Mayor Response on Fireworks at Canby High School

I want to take a moment and address the recent conversation that has been occurring around fireworks at Canby High School football games and recent concerns raised to the City Council. 

Last year, a resident that lives near the high school brought to the City Council his concerns about the fireworks. He suffers from PTSD. His concerns were the percussive nature, or loud booms, and the randomness that occurs around the fireworks set off after a score at the football game. 

During the conversation last year, as a compromise, we asked the school district to use a less percussive firework and we re-worked our city noise ordinance to allow fireworks for the football games.  Included in this was that the school needed to inform surrounding homes of when the use of fireworks were going to occur. Any other use of fireworks outside of football games, such as graduation, need to be a separate, individual noise ordinance request for each event to the council.  ALL parties agreed that this was a solid solution. This was a verbal agreement and understanding between the school district and the city.

Forward to last week, the same resident with a petition with signatures from several other residents and businesses approached the Canby School Board as well as the City Council about the upcoming football season and fireworks. 

The following day, our City Manager, Rick Robinson, in collaboration with me, sent an email to Canby School District Superintendent Trip Goodall. The intent of the email was a request, in response to the petition, to switch the fireworks to a non-percussive variety or to not do them at all.  Based on the ordinance, the school district could choose to continue the fireworks as is. We made an appropriate ask, even though we had come to the verbal understanding a year ago as mentioned above. 

I know there is a way to work together to keep fireworks a part of the Canby High School football home game tradition. I know that the City of Canby and the Canby School District can work out a solution that all sides can be proud of. 

Should you have any questions or concerns about this issue, please visit my Facebook page and send me a private message.

My New Venture

Many of you know me as mayor.  Many of you know me as former president of the Chamber of Commerce here in Canby.  For many more, you have met me through my position as manager at the Starbucks here in town.  Last November, after I was elected mayor, my wife and I talked and made a decision that I had been weighing for a few years.  I chose to resign from Starbucks.

I worked for Starbucks for almost 20 years and I have nothing but praise and admiration for the company.  But retail is a tough job!  And I was longing for something more.  I do miss the daily interaction with so many of you.  But in my heart of hearts, it was time for a change.

Now, the Mayor position comes with responsibility and some weeks a number of hours.  What it does not come with is a paycheck.  I receive a monthly stipend that covers a haircut, coffee with constituents, and most of the dry-cleaning.  So I made this leap of faith with no job lined up and knowing this was the right thing to do.

I was able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family without the pressures of a retail manager or District Manager position.  I made every family gathering, all the Christmas parties and I was not falling a sleep at any of them!  I was feeling good about my decision to move on to something new.

I ultimately chose to become a mortgage advisor.  I work locally in town at Advantage Mortgage. I studied for and passed all my required licensing tests and now, I am officially licensed. I couldn't be more excited!  This new career gives me a chance to network with a lot of the people I have relationships with in and out of town. It gives me more flexibility for soccer games, t-ball games, and family time.  It also makes me more flexible to meet with the citizens of Canby and to schedule engagements in my role as mayor of our fine town.   It's working out to be an ideal position and I'm pleased.

You can find out more about my new position by visiting the company's website or by visiting my Facebook page.  Thank you for all the support and prayers from friends, family, and our Canby Alliance Church family these past six months.  God is good.

Until the next post...

Remembering those that gave their all at Iwo Jima

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So...I am a little back logged on some blog posts...I apologize for this.  I have been working on a new library, seeking a new job, and studying to secure my Mortgage Loan Originator license so I can actually earn an income.  Let's get caught up, shall we?

Mayor's of small towns like Canby are asked to attend many community events each season.  I do wish I could make them all, there are just so many evenings and weekends.  Plus I need and want my family time as well.  One event that was an honor to be a part of, held back in February, was the Iwo Jima Remembrance Ceremony and recognition of our WWII Veterans.  It was an incredibly moving ceremony with young Marines, our local Color Guard from the Legion, and 3 local WWII Veterans (two of which were at the Battle of Iwo Jima) to name a few.  The Canby Adult Center was filled with Veterans, families, and loved ones.  City Councilors Traci Hensley, Tim Dale, Ken Rider, and Clint Coleman were also in attendance.

The history of this battle is extensive and this island in the Pacific was crucial to our success in the Pacific Theater.  So many men and women were lost in this battle that was supposed to last only 3 days. This event holds meaning for me because both of my Grandfathers were in WWII - one in the South Pacific as a Navy Man, the other in the Army.  Below are a few pictures of the event and my welcome speech.

Local Young Marines from ROTC

Spreading Iwo Jima sand

Color Guard preparing the Stars and Stripes




My welcome speech:

     Good morning and thank you Irene for the wonderful introduction and for this yearly event that is so important to our veterans and our community.

     I would also like to thank the Canby Aurora Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6057, their auxiliary and their fellow veterans and service organizations.

     Welcome all you to the 18th annual ceremony of our World War two Memorial as we replace the flags and re-dedicate this memorial in remembrance of those that have served.

     While preparing for this welcome I gave myself a little refresher history lesson on the battle of Iwo Jima.  Moving past the numbers like: 26,000 wounded or killed Americans; 22,000 Japanese soldiers lying in wait; 120 bomber planes showering the island night after night; 10,000 gallons a day of fuel used for flame throwers; the pictures and videos.  Moving past phrases like “pillboxes” and the “meat grinder” two things grab me.

     First is history, the second is courage.