As you know, I’m running for Manzanita City Council. If you haven’t had a chance to learn more about me, please peruse my daily blog. bit.ly/bradsdailyblog Each day since August, I have chronicled all my campaign activities (along with some personal stories)—from meeting people in the community, meeting with specialists who can help us meet our challenges, and volunteering. I also discuss my thoughts about some of the issues our town is facing and the new things I’ve learned, as well as outline what sets me apart from the other candidates and the folks who have led our town in the past.
Also, consider reading the unsolicited endorsements from Manzanita residents I’ve met on the campaign trail. bit.ly/votingforbrad
Take a look, and happy voting! bit.ly/MayerleforManz
The question is …..Why Not?
The fact is that the Wheeler waterfront and a proposed development there, has been the primary topic of meetings, agendas, hearings and legal appeals and a law suit for the past several years. Any attempts to dismiss this issue as un-important to this community completely ignores THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!
This waterfront project was originally denied by the Planning Commission in 2020 because there was insufficient evidence to show that it was in compliance with the Wheeler laws and the applicable environmental, geo-technical and certified architectural studies on the site had not been done. The city council (on which candidate Bell served ) overturned the Planning Commission’s decision and gave the developer a green light to go ahead, thereby ignoring all the studies required to support approval of the project. LUBA has confirmed twice that the original denial by the Planning Commission was justified and that the vote of Mr. Bell and his council members to discount the provisions of the Vision Plan was in error.
For the past two years Mayor Honeycutt and the current council have worked to try to find resolution and compromise with the developer. Unfortunately his response has been to litigate.
Mr. Bell has attempted to label me and others as being anti-development. Not so! Being “pro” or “anti” development isn’t the issue. The question is, does the development follow the law? Adherence by city government to the laws of the town is the only assurance that citizens have, that development in their town will happen within the mandated guidelines. City representatives not complying with our laws – or as one candidate has been overheard to say “bend them” is a dangerous proposition for the town.
The “candidate forum” organized and paid for by Mike Anderson, (former planning commissioner) was scheduled with the two candidates he has been working with, who support the large scale development. Mr. Anderson failed to verify the availability of any of the others prior to announcing the meeting on the candidate’s doorsteps, and he denied a request to re-schedule. He also stipulated what could not be discussed, thereby controlling the meeting by design.
I committed to supporting the voice of citizens and the laws which were put into place to preserve many of the aspects of our small town livability; this includes many important items not just development. I will not betray the community’s priorities. I will support change and development that is in keeping with those laws.
Please vote with care for Wheeler city council……
Deanne Ragnell
Candidate for Wheeler City Council
City Councilor GORDON TAYLOR
I enthusiastically endorse Linda Kozlowski for reelection to the Manzanita City Council. In my capacity as county commissioner, it has been my privilege to work with Linda on emergency preparedness issues, for which she is recognized statewide. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Linda’s leadership, her heart for service to the community and her ability to develop, nourish and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of people. Moreover, Linda is a dynamo, she accomplishes amazing things, and leads and inspires others to great works as well. Truly, it is accurate to say that Linda brings out the best in people, often more than they knew they were capable of. Linda’s continued leadership on the Manzanita City Council is in everyone’s best interest. Please vote for Linda Kozlowski.
Mary Faith Bell
Nehalem, OR
Teacher with 25 years experience offering tutoring in math for grades 4-7. Located in the Manzanita area. Email for more information Ingsland@gmail.com
We have known Karen Matthews for over 20 years and have been continuously impressed by her breadth of experience and her tireless can-do attitude.
She has always exhibited strong problem solving skills and found ways to address the needs of the community.
Her willingness to help in many projects and programs has created value for our three villages, as well as Tillamook county.
We support Karen as a person who has the community’s best interests in mind. She listens to input and defends democratic decisions made by her constituents.
We encourage our fellow citizens to vote for Karen for Wheeler City Council.
Rob & Angelle Soans
Let me reiterate from our previous meetings……
(dare I use ALL CAPS to restate my points once again?)
The management of municipalities takes discipline and commitment, understanding the systems, and following the laws set forth. I look forward to helping steer the City in the direction provided by you, our citizens, as documented in the Vision Plan to assure our beloved town retains it’s charm while increasing FINANCIAL VITALITY to take advantage of growth and solid management of our assets. My PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE of 6+ years on City Council gives me a solid foundation to apply my skills.
