PAGE 8, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 2, 2015
S
he was a mother of two and frustrated
about the state of her city’s parks for
her children to play in.
Lore Christopher looked around and
saw no one doing what she thought
should be done for Keizer and its
families. She was involved with Keizer
Little League and spent almost 10 years
on the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board — parks began her
political career but it ends
with much more.
She’ll be the one fi rst one to say she
didn’t do anything—she was one of seven
‘folks’ helping out. She may have been
one of seven votes, but her style and
her determination aided her in forming
coalitions, if not downright unanimous
votes.
Lore Christopher always had Keizer and
its residents’ best interest
at heart. Her votes over
the years refl ect that philosophy. She
sought consensus when she could and
barreled ahead when she could not.
A dynamo, Christopher put her energy
and passion into all things Keizer which
meant fostering close relations with
offi cials from Salem and Marion County
among others in the region. If one of
those other governments wanted to do
something not in Keizer’s favor she was
the fi rst to put her ‘stop’ hand up.
Though she called herself just a
neighbor and a ‘folk,’ Lore Christopher
grew into one of the most astute
politicians in the Willamette Valley. She
easily dispatched with ease two opponents
who fi gured she was an easy electoral
target. She had been approached many
times to seek higher offi ce. She never
had aspirations for any other offi ce.
As the Lore Christopher Era ends she
can sit back and say “It’s good.”
Christopher
The
Era
Article By
CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Lore Christopher had
a bit of a philosophical
shift during her 14 years as
Keizer’s mayor.
When Christopher took
over in 2001 after two
years on the Keizer City
Council, she was bound and
determined to shake things
up and speed the wheels of way and it ended this way
(instead). I thought I was
government along.
“I had a real shift,” going to be a change agent.”
Part of that was the
Christopher said recently as
realization
the mayor is
she prepares to hand over
Regarding the installation
her title to veteran councilor simply one voice in a group.
of new city councilors.
“You sit in a chair. You’re
Cathy Clark at the Jan. 5
January 7, 2005
not
accomplishing
that
stuff,”
council meeting. “I was
Christopher
said.
“Everyone
going to kick butt and take
names. But I came to respect else is doing the heavy lifting.
the founding fathers and You are not acting alone. It
their approach. There is so takes six other councilors, it
much public process. You put takes a myriad of volunteers.
been
exceedingly
money in the pot together I’ve
and decide how to spend the blessed to be surrounded by
such talented people. Our
money.”
For example, at the start little city has been able to
Regarding efforts to
of her reign – Christopher accomplish more than larger
expand
urban growth
was Keizer’s fi rst female cities due to the community
boundaries and bring
spirit.”
mayor and served the longest
more industry to Keizer.
The outgoing mayor
tenure to date – a drawn-out
June 10, 2011
process like the one resulting pointed to the Big Toy
in Keizer Station would have project as an example.
“We
are
absolutely
been unfathomable.
going
to
build
the
Big Toy,”
“It was painful to go
through the Keizer Station Christopher said. “When has
process for eight years,” Keizer not built something
we said we would? We always
Christopher
said. “But look
at how highly
successful that has
been. When the
Remarks at Chamber
economy took a
awards banquet.
down turn and
January 25, 2003
folded up, we
didn’t. Two stores
left, but they left
all their locations.
It comes down to
the time it took to
tions.
plan that all out.”
“I have no idea,”
L
o
r
e
she said. “I don’t
Chr istopher,
mean to sound fl ip
change agent? Not
when I say this,
so much.
but that’s not really
“When I fi rst
important to me. I
At city council meeting responding
got
involved,
don’t need to have
to
testimony
about
building
fl
ush
I
thought
bathrooms
at
some
city
parks.
the Christopher
everything takes so
March 5, 2012
something.
long,” she recalled.
