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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 2016)
FEBRUARY 5, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9 RUN, continued from Page A1 sidewalks, we have continued to work together to make Keizer a great city. In fact, in 2015, Keizer was named the fourth happiest city in Oregon.” Clark also looks forward to new ownership of Schoolhouse Square, roadway improvements, work to be done by various citizen committees and working with other local governments to tackle the issue of homelessness in the area. “I am honored to serve with six hard-working community members on our city council,” Clark said. “Together, we strive to listen to you and each other to keep our city on track as a great place to live and do business. And I believe that we have even more to look forward to celebrating this year.” Parsons has been busy since first joining the council. She opened an insurance agency, but retired last year. She has stepped away from some responsibilities, but has chaired the Community Build Task Force and got married last year. Now, she's ready to accomplish more as a councilor. “I'm going to run again,” Parsons said on Tuesday. “I'm running for council. It's not my time to run for mayor. I'll be on council at least for four more years. I have some Parsons said. “If I do want unfinished business.” to become mayor down the That includes more road, knowing all the issues is work on the Urban Growth important. The whole thing is Boundary (UGB) issue, as well so massive. I've learned a lot as finishing work on the Big already about transportation, Toy play structure at Keizer but I have so much more to Rapids Park. learn. I think four years is the “I want to see the learning curve.” construction of everything Parsons likened her initial done with that,” Parsons said stint on council to being of the Big Toy. “I want to see a freshman in school, with it through. And the UGB another term being her junior is something we all want and senior years. to work on. There's a lot of “I can better serve the things. There are a lot of old city now than I could three ordinances and resolutions years ago,” Parsons said. “The sitting in archives and people hardest part was familiarizing are taking yourself with advantage each of the of that. We committees have to keep and the changing demands of them.” them. You Parsons have to know anticipates them all. The Schoolhouse budget, oh my Square “will — Cathy Clark goodness. The look much first time I was different” 18 on the budget, months from now, but feels it was very complicated. Three any potential grocery store years later, I'm getting it. At would have to go elsewhere. first I thought anyone could “I want to see us sell the rest do this. But it takes a lot of of Area A in Keizer Station,” work and effort. It feels like Parsons said. “I want to see I'm going to school again, some of that money be used with a lot to study. I want to for revitalizing River Road. make sure I can ask intelligent I want to see more work on questions.” River Road. Parts are nice, but Parsons feels her experience other parts are not so nice. The means she can serve the city vacancy rate is going down.” well for at least four more Parsons noted Clark wants years. her to work more with the “I don't know how many mayor on transportation issues. more years I'll serve,” she “I have to do that in said. “I will continue to listen four years, not one year,” to the people. If that's four “I plan to seek a second term as your mayor.” more years or two more years beyond that, I can't tell you. I will serve as long as I am effective and the people feel I am effective. When I'm not, it'll be time to step down.” Freeman noted her decision to run wasn't easy. “I've been mulling it around,” she said. “It's one of those things where I go back and forth. It's the same thing I did when I applied the first time. Time commitment is always a factor. I had to look at it again. With my husband, we always have a good family conversation. I have good family support, which helped me decide to run.” After approximately 30 months on council, Freeman is just now feeling comfortable. “I feel I am finally understanding things that have been in play in past councils,” she said. “It takes a while to get up to speed on those items. I want to continue those discussions. Budget time is one of my favorites. I want to continue that. The Volunteer Coordinating Committee is one of my passions.” Before throwing her name into the hat to fill the vacancy in 2013, Freeman asked around to figure out how much of a time commitment there would be. The answers ranged from two hours a week to 20 hours. “I've found my time spent will depend on the length of the agenda,” Freeman said. “I give kudos to the city staff for giving us as much information as they can, without bias. They tell us here's the history, here's what happened, here's all the information to make a good decision. They are very neutral.” Freeman is usually quiet during meetings, which she said is in line with her nature. “If I have questions, I will ask the staff,” she said. “I try to do my homework to make sure I have as much information as possible.” Freeman likes how the councilors get along. “Council works really well together,” she said. “We all bring different sets of skills, but we all work well together. We respect differences but work well together. We're all different. That's a benefit. We have a fabulous staff and a great community, as seen with the Big Toy and the turf field (at McNary High School).” Just in case you're wondering, Freeman doesn't see herself being mayor anytime soon. “I applaud Cathy and Lore before her,” Freeman said. “Being mayor is a full-time job in itself.” While those three are running again, that's not the case with Koho. “I'm not running again,” Koho said on Tuesday. “I've known that for probably a year. I've been pretty open about that with those on the council and some people in the community, encouraging a variety of people to consider running. I've been on the council about a dozen years all told. It's fun and I've enjoyed it, but it's time for someone younger. One term was enough this time.” Koho predicted Keizer's parks, UGB issues and possibly grocery stores will be hot topics for the fall. “Those are probably the three things that will motivate voters the most this time,” he predicted. Koho referenced how many times he has run. “I've been on the ballot for each of the last four decades,” he said. “That's enough. It's time for fresh faces. I'm no longer a fresh face, at least that's what the mirror tells me every day.” Koho wouldn't mind seeing multiple fresh faces vying for his seat and the others. “I'd like to see some competition for the seats,” Koho said. “We're usually lucky to get competition for half the seats. It's good for the community to have dialogue.” In the 2014 election, Clark ran unopposed as did councilors Roland Herrera and Brandon Smith. Amy Ryan defeated Matt Chappell in the only contested race. In 2012, Christopher defeated David McKane for mayor, Parsons defeated Eamon Bishop and Chappell for her seat and LeDuc beat write-in candidate Smith, who had decided late in the race to defend his seat. Koho returned to the council in an unopposed race.