I will strongly support the Vision Plan, which was adopted by Comprehensive Plan and Ordinance. It deals with all sorts of issues; not just development. It is the “Voice of the Citizen”. The Vision calls for supporting a Vital Economy and we need to focus attention on that element for success as well as retaining the character of our village, assuring a HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT and more. These are not mutually exclusive.
I will work to research issues, manage projects that are supported by the council body, and introduce ordinance and resolutions that will allow the city to move forward with goals and objectives.
City Staff should be given the time and tools to find INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. We, as councilors, can do some of the leg-work if asked to assist with these important projects, working as a team.
We need to assure Businesses have the support of our laws and rules and include them in the process through open communication. Lets ask them for input on the sign ordinance that is currently being rewritten without their representation. I will encourage reinvigoration of a BUSINESS ASSOCIATION to facilitate open dialogue.
WORKFORCE HOUSING needs solutions applied. Until we have housing for workers we cannot support our businesses needs for staffing. I will study accessory dwelling unit options for long term rentals.
Our ordinance for NUSIANCE ABATEMENT needs to be upgraded to give the city leverage to encourage adherence to welcoming and safe buildings, which will attract new business.
I will continue to invite volunteers to participate hands-on in beautification of our town and other projects.
These areas are all outlined in the Vision that is all-encompassing.
NO SHORT TERM RENTALS (Ask my competitors what they support). Other potential financial sources such as short term rentals have been suggested. I do NOT support this as a revenue source, after talking to several experienced administrators including Marnie, Wheelers Finance Manager, who has multi city experience, there are too many issues and the costs out weigh the financial gain.
My competitors in this Council race have stated that the Vision Plan is old and we don’t have to use it anymore, others have said it no longer represents what our citizens want. While I agree it is time to re-measure public input, we should not disregard what citizens documented in the interim. This is a long process by design and must be done without bias.
We were all drawn to Wheeler for what it is, a beautiful coastal town with a nostalgic feel, neighborhoods where people know and help each other, and the million-dollar view. We have such a unique village that many people crave. I support development in all commercial districts with small to midsize boutique hotels, shops, and eateries. What an exciting time to prepare for the influx of visitors along the Salmonberry trail.
We will one day be the place so many outdoor enthusiasts first land on the Oregon Coast from their journey over the coast range via the Salmonberry Trail. We will be here, ready to serve them with small shops to explore, food to eat, places to stay, outdoor recreation (think kayaking/birding) and likely a bicycle repair shop to meet their needs. Who know, we may even have a small shop offering massage and foot care?
In summary, I envision a small town welcoming visitors and citizens alike who are looking for a variety of recreation, services, and support needs. Lets work together to build that into a reality.
Lets work together to boost the energy, economy and ecosystem of Wheeler. I will continue to listen to the people of Wheeler and I ask for your vote ballots are here. Please vote now.
Enough political retiring, I am ready to begin constructive consensus building.
Please Vote
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Nehalem, Oregon
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Timeline cleanser * … Election time, vote.
I am not concerned about a Republican PAC giving money to Republicans running for office. I am hoping to get a more balanced government for Oregon and so I am not voting for Democrats this year. We really need a balance to stop the one party control over Oregon. That is not a representative government. Make no mistake! I think that Republicans would do the same thing if they got majority power and held it for so long. A Democracy requires many voices to be heard. And ten people with the ability to raise money cannot be called a Democracy and should not control our legislature.
I put Marty Wildes entire letter in the BBQ some months ago. If you want a copy send me an e-mail and I will send one to you. In the box -saying Subject: put in ” Wilde’s Letter.”
Ohio has a 9% sales tax. Ohio’s property tax is 3 times higher than Wheeler. Ohio’s transportation costs are nearly the highest in the country. Ohio has serious environmental “brown field” pollution. Ohio has air you don’t want to breath. Industry will divorce you like a worn-out spouse. Industry will play a confidence game for tax abatement with you by holding out a carrot of revenue and then hitting you with the stick of infrastructure and social costs, and then leave when it is there time to pay.
Wheeler’s vision plan is for the well being of residents. If you shop at Costco, then you know cheapest is not best. Cost and value are two different attributes. Investing in our home is for our children and their future.
I moved to Oregon in 1981 and moved to Wheeler in 1986.
Ken Hill
or perhaps, hopefully, it’s of general interest to nehalem voters.
i was disappointed in our Meet & Greet for two reasons. I was delighted for one reason, as follows.