When I drive
“I thought that
down Chemawa
wouldn’t happen
Road and see the
with me. I’ve really come
community center, I know
to understand it. The longer
we built it. When I go to
you take, the more debate,
Keizer Station, I can buy
the more painful, the better
socks and underwear. Every
the decision it is. There’s less
summer when I’m down (at
animosity or naysayers that
Keizer Rapids Park), I’m so
come to the table because
proud of that. That’s all mine
they’ve had the chance to
and that’s all yours. We all did
be heard. It takes a long
it together.”
time to get things through
Christopher said the team
government. That was the execute.”
concept
she sees at the city
Another
example
came
way it was designed. You
level
has
seeped into all
when
Christopher
was
asked
answer every question, then
move forward. I can’t believe what – if anything – in Keiz- aspects of her life.
“I guess what I’ve learned
how many times I thought er should bear her name as
is
politics
is a team sport,” she
a
reminder
of
her
contribu-
(something) would start this
Introduction By
LYNDON A. ZAITZ
Of the Keizertimes
“You don’t have
politicians up
here. What
you have are
neighbors
helping
neighbors.”
Salem “either
joins us as
partners…or we
divorce them.”
“I’m feeling
decadent
tonight. I’ve got
bad hair and
no underwear.”
“ We’re kind
of a Honey
Pot kind of
community”
— Lore Christopher
Lore Christopher | Keizer Mayor 2001–2015
said. “You don’t do anything
individually. For example,
when we built our cabin in
Bend, I had my seven others.
I’m just so used to making
a decision in committee. I
value the opinion of those
people I trust. It can even be
your opponent.”
Speaking of opponent,
only twice in her seven
campaigns
for
mayor
did Christopher face an
opponent. That included
her last campaign in 2012
when she faced councilor
David McKane, with whom
Christopher had memorably
clashed in 2011. While not
mentioning McKane by
name, Christopher did seem
to reference him when asked
if she had any regrets from
her time as mayor.
“I sometimes speak out
too quickly,” Christopher
said. “I’ve heard from time
to time I was brusque with
someone, or hurt someone’s
feelings. I felt terrible. I
don’t want to do that. In
interpersonal relationships
with the city council, there
were times when things
got more heated than they
should have. I didn’t need to
be the person to add fuel to
the fi re.”
Along
those
lines,
Christopher’s advice for
Clark and other councilors is
to get along with others, even
in the midst of disagreements.
“Be accessible and be
kind,” Christopher said.
“We can disagree and not
be disagreeable. I don’t have
to punch you or be mean
to you. We’ve had folks be
angry, who said you don’t
listen. Well, maybe we didn’t
agree, but we did listen.
Because these are issues that
hit close to home, folks are
very emotionally invested.
Our job is not to get into
that but to keep looking into
the future. Don’t alienate
those folks. I can have a
conversation with any of
those people who have
spoken.”
Christopher herself was
one of those folks not long
after moving to Keizer in
1988, driven to speak up
about the needs for improved
parks in Keizer.
“It truly was I was a young
family with young kids,”
said Christopher, who has
worked in human resources
for years and is currently a
human resources director for
the state. “My daughter was 6
or 7 and I had a son who was
2. Keizer did not have a lot
of amenities for parks. I lived
in those parks and I knew
others were as well. I got
involved in the Parks Board.
I wanted swing sets and big
toys in our parks. They were
expensive.
Right: Keizer Mayor Lore
Christopher helps youth try out one
of the new swings at Willamette
Manor Park after dedicating the
new playground equipment on
Tuesday, June 25, 2013.
Left: Keizer Mayor
Lore Christopher, shown
unveiling the Walsh’s
Landing sign during
RIVERfair festivities at
Keizer Rapids Park in
August 2013.
Right: Lore
modeled her
Hawaiian gear for
the Parrothead
Party at the 2007
Iris Festival.
Above: Keizer City Councilor
Marlene Quinn (left) and Mayor
Lore Christopher (right) accepted
their ALS ice bucket challenge
in August 2014, having ice water
dumped on them at the end of
the McNary Blue Day.