ex-employees sang the same song. They all said they loved being a bus driver or dispatcher and were proud to serve the community. All but one, said the methods and messaging of some in management drove them away. All said they would return but with conditions …
Each of my conversations lasted more than 45 minutes. Once they knew they had a sympathetic ear, they just let go. I learned that the battery on my hand-held extension will not last for an hour and half.
My viewpoint might be flawed, because all I’ve ever been is an employee. I appreciate that management is a delicate balance between being a disciplinarian and a friend. I do know that when I worked for bosses who erred on the side of discipline, I tended to expend minimal effort and look for an early escape. I am very thankful that in my last 15 years at the cheese factory, my bosses struck the right balance, and it made me love my job and I expended maximum effort. I might be there still, but the physical demands of the job broke me down.
I’ve been told I should discount what I’ve been told as “hearsay”. That’s true, but when they all agree and speak in such length, I tend to give it credence.
I’ve also been told I have exceeded the bounds of being a good board member. I guess that’s true.
In my mind, it came down to a choice between being a good board member and retaining my First Amendment rights to speak freely. I will always choose the Constitution. Therefore, I resigned from my position on the board.
From now on, I plan to serve the district as a self-appointed, unofficial Ombudsman*. I have not lost my love for the District and its mission.
Truly, there is a nationwide labor shortage. Covid, boomers aging out of the work force and our irrational fear of immigration have created it.
I am not advocating that anybody gets fired for erring on the side of discipline. They are good at most aspects of their jobs and it would not be easy to replace them. They just aren’t good at serving the needs of their employees. I think they’re smart and can learn new ways of doing things.
Yes, there is a horrible driver shortage at TCTD, and issues that needed to be addressed, but I hope that the community can work together to help find people that will fill these very important positions as soon as possible. People that truly understand the importance of providing reliable transportation throughout Tillamook County.
*Ombudsman: A person who investigates, reports on, and helps settle complaints; an individual usually affiliated with an organization or business who serves as an advocate for patients, consumers, employees, etc.