REASONS FOR DISAPPOINTMENT
1) only two candidates out of six showed up for our well-advertised Meet & Greet the Candidates on tuesday 10/18.
two of the four who didn’t show up never responded to repeated invitations from the Tillamook County Pioneer. the other two of those four had responded that they would come, but then didn’t. i would like to ask them why they didn’t come to talk to the voters, since i assume they want to be elected.
Phil Chick (candidate for mayor) and Dave Cram (candidate for the council) were the two who came to the Meet & Greet.
these two candidates, Phil Chick and Dave Cram, get my vote, not just because they showed up, but also because they were open and willing to answer our questions. phil chick showed deep knowledge of city issues. dave cram is pretty knew on the city council, and showed concern for the city and willingness to learn.
2) out of the twenty-one people who attended, 15 were in the nehalem UGB and can’t vote in nehalem city elections. only six registered nehalem voters showed up. dang, don’t you care?
REASON FOR DELIGHT
we got to know the two candidates, and we had excellent discussion about some relevant nehalem issues. the meeting was educational for many who attended.
thanks to the Tillamook County Pioneer for organizing this meeting.
om peace namaste
lucy brook
nehalem resident
nehalem voter
Before I applied for the open position on City Council in August I agreed to assist Linda with her re-election campaign. I have since attended several meetings with Linda and I continue to be impressed by her subject knowledge, professionalism, and her ability to work together as a team and compromise. With a virtually new city council and mayor I believe it is imperative that Linda Kozlowski have a seat at the table. She will enable the new Council to hit the ground running by being able to provide insight on past Council decisions and also her thorough understanding on how the City functions and the role of City Council. Linda has already been a tremendous help to me as I learn the ropes in my new role on Council.
I will be voting for Linda Kozlowski.
Jenna Edginton
I served on the Wheeler Planning Commission in the past and feel that I am somewhat knowledgeable about our zoning and ordinances. Here are a couple of thoughts I would ask you to please consider. A huge part of the Mayor, City Council, and Planning Commissions’ job is to limit our town’s “litigation risk.” The reason for that should be obvious, but to state the obvious, our small town doesn’t have a lot of extra money to spend on lawyers (like thousand of small towns across this Country). How do you limit litigation risk? You simply follow the laws. Every city has rules, zoning, ordinances, etc. These are important so that one person doesn’t get to do something that someone else can’t. It’s simply about fairness and should help to prevent discrimination. The best local government is able to work “magic” by negotiating and tweaking development to best fit their town and the property owner’s “vision.” It is all about working toward that “win-win” scenario. You don’t have to view someone’s desire to build on their property as an attack on your town, or that they must be some kind of monster for wanting something different from you.
Wheeler is being sued because the developer feels that the City Council didn’t follow the law. Please think of the situation this way, What if the developer was a racial minority? African American, Latino/Latina, Arab, you pick… And people in town said, “we don’t think what you are wanting to do fits with our ‘vision’ for this town… and, it messes up the view for some of us and we don’t want more traffic (even though our town has a major Hwy running through it).” That is called discrimination and Wheeler could, and is, being sued for it. Or lets say two members on the City Council have a vested interest in protecting the two lodging businesses in town. They should recuse themselves from voting on a new proposed lodging business right? Well they didn’t. It “appears” that their sole purpose of getting on the City Council was to stop this potential motel from being built. It was a threat to their (or their partners) business interests. How can someone who owns a motel on the waterfront vote to deny someone else from building a motel on the waterfront? How was this allowed to happen? Honestly, it is baffling to me. What can happen if City Councilors are allowed to vote when they should have been told to recuse themselves? You get sued. Some would call this behavior corruption hidden under a veil of protecting “our vision.”
