Grateful for Your Trust, Respectful of the Voters’ Decision

Thank you to the voters who placed their confidence in me, and to everyone who volunteered, contributed, hosted conversations, and encouraged this campaign.

Your support made an independent voice possible, and I am deeply grateful.

I put everything I could into offering another choice and encouraging broader participation. In a short campaign, I fell short of reaching and mobilizing enough voters. I take responsibility for that result, and I carry forward what residents shared with me. Their concerns remain central to the work ahead.

The current count places Susan McLain well ahead. I acknowledge her substantial lead and respect the voters’ that placed their confidence in her.

Continuing to Serve Our Community—and the Voices This Campaign Brought Forward

This election does not end my commitment to public service or to addressing the concerns raised throughout the campaign. As a Forest Grove city councilor, I will continue advocating for our community, making thoughtful decisions, and pushing back when state legislation imposes costs and consequences on residents and local governments.

That commitment includes residents who feel disillusioned or disconnected from government. We cannot assume why someone did not vote, but we must work to earn their trust and participation.

The challenges remain: school boards and superintendents confronting structural deficits and struggling student outcomes; Latino families facing fear and vulnerability amid masked ICE enforcement; small businesses struggling to stay open; and employers weighing where to invest and create jobs.

These concerns demand practical action.

I remain concerned about the direction of the past decade, including the influence of corporate money and powerful interest groups and renewed pressure to raise taxes and fees on working families.

Affordability and accountability must come first. In my view, those standards were applied unevenly when evaluating candidates and their records.

Local Voices Need Strengthening

The endorsements of three mayors, several councilors, and county commissioners carried particular meaning.

To me, they reflected a shared concern that our communities are not being adequately heard in Salem.

I will continue strengthening those relationships and turning local experience into meaningful influence.