Why I Propose Slow, Smart Growth for Wilsonville
Wilsonville is more than just a place where we live; it’s where we’ve built our lives. Like many of you, I’m proud to call this city home. But recently, I’ve heard from so many neighbors that our leadership seems out of step with what really matters to us. While the current administration may have good intentions, their priorities don’t reflect the unique challenges we face in Wilsonville.
It’s time to bring common sense back to the table, solving Wilsonville’s issues with solutions tailored to our community. At the heart of my campaign for mayor is a commitment to slow, smart growth. This isn’t just an economic plan; it’s a way of approaching every decision we make. It’s about ensuring that Wilsonville can manage population growth while preserving everything we love about living here.
That means keeping the cost of living low and maintaining a high quality of life. It also means pushing back against the influence of policies from Portland that simply don’t make sense for our community. Slow, smart growth is the key to tackling the issues that matter most to us: permanently ending tolling, reducing traffic congestion, defending our local values, and preserving our city’s livability.
Take tolling, for example. One of the biggest tolling lies pushed by tolling advocates is that this tax will somehow save residents money. Nothing could be further from the truth. Independent estimates suggest that regular commuters could spend as much as $2,200 a year just to get to work. My plan for slow, smart growth means we won’t have to rely on sneaky tax schemes to fund local projects.
A key part of my economic strategy includes securing funding for new I-5 overpasses that include vehicle use and a new or increased capacity Boone bridge. This is critical for reducing traffic gridlock, something every Wilsonville resident knows all too well. By ‘people planning’ that focuses on improving traffic movement and road capacity while accepting how our lives require the use of cars, we can finally relieve the traffic bottlenecks and give residents shorter, hassle-free commutes. This plan gives us room to focus on what matters to us, rather than waiting for approval from Portland.
Another pressing issue we face is rapid growth. As more people are drawn to our wonderful city, long-term residents shouldn’t have to bear the economic burden. Instead of investing in much-needed infrastructure such as new roads, homes, and commercial spaces, our current leadership remains shackled by Portland’s restrictive policies. My plan for slow, smart growth prioritizes making the necessary changes for controlled, beneficial growth, ensuring we can accommodate newcomers while gaining an economic advantage.
Most of these problems come from a lack of local control, budget mismanagement, and a disconnect between our leadership and the everyday needs of Wilsonville residents. A strong economic foundation is the solution to all these challenges. It ensures that our needs are prioritized, provides the funds to address our issues, and encourages a focus on local values.
Yes, Wilsonville has its challenges, but we have the solutions, too. And, no one understands those obstacles better than we do. Slow, smart growth provides the resources we need to turn our city’s expanding population into an asset, not a burden, all while preserving what makes Wilsonville such a great place to live.
This requires electing a candidate with the community’s best interests at heart. I hope you’ll consider supporting my campaign by donating or volunteering. Together, we can ensure Wilsonville continues to thrive.