EDITOR’S NOTE: With the open Tillamook County Board of Commissioners position due to Commissioner Yamamoto’s early retirement, the Pioneer has sent the finalists selected for the position our “Questions for the Finalists.” Even though community members won’t vote on who fills the seat and finishes the one year left in the term (County Commissioners Bell and Skaar will select the person to complete the term), we thought the community would like to get to know the finalists. The County Commissioners will host a Candidates Forum on October 12 from 5-8 p.m. at the PRI Building in Tillamook. A second forum on October 16, from 5-8 p.m., at Tillamook Community College, will be a panel interview conducted by the County Commissioners themselves. We know that not everyone will be able to attend (there are remote audio options available.)
We will post the answers from each finalist as we receive them.
Tillamook County – meet Doug Olson
Are you planning to run for Commissioner in 2024, regardless of if you are selected?
No, I do not intend to seek any public office after my term on the Tillamook PUD Board or this position on the Tillamook County Commission ends in December 2024. I have been elected to public office seven times in Tillamook County and there are many qualified and good people who can step up.
What is your WHY – Why did you apply for this position?
Many people whom I respect asked me to throw my hat in the ring. I also had an interest having been in public office for the past 25 years and working with elected officials across Oregon, staff and our Tillamook County neighbors on many issues. My background provides a good fit for this position which would allow me to be effective from day one. I have worked for a large county government in the past and know and understand how Tillamook County works and what the issues are. I will hit the ground running while voters determine our next commissioner.
Relevant experience, qualifications for position:
- Fifteen years on the Tillamook PUD Board plus service on the statewide organization of PUDs (current president)
- Represent Tillamook PUD on the Tillamook Lightwave Board (current president). Same board on which Commissioner Yamamoto represents Tillamook County
- Several terms on the Pacific City Water Board and later Pacific City Joint Water and Sanitary Authority (JWSA)
- Chair of both the Tillamook County Budget Committee and Compensation Committee for many years
- A working knowledge of public finance, public budgets, rating agencies, ethics rules, the judicial system, Oregon’s tax system, Oregon and Federal legislative systems, open meeting laws, and more. Have represented public agencies before both Congress and the Oregon Legislature.
- Board of Directors of the Tillamook County Regional Medical Center
- Board of Directors and past president of the Pacific City – Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Ten years on the Tillamook County Economic Development Council through 2018
- Service on Tillamook County committee to analyze options to fund county roads
- Service on Tillamook County committee to analyze options for a Transient Lodging Tax
- Budget and Planning committees for the Nestucca Valley Rural Fire Protection District
- Adjunct instructor of Business Administration, Tillamook Bay Community College
- S. degree in Business Administration
- Graduate work in Public Administration and Business Administration
- Business owner in Tillamook County for 23 years
- Employment with national corporations in Oregon and Illinois.
- Administrative positions with school district and county government (Evergreen School District, Vancouver WA and Washington County, Oregon
- Project manager for many publicly funded projects
- Community writer for The Oregonian
- Numerous volunteer committees, boards and organizations
What do you see as the top 5 priorities for the Commissioners this next year?
Not necessarily in this order:
- Medium and long-term funding for the county, especially the General Fund over which the Commission has considerable discretion. Proposed changes in harvest levels in our Tillamook Forest will dramatically alter the funding available to both Tillamook County and our many special districts throughout the county. It’s time to look ahead to possible alternative funding sources including a serial operating levy which currently funds our county library system. This type of funding might include the Sheriff’s office and perhaps other departments.
- Flood zone designations from FEMA and others which may halt or significantly modify building needs and practices in our county. Much of our county is in designated flood zones and will be affected by decisions made at the Federal level. Need to maintain a relationship with our Congressional delegation and other entities similarly situated.
- Housing availability, both for owners and renters. While our housing market for upscale homes and second homes (beachfront, ocean views, and larger homes with acreage) is quite robust, our workforce housing and homes for people just starting out is not. This may require working at the state level to modify Oregon’s land use laws including Measure 100 from the 1970’s. One size does not fit all in Oregon. Our employers have lost many good employees simply because they could not find affordable housing.