That’s why cities have laws that govern development. To prevent discrimination and corruption. It also helps you from getting sued and going bankrupt. That is why it is crucial to have educated and unbiased people serve as Mayor or on the City Council. You should not run for city government because you have a personal agenda, or because you want to stop your neighbor from developing their property because of their race, political affiliation, gender, etc. or because it might compete with your business or would interfere with your view. That’s the law, sorry if you don’t like it. You can talk Wheeler’s Vision document all day long but what matters are the zoning laws and ordinances. By-the-way that vision document was created by taking input from an unscientific survey of Wheeler residents. “What do you like and don’t like about Wheeler?” It was a simple barometer of how people were feeling a very long time ago (20 years ago?). It was/is imperfect. When I was on the Planning Commission I pointed out that not a single question related to children or their families living in Wheeler. The survey questions were clearly formed by a group of people in an older demographic. Yes, Wheeler has a lot of retirees. There is nothing wrong with that, but please realize that the survey had significant limitations and was intended to simply help form the Wheeler “Vision Statement.” The Vision Statement is intended to be one, of many things that help when writing the town’s Comprehensive Plan, Ordinances, and Zoning. The Vision Statement is not a legal document that you can cherry pick to discriminate against someone wanting to develop. A town has to follow land use laws or run the risk of getting sued. Yes, sometimes you will follow the rules and still get sued, but that is not the case here, unfortunately. We have a couple of biased City Councilors who voted, multiple times, who should have recused themselves. And, we have a City Council that didn’t follow the law. I believe that some of these people had good intentions, but at the end of the day, what matters is your ability to be knowledgeable and follow the law. Those are the facts, if you like them or not. LUBA has said as much and keeps sending the issue back to the town to fix it, but that hasn’t happened. If you don’t want anyone to use the Wheeler Waterfront, you have to change the zoning, you can’t just wave your finger and say “no, no, no.” You should be happy that we have laws to prevent anyone from picking and choosing who gets to live here or have a business here. It protects us from racism, corruption, nepotism, graft, etc.
All of this is why I am voting for Dave Bell and Mary Leverette. Lets please get back to responsible governing. On a side note, I know Dave Bell and he is simply an amazing person. You won’t find anyone more thoughtful, honorable, etc. An absolutely top notch person.
For those that are upset about Wheeler changing or their view being disturbed, be careful what you wish for. If Wheeler is bankrupted by this lawsuit we will become an unincorporated community in Tillamook County. We will thus fall under their development rules. They will follow the law, as they should, and approve appropriate development of the Wheeler waterfront (if you like it or not). They will also allow short-term rentals, as is allowed in all other unincorporated parts of Tillamook County. Are you or the City Council willing to pay the judgement if we lose? Very doubtful…
Lets please return to responsible governance and focus on what is important. Top of the list, saving The Roost!
Regards,
Brent Anctil (yes, I am proud to give my name and stand by what I say, no hiding here)
Wheeler, Oregon
Anybody who listens to the Manzanita City Council meetings knows that I took, and continue to take a deep dive into the state of water in our world and in our city.
To be a responsible citizen I want to know everything about our water system and how it is connected to other water systems in the area. There’s a lot to know..
Friend Mary Ruhl teamed up with me. We read the water plan and we generated a list of questions. We then interviewed several people we thought would have answers. We found there are a many issues and questions that need to be addressed by the new city council.
We were surprised when two candidates, Deb Simmons and Brad Mayerle, separately requested to meet with us. In those discussions we found we knew a lot.
Brad continued on. He talked with the people we had talked with and others, he attended local watershed meetings, and he took field trips to the origin of water sources which we have water rights to.
I feel confident with Brad on the city council our water issues will be addressed.
Brad has looked into many other issues in a similar systematic and thorough way. It’s the way he approaches challenges.
The council positions are volunteer. We are fortunate to have a person of his caliber interested in being on an important team to lead our city.
The ballots will be in our mail boxes soon. The first thing I’m going to do is to vote for Brad Mayerle for city council. I hope you do too.
Karen LaGrave Small
Mother, Grandmother
Full time resident of Manzanita
For a hot minute this July, I ran for a seat on Manzanita City Council. I gathered my signatures, got on the ballot and in August, at a Women’s Forum meeting, burst into tears when I had to drop out because my already heavy teaching load unexpectedly got even heavier.
During that time, I got to know Brad Mayerle. You’d think that two people vying for the same position wouldn’t exactly hit it off, but that’s not what happened. He was an encouraging supporter of my run, as another resident with many of the same concerns we all have. He was willing to share information and talk over what we were both learning. I’ve watched how much time and energy Brad puts in every day to learn about the issues our town faces and the creative solutions other communities have implemented to deal with them. He meets with people who live or work in the community to learn what their perspectives are. What he learns he communicates clearly on his blog and postings or in conversations, which is no small feat when you’re talking about short-term rentals or workforce housing.
There’s been some social media yelling about Brad not volunteering enough at one of the organizations in town, like that’s some character flaw, but I don’t see that as the most important thing in choosing a candidate for office.
Brad’s profession as a dentist and his business experience running a large successful dental practice in Lake Oswego would bring the necessary leadership skills to council. Brad is respectful, he listens and he’s pragmatic. In his work, he’s had to be.
In our contentious little town, Brad Mayerle also has the kind of temperament to lead. Brad’s not a guy who does things for prizes and accolades. He doesn’t brag on himself when he’s done something good and when people have gone low on social media, which unfortunately they do, he doesn’t respond in kind. He’s not thin-skinned or defensive. He’s not arrogant or a know it all.
