Said It
JANUARY 2, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 9
She
They
Said It
“I was just a mom
tryng to get a
swing in a park,”
“Her leadership, consensus team building, enthusiasm
and passion for the people of Keizer that has led to her
success in creating many of Keizer’s greatest assets
such as Keizer Station, the Civic Center, River Road
beautifi cation and bringing art to Keizer.”
Regarding an
appointment to the city
council in 1998.
“It’s very
problematic
when you have
the job. I’m not
just the mayor,
I’m a candidate.”
Mayor’s response to
police union’s criticism
of public car use on
National Night Out.
September 20, 2002
“Keizer Station
only works
as long as it
complements,
and doesn’t
compete, with
River Road.”
Regarding plans for River
Road revitalization.
January 14, 2005
“Until now,
there wasn’t
any place in
Keizer to buy
underwear and
socks. Now we
have a Target
going in.”
November 2005
“We’re a
destination,
they just don’t
know it yet.”
Regarding talks about
bringing more tourists
to Keizer.
July 29, 2011
“They felt
like that took
away from the
position, and so
when we were
talking about
serious issues
it’s really hard to
be serious when
you remember
that fat mayor
in that wet
T-shirt.”
Regarding dunk tank
controversy, June 18, 2012
— Richard Walsh,
Keizer City Councilor, 2000-11
“I would speak in front
of the city council, all men,
all older,” she added. “They
didn’t know where the parks
were. They didn’t understand
how critical those parks were
to families. I thought there
needs to be the perspective
of young families on the city
council. It was really hard to
get funding (for parks).”
Christopher visited every
park last summer with
3-year-old grandson Eliot,
in order to note the changes
to parks over the years. She
acknowledged it is a “dicey
kettle of fi sh” to serve on
council while having young
children at home.
“When you’re in the midst
of raising young children,
it’s very diffi cult,” she said.
“When you have middle
school or high school kids,
it’s manageable.”
After a decade on the
Parks Board, Christopher
was appointed to the Keizer
City Council in August
1998 by a random drawing.
She took over as mayor in
January 2001.
In 2000, Christopher
fi gured she would stay on
as a councilor. She credits
then-Mayor Bob Newton
with pushing her to become
Keizer’s fi rst female mayor.
“I had already fi led to run
for city council,” Christopher
said. “I’m sincere when I say
I wouldn’t have voted for me,
because I only had two years
of experience. I didn’t know
what I didn’t know. I have
never worked with another
councilor who loved Keizer
the way (Newton) did. He
truly loved Keizer. He took
joy in small things like the
Keizer Community Band
and in big things like the
skate park.”
Christopher said Newton
informed her no one one
on council at the time was
running for mayor.
“There was no one,
so even my two years of
experience was better than
no experience,” she said. “He
did wear me down. I was not
prepared to be mayor. I didn’t
want to embarrass myself.
More, I felt he had done such
a great job as mayor. I didn’t
want someone following him
that would mess things up.”
Along
those
lines,
Christopher feels the city is
in good hands with Clark
taking over.
“I’m
not
formal,”
Christopher said of how
she runs meetings. “Cathy is
much better than I am. She
will have a more structured
meeting. We’ve never had a
more prepared new mayor
than Cathy. She’s been at it
for eight years on council.
She has done some heavy
lifting. She’s got a lot of
accomplishments. She knows
the job. I feel fabulous about
it. It should make the people
of Keizer confi dent moving
forward. This is someone
who has been there for eight
years. We’re not going to hell
in a handbasket.”
Christopher will still be
active in the city, particularly
in regards to art. She is
currently on the Keizer Arts
Commission (expected to
be renamed soon), but don’t
expect her to be hanging
out at council mee tings on
Mondays after Clark takes
over.
“You won’t see a lot of me
the fi rst year,” Christopher
said. “People are used to me.
