PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 31, 2021
New Year's goals for Keizer
We asked some local leaders to share their goals for
the city going into 2022. Here were their responses:
KEIZER
CITY
COUNCILOR
ROLAND HERERRA
“I am optimistic about 2022. The
past year has renewed my faith that
good things can come at what seem
like the worst of times. So as another
pandemic year nears its end, I am look-
ing forward to 2022.
I’m hopeful that this great little city
will continue to be what it already is:
A fun place to raise a family. A place
KEIZER MAYOR CATHY CLARK
“Events of 2021 continued to test
us as a community. From ice storms
and wind storms to turbulence within
our city, the council and staff , we have
fi gured out how to navigate through
together and land on our feet.
What we have as a community is
worth the hard work to take care of.
Who we have as our neighbors in our
community are worth the time and
eff ort to care about in an increasingly
loving, meaningful and respectful way.
There is nothing magical about a
'new year' but there is something very
special about recommitting ourselves
to attitudes of grace, gratitude and grit.
My prayer for Keizer is that there
may be peace on earth, a peace that
abides and grows within the hearts,
minds and spirits of each of us.”
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where folks care and help each other.
In general, my hope is that we treat
one another with kindness, compas-
sion and empathy. No matter who you
are, where you come from or how you
identify.
My hopes for the coming year:
I want Keizer to be known as the
most welcoming city in Oregon.
For my family, continued love and
support.
For my friends, health and happiness.
For my country, peace and
democracy.
For me, like David Bowie said, “I
don’t know where I’m going, but I
promise you it won’t be boring.”
KEIZER
CITY
COUNCILOR
ELIZABETH SMITH
As we come to the end of 2021, I am
grateful for the lessons I have learned
this year. Both professionally and per-
sonally. When I took offi ce in 2019, I
had no idea what the next few years
would bring.
I have joked with my husband that
in 2022, I hope the city of Keizer doesn’t
make the news. If we do, I hope it is
for all the right things. I hope that the
lessons we have learned, as a commu-
nity and individuals, lead to a renewed
desire for respect, honor, kindness,
and patience. I hope for the citizens
of Keizer to make a commitment to
being a good neighbor. Not everyone
sees the world the same way, and that is
OK. We can infl uence change by being
kind and compassionate much more
quickly than demanding our way. We
should be working to engage as many
citizens with their community as possi-
ble, from every walk of life, to celebrate
and experience the many diverse back-
grounds and histories that we all have.
I have been lucky to sit down with
people from diff erent viewpoints in
the last several months, and really see
what their concerns have been. I hope
that in 2022 I can continue to have
those opportunities and build bridges
of communication for the good of all.
People will never see things the same
way, but if we can just focus on being
kind as a person, a community, a state
and a country, I believe we can start to
overcome the division of the last two
years. It is past time to recommit to
that.
KEIZER
CITY
COUNCILOR
LAURA REID
“What we need most in 2022 is a
whole lot more peace on earth, goodwill
towards men (and all other genders).
As a city councilor, my biggest goal
is to get the Community Diversity
Engagement Committee up and run-
ning so we can hear more voices as we
consider policy and identify the places
we can improve. We have some excel-
lent people in place to start that work,
and I’m excited to be a part of it.
Another goal I have as a councilor
is to hire the best city manager we can.
We have such an excellent staff , and it
is critical that we have a leader in place
that will continue to coordinate our
eff orts to provide the best possible ser-
vices for the people of Keizer. Also, we
need to make the most of Keizer’s 40th
birthday. I want to work with our com-
munity partners to make this a special
milestone.
In general, our society is sadly lack-
ing in civil discourse. As a teacher,
I have always tried to teach critical
thinking, but there are some subjects
that just can’t be brought up in a public
setting, and that limits understanding
severely. I have always valued unity,
but I have also come to understand
that unity is only a positive value if we
are reaching consensus, rather than
merely having the dominant voice pre-
vail; lack of diversity is not unity.
My hope for Keizer is that we can
see and respect each other as neigh-
bors and that we will value people and
our humanity more than anything else.
Yes, we must stand up for what is right,
but we also need to help each other
understand our perspectives on what
is right.
I love Keizer, and it’s so exciting to
see what we can accomplish together.”