That’s the kind of person we need on council. That’s why I’m voting for Brad Mayerle.
Ben Killen Rosenberg
I was enjoying dinner the other night with friends, and we talked about our experiences during the pandemic. I told a story about how crazy it was to be in the medical profession at that time and about my commitment to my employees when the pandemic began. And I thought I’d share this story with you, so you can understand what else I will bring to the table: teamwork.
When Covid cases started to spread, even before the state ordered dental practices to shut down, I felt the need to protect my staff from this unknown illness. We immediately closed at the state’s mandate. Of course, my employees were concerned about how they would pay their bills, and I completely understood my staff’s concern. Many of my staff were younger, just buying their first homes; some were single moms, and some had kids in college. There was so much uncertainty, but I knew we would get through it together, and we did. After two months, we were permitted to reopen with minimal guidance from the state. We knew we would be seeing fewer patients, and that would require less staff. My staff pulled together, compromised and brought ideas to how we could provide the safest, most efficient environment to provide the care our patients needed. We went above and beyond in safety protocol to protect both the staff and our patients.
I was so proud of my staff, and I was proud of the management style that I was able to cultivate over the years to help guide us through this challenging time.
I often had patients tell me how our office was so different from other dental offices they had visited. Our office was full of laughter, my staff worked independently, and we had fun while providing state-of-the-art dentistry.
Patients noticed the number of procedures my staff was allowed to perform. I have always believed that people should be given the opportunity to grow in their job. Performing the same procedure, or micromanaging a person, stifles their creativity and ability to grow. My staff picked the continuing education classes they wanted to attend. It was my job to make the opportunity available. We had staff meetings after educational events so they could share what they had learned with the rest of the group. I encouraged my staff to perform all the work within their comfort level that the state allowed. Quite frankly, they were better at many of the procedures than I was. My assistant made the best temporary restorations you have ever seen. No patient left our office embarrassed to smile while waiting for their permanent restorations. My hygiene department recommended the schedules for recall, they knew the patients’ hygiene needs, and I trusted them.
Over the course of building my practice, it grew from one employee to 14. I assembled this staff by looking at skill sets and how they would fit into our office environment. Some of my staff didn’t just come from the dental world. I hired the front desk person at the hotel where we’d stay when I was commuting from Manzanita to Lake Oswego. The front desk manager always made us feel so welcome, asked us about our family, and provided such excellent customer service that I asked him if he wanted to work for me. He did, and it worked out great. People loved him—employees and patients alike.
Like any family, we had our problems. Sometimes staff members felt someone wasn’t doing the work or holding up their end of the bargain. We would talk and find a resolution. Sometimes it was easy, someone was having a family issue or a rough patch, and sometimes it was a deeper problem like substance abuse. We had regular staff meetings: short ones weekly over lunch, and longer ones monthly, where we would close the office for the afternoon. By providing a safe place to talk and listen, we respected each other, and meetings always ended on an optimistic note. This atmosphere kept our team together for years; we celebrated our successes often with outings, happy hours, and gatherings.
In previous posts, I have outlined my skill sets, such as how I use the medical model for decision-making and my business experience in fiscal responsibility and following regulations. I thought you might enjoy understanding my experience working in a team and how I believe it differentiates me from the other candidates.
Here’s what some of my staff members have to say:
Dr. Brad definitely has a soft spot for the “underdog” or those who feel different or out of place. He had a special ability to talk with everyone and anyone and make them feel at home and comfortable in his dental chair. In the 13 years I assisted Brad, he showed me great compassion and generosity several times. I was diagnosed with breast cancer about one year into my employment, and Brad and the entire team supported me and carried me when I needed it. I couldn’t have asked for a better boss and friend through that dark time of my life and throughout my 13 years with Mayerle & Tydeman Dental. –Nicole
Brad, working for a boss like you really helped me to elevate my work experience. You were kind, motivating and a wonderful leader. I appreciate all of your support over the years as your patient, your colleague, your employee and, lastly, your friend. I will never forget your loyalty and support over the years. –Jenny
Brad always treated me fair, was respectful and always loyal and honest. I love his great sense of humor! Always a joy to work with!! –Jams
Working with Brad was extremely enjoyable. He was always respectful and kind. One of the things I really liked was he would listen when people spoke, whether it was staff or a patient. He really listened and made people feel heard. I always enjoyed the days I got to work with Brad. They were really fun. –Gwen
