QUESTIONS for Crook County Judge & Prineville City Council 2012
1. Please explain briefly your background and qualifications.
2. Why have you decided to run for city council? If you’re an incumbent please tell us your reasons for continuing to serve.
3. What do you think are the top three issues facing your city and what plan do you have to solve them?
4. Are there any specific economic development components you would implement to help the economy improve?
5. How would you improve Prineville downtown parking?
6. Should the horse racing event grow? How?
7. Are you in favor of more data centers based in Prineville?
CROOK COUNTY JUDGE
MIKE MCCABE
Did not respond to questions.
WALT WAGNER
1. Fiscally conservative, aggressively pro business and environmentally responsible. Experienced administrator with extensive managerial experience. First chair of the Oregon State games. Managed a business in Kapaa, Hawaii manage and taught college nutrition / fitness program. Former sheep and hay farmer.
Previous chair and primary fundraiser for Powell Butte Farmers Community Club/Center. Retired from a 27 year career with Oregon State Police.
Extensive media experience – public information officer. Conducted management audits / internal investigations. Research and development, professional standards. Managed state police academy as commander. Conducted legislative tracking. Principal instructor in Oregon laws and court procedures, vicarious liability, motivational and evaluation techniques; many awards and appointments.
Veteran, U.S. Navy, Company Honorman. Fifth generation Oregon native, three children, seven grandchildren.
2. It is time for a change in county leadership, and my record shows that I am the best man for the job. Having run for the same position in 2008 and now an Independent, I was asked to run after the results of the May primary were known. I have received support from all parties.
3. Priorities: one, Poverty in Crook County is 12.5 percent, a direct correlation with issue two below, the unemployment rate.
4. Crook County has the highest unemployment in the state, and has had for many years.
5. Water issues.
6. What is needed is a proactive, aggressive implementation of changes for a positive business climate in Crook County.
7. I like the positive perception the data centers create for our area. I would be in favor of more data centers once the long term concerns have been researched regarding their effects on water and power usage and the way this will affect availability and costs for current residents and future population growth.
PRINEVILLE CITY COUNCIL
RICHARD JOHNSON, WILLIAM (BRAD) PETERSON, JASON BEEBE, GAIL MERRITT
The above candidates did not respond to questions.
GAIL MERRITT
1. I graduated from Beaverton High School and attended Oregon State University. I moved to Crook County in 1969 where my late husband and I farmed. I was co-owner of several farming business and served as bookkeeper. In 2007 I sold the farm and moved into the city limits of Prineville. I am currently serving as Chairman of the Crook County Fair Board and President of the Crook County Foundation. I am a member of the Crook County Open Campus Education Council and volunteer at Cecil Sly Elementary.
2. Prineville has been good to me and my family. I have the time to serve and I am committed to my community. I was appointed to the city council and have served for almost two years. There is so much to learn and absorb. I would like to continue with a full term. I like working with the council, city staff and the citizens of Prineville.
3. The top three issues are the economy, infrastructure and public safety. The city continues to look at short and long term goals for all three areas. It is a challenge to preserve the small town feel while building for the future. It is essential to move forward with future needs while maintaining the current needs of the city.
4. The airport and freight depot are an important component to the economy. There is nothing specific I would implement, but it is important to be business friendly and prepared for a business looking at Prineville.
5. Facebook and Apple are important to the economy. They have brought construction jobs to Crook County. The employees help the businesses in town. I also like the fees that they bring to the city. I would be in favor of more data centers, but open to any new business that complements our community.
6. Downtown parking is a problem and the city could use more public parking. It is difficult for the employees and public to park. A parking garage would be nice, but funding and land would be necessary.
7. The horse racing event would not be a city decision. The county owns the land and it is run by the Fair Board. Horse racing is controlled by the Oregon Racing Commission and the Crook River Roundup organizes the horse racing in Prineville. It would be important to start the talks with the Roundup and the Fair Board.
JASON CARR
1. I am a native Oregonian and was born and raised in Bend. After a ten year career as a journalist, I spent five years as the economic development manager for Crook County, with success in attracting facebook and Apple. Much of my time was spent working with local leaders to create a business-friendly environment while assisting local companies grow and expand. I am now the executive director of The Partnership to End Poverty, which makes strategic investments in programs and other nonprofits in Central Oregon that are working to break the cycle of poverty. I have a keen understanding of state government, having lobbied in Salem, and am exceptionally knowledgeable about the City of Prineville’s budget, infrastructure, land-use issues and services to local citizens.
2. My platform is simple: jobs! Prineville was severely impacted by the “Great Recession” with most job losses taking place in wood products, construction and real estate. The City needs to continue its effort to diversify the economy and maintain a healthy budget to ensure essential services for local citizens. Raising the tax base through job creation is the best way to accomplish these goals.
3. Job creation. Updating infrastructure – especially the City securing additional water rights. Public Safety. A strong employment and tax base will go a long way to support the health and well-being of Prineville. My plan is to continue advocating for a healthy economy by promoting economic diversity. I will work to make sure the city makes future investments in this area.
4. The City can accomplish this best by promoting a business-friendly environment and continuing to support the work of Economic Development for Central Oregon, which has a local office in Prineville. EDCO is the expert in the region, and the knowledge and resources of the staff will serve our community well in meeting our goal of economic diversification.
5. Facebook currently has 60 full-time employees with average wages of $59,000 with benefits. Another 15-20 employees are expected when building two opens. This generates $5.5 million in new payroll in the local economy, and raises revenues for the City of Prineville through power franchise fees. Construction activity generates $1.2 million in new dollars annually in the local economy and has created over 2,000 jobs since 2010. These numbers will only increase as Facebook expands and Apple builds. The data centers have kick-started the Crook County economy, and play a vital role in diversification. So, yes, I fully support the data center industry. Currently, power and water are not an issue for facebook and Apple, nor are they straining existing services. If the City can’t secure additional water rights in the coming years, attracting subsequent data centers, and providing water to other industries, could become problematic.