It would not be fair to Cathy
Clark that I show up. People
will have a tendency to talk
to me. I don’t want that for
her. I want her to make her
own mark. I did put in my
volunteer application for
the art association. Anything
Cathy asks me to do, I will
support her.”
Having
said
that,
Christopher noted if there is
an issue she feels compelled
to speak about, don’t rule out
the thought of her testifying
during public comment.
And as one might expect,
Christopher sees some big
issues coming up, mainly
centered about the Urban
Growth Boundary (UGB)
expansion.
“My vision was always
to support the medical
businesses
we
have,”
Christopher said. “We have
Silverton Health and Kaiser
Permanente. That’s phase one.
We have room for 20,000
more feet. If we could bring
that 200 acres in, that will
all support businesses. It will
be a home run. The UGB is
the (biggest future issue). We
have to do so much work
down the road. With the
Kaiser Permanente opening,
if we’re able to get that into
the UGB, it will take years
to develop. We’re looking at
six to 10 years. Look at how
long Keizer Station took to
develop. The sooner we can
bring it in, the better.”
In a recent Keizertimes
poll, 50 percent of respondents
gave Christopher an ‘A’ grade
for her performance as mayor,
though the high marks may
have been aided by son Evan’s
social networking campaign
for such marks. How would
Christopher grade herself?
“I’ve
been
really
fortunate,” she said. “A lot of
good things have happened
the last 14 years, but not
because of me. I’ve been
holding onto the coattails.
I’m a solid B. There are some
things I could have done
better.”
“By all measures Lore Christopher has done us
proud. The dreams, hopes and aspirations of the
Incorporation Committee were not only met but
signifi cantly enhanced during Lore’s time as mayor.
I give her a grade of A+ for a job well done.”
— Chet Patterson,
Keizer City Councilor, 1983-86
“Lore was a good mayor,
not always a good listener,
juggled a lot of balls,
dropped a few, kicked
them aside and kept on
juggling. I would say she
was an effective mayor.”
— Marc H. Adams,
“Lore’s legacy seems to
focus on Keizer Station,
but she also was an
effective regional player
advocating for Keizer’s
interests.”
— John Morgan,
former community development director
1990-98
former Keizer Police Chief (1997-2013)
“Lore Christopher has stood out among the giants (of
Keizer’s mayors). Christopher’s era will be marked by the
major development of our city parks system and by the
near completion of Keizer Station. Her legacy will most
likely be her stimulation and support of the arts.”
— Dr. Jerry McGee,
Keizer City Councilor, 1991-2003
“Her vision for creating
economic opportunity
in Keizer — the biggest
venture being Keizer
Station.”
“The Christopher Era
could be summed up as
managed tenaciousness
for keeping Keizer livable
and lovable.”
— Janet Carlson,
— Christine Dieker,
Marion County Commissioner
Executive Director,
Keizer Chamber of Commercer
“Lore Christopher was mayor during a very active
time in the city’s history. We had the development
of Keizer Station, the building of the Civic Center,
the development of Keizer Rapids Park, and the
great recession. She led the city with great character
and strength and was consistent in her love of the
community. I would describe her era as ‘the time of
many great things’.”
— Chris Eppley,
Keizer City Manager
“(Lore Christopher’s) legacy centers on economic
development —River Road Renaissance and Keizer
Station, increase in number and acreage of parks, and
the establishment of public arts.”
— Cathy Clark,
Keizer Mayor-Elect
Below: Lore Christopher joins other
city councilors and dignitaries at a
groundbreaking ceremony for Keizer’s
new civic center in 2008.
Above: The
mayor rides in
a convertible
during the
2011 Keizer Iris
Festival Parade.
Right: Mayor Lore
Christopher with Mariah
McGranahan and Mayvra,
best Look-a-Like winner at
the Creekside Veterinary
Clinic Pet Parade, as part of
the 2012 Iris Festival.
Above: Mayor Christopher
presents an award at the
Mayor’s Invitational Art Gala
in February 2011.