Honoring our history, Candidates forum, volunteering, and helping those who help others.

Kelly and I chose Astoria to be our home. I believe that comes with an obligation: to serve, to look out for our neighbors, and to leave the community a little better for having been part of it. Tuesday morning started at the American Legion with the fullest Veteran Coffee we’ve ever had. I met with some of our town’s historians to help plan the Doughboy statue’s 100th anniversary. We found World War I helmets, plaques with the names of Astoria’s WWI veterans, and old recruitment posters that we plan to display at the library reception on Veterans Day. Those names belong to people who once walked these same streets. Honoring their service is not only part of US history, but a celebration of our own citizens in that history. 

That evening, candidates for mayor, city council, state representative, and state senate gathered for the candidates forum. The turnout was wonderful. People came to listen, ask questions, and take part in deciding our community’s future. I loved the chance to speak directly with voters. I’d gladly do it again, though next time I’d welcome more than 90 seconds to tackle housing, the economy, and Astoria’s future. Some of those questions deserve a whole evening.

Wednesday, our Street Team knocked on another 100 doors in Ward 3. At each door, we ask what matters most to the person who answers and how the mayor and city council could help. We write down their answers. Listening means taking people’s concerns seriously enough to remember them and follow through.

Thursday began with visits to veterans living on the street. One is applying for a peer support specialist position with Easterseals. I brought him a blazer he might be able to wear to the interview. Sometimes a person needs practical help. Sometimes they also need to know somebody is in their corner. That reminded me of a message I received recently from Desi at the American Legion. A gentleman had stopped in asking for a campaign sign. He told her I’d helped him get sober in 2021. I called him and delivered a sign for his window at the Owens Adair building. I remembered him, but honestly, I couldn’t remember doing anything extraordinary. Whatever I’d done, he remembered it. He told me it helped him get back on his feet and into housing.

I share that because we don’t always know what our kindness means to somebody else. Something small to us can be something enormous to the person receiving it.

After donating clothes to the warming shelter, I picked up my daughter and joined a Vietnam veteran friend and some of his old friends for lunch at Bridgewater Bistro. They’d spent years giving out free hot soup in Portland. We talked about kindness, service, and how much we love Astoria. My friend later wrote a letter of support to The Astorian, and I’m grateful. Having the support of people like him means the world to me. 

Then I visited Susan Prettyman at The Harbor to talk about the move into the former Daily Astorian building and what the organization may need as it grows into that space. We spoke about their upcoming 50th Anniversary and their Soup Bowl fundraiser at the fairgrounds. Astoria is lucky to have an organization like Harbor helping our domestic abuse victims. This is important to me because my mom was on her own at 21 years old with three infant boys. We grew up in and out of cheap apartments and scrambling to find a place to live. I know what it’s like to grow up in survival mode. I always say, I want to be the person I needed when I needed help. 

That night, Kelly and I attended the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association’s Ghastly Gala. Quinn and Colleen are doing wonderful work bringing people together. Celebrating our community matters, too. If elected, I intend to keep showing up, dancing awkwardly, and supporting groups like the ADHDA.

Friday, my daughter and I drove to Eugene to take my Uncle Ralph, an 83-year-old former Marine, out to lunch. Family deserves some time on the calendar, too.

Saturday morning, I was back volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce to help set up the Great Columbia Crossing 10K. I’ll keep helping with that work if elected. That night we attended Harbor’s Soup Bowl fundraiser. It was great to see so many people supporting the cause. We did our modest best to help. 

At the forum, I talked about how I believe when a person calls a place a home, they have a responsibility to serve and make that community better for being in it. Here is what that looks like: listening at someone’s door, helping set up an event, supporting a neighbor, giving where you can, preserving our history, and making time for the people doing good work around us.

I do my best to lead by example and to help the community I call home. That record of service is what I bring to this race. My volunteering didn’t begin with this campaign, and it won’t end after the election.

I love this town. I don’t take being here for granted.

I’m ready to do the work.