Oregon has been my home for the past 33 years, with the last 11 years spent in Dundee. As a small business owner and professional forester, Oregon has provided countless opportunities for my family and me. Now, I’m committed to giving back to our community by serving as your mayor.

My career and my service over the past eight years as a volunteer on the Dundee Urban Renewal Advisory Committee, the Budget Committee, and as a City Council member for the last 3 ½ years, have equipped me with the experience and insight needed to lead our city effectively.

I was born and raised in Illinois, where I attended public schools. Growing up in the Midwest, I spent much of my time outdoors with my family, enjoying activities like fishing, hunting, and gardening. My love for the outdoors led me to pursue a career in forestry.

I attended the University of Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Science in forest management. After graduation, I joined the U.S. Forest Service, first as a wildland firefighter, and then as a forester for nearly a decade in California.

Over the next several decades, I led several non-profit organizations that represented forest products manufacturers, forest owners, and consumers of forest-based products. This journey took me from California to Washington, DC, and ultimately to Oregon. Throughout my career, collaboration and finding common ground among diverse interests have been central to my approach.

Currently, I am the president of L&C Carbon, a business I founded in 2010. We partner with forest owners to sustainably manage their land and explore new revenue streams, such as selling carbon stored in trees through voluntary and regulated markets.

In addition to my professional work, I actively volunteer in various capacities. I serve as a member of the Yamhill Parkway Committee, a Commissioner of the Oregon Climate Action Commission, and as the 1st Vice Board Chair of the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, that promotes sustainable forestry in 56 countries. My passion for wine has also led me to earn a Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award in Wines.

My wife and I have three adult children who are spread across the country. In our free time, we enjoy gardening, tending to our chickens and bees, sharing Oregon wines with our friends, listening to music, and taking our German Shepherd, Guner, on walks through the vineyards around Dundee.

As mayor, my focus will be on addressing the everyday concerns that matter most to our residents. I believe that the most effective and efficient government is one that is close to the people, creating opportunities for us to listen to each other and work together to find innovative, cost-effective solutions to the challenges we face.

We are currently facing several key issues that need resolution, including delivering emergency medical and fire services at a fair cost, securing water resources for future growth, and managing downtown development to benefit both current and future residents and businesses.

I will work to advance the following priorities to enhance our community well-being and future growth.

My priorities:

1) Delivering City Services on Time and on Budget

The core responsibility of local government is to provide the essential services that residents rely on, such as public safety, infrastructure maintenance, water, sewer, and utility services, as well as ensuring reasonable and effective city regulations.

These services should be delivered cost-effectively, using innovative approaches to maximize the efficient use of funds from fees, services, and taxes. Increasing fees and taxes should only be considered as a last resort.

As mayor, I will focus on ensuring quality city services are consistently delivered on time and on budget.

2) Ensuring Public Safety

Public safety is fundamental to the quality of life in our community. As our city grows, especially with the expansion of the Riverside area and an increase in visitors drawn by our renowned wines and food, public safety services must adapt to new and emerging needs.

Our long-term partnership with the City of Newberg provides us with high quality police services. Our Dundee fire department provides excellent service; however, the rising costs of maintaining these services are surpassing our current revenue.

As mayor, I will prioritize engaging with residents and collaborating with the City Council to find fair and sustainable solutions for funding our fire department and other critical services.

3) Managing Growth that Works for our City

Dundee is at an inflection point. While change is inevitable, we can guide it in ways that benefit our community. It is now time to implement the “Destination Dundee – A Community Vision” plan for the benefit of the current and future residents and businesses.

As our community grows, it is important to create spaces for both living and working. We should recruit new businesses that complement our area’s strengths in agriculture and wine, as well as those in high tech, light manufacturing, and professional services. We should prioritize housing options for everyone, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other essential service providers.

As mayor, I will advocate for implementing our community vision with an emphasis on attracting businesses and prioritizing housing opportunities.

4) Leading through listening and collaboration

Every community member deserves to have their voice heard and their perspectives considered. The role of leaders is to listen, engage, and seek common ground whenever possible to inform their actions. Achieving our city’s vision requires collaboration not only within our community but also with neighboring cities and county, state, and federal partners.

As mayor, I will hold regular listening sessions with residents and business owners and work closely with neighboring communities and government officials to advance our city’s priorities and shared goals.