- Funding of law enforcement in Tillamook County. Both salaries and wages for all public safety personnel are somewhat lower than neighboring jurisdictions causing significant issues with finding and retaining personnel. Also, there needs to be a funding mechanism to accommodate the seasonal needs for public safety from winter to summer.
- Tillamook County’s infrastructure. This includes roads, bridges, county facilities, internet access for all, public safety radio system, cell phone service and more. We are only about an hour from Oregon’s largest population center, yet Tillamook County lacks many essential services in many parts of our county. We must find an equitable way to fund infrastructure improvements as well as add new services.
How should the county be addressing the mental health/substance use disorder crisis?
Work closely with both medical and public safety professionals. Work toward repealing or modifying Oregon Measure 110 which removed many legal consequences of drug use. Work to restore some legal consequences for drug use through the court system. I believe that our government at all levels must find the resources to provide timely, effective and compassionate care for those individuals who are suffering from metal health problems or substance abuse. I also believe that there should be a measure of accountability for those who need help and the organizations which serve that population. Wringing our hands at the water cooler is not an option.
Commissioner Yamamoto has focused on specific issues – such as logging/forestry, the FEMA BiOp, and wind energy; What is your stance on the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Habitat Conversation Plan? Wind energy?
I believe our forests in Western Oregon, both state and federal, are working forests designed and managed to be harvested and replanted on regular intervals. There needs to be a balance among sustained yields, environmental concerns and recreational use. The Tillamook State Forest is not an “Old Growth” forest as it has burned in the recent past and was replanted. Our Governor is proposing adding 36,000 housing units per year to help relieve the housing shortage in Oregon. Oregon is blessed with the best softwood forests in the world and can help achieve that goal. The proposed Habitat Conservation Plan is a bad idea for many reasons and as Commissioner I will fight against the proposed Plan.
As to wind energy in the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast, I am very familiar with the issues including proposed wind farms, transmission issues, service issues, and more. As a Tillamook PUD board member and OPUDA president, I have attended many presentations, work sessions, conversations and discussions about both wind and wave energy in the open sea.
While there appears to be great potential to supplement our energy needs, there are many, many unanswered questions including costs, service access, fishing patterns of our ocean fleets, undersea cables, changing weather patterns, overland transmission to the electric grid, long term viability in harsh environments, local ports for service vessels, cross subsidies, environmental issues both in the sea and over land, and many more.
This is not an issue for Tillamook County in the next few months but will likely be a significant issue in the years ahead. Tillamook County has about 75 miles of ocean front and will be a focal point for wind and wave energy in the next few years. Tillamook County must remain at the table as this discussion moves forward.
Housing continues to be a challenge in Tillamook County. The county is just completing a year-long process of updating the STR ordinance and is facing a lawsuit from STR owners over “caps”. What is your view of how the BOC has addressed housing and STRs?
I believe that the current BOC has fashioned a workable and fair compromise solution to a very difficult private property rights issue. If anything, I might have advocated for a higher growth limit for short term rentals than the one percent which appears to be the current plan. However, I did not have the benefit of the year long conversations, findings, and recommendations of the STR working group. I’m a private property rights person, but with fair and reasonable limits. This is a true 51-49% issue where everyone is both pleased and a bit angry at the same time. As a professor once said…”Politics is the art of compromise”.
What is your vision for Tillamook County in the future?
A county which continues to support and honor our dairy industry (best cheese and ice cream in America), natural resource industries including regular sustained harvests from our forests, our well-known fishing fleets, and which continues to support sustainable and other evolving industries including tourism.
A county which has a reasonable transportation system (good roads and public transportation), a solid job base, career employment opportunities, a strong educational system including our community college and an open door to visitors and businesses.
A county which is prepared for emergencies (including Covid-19 type issues), which supports a viable public safety system, which cares for the disadvantaged and senior citizens and which provides open and accessible government. A county which is a desirable place to live, work and play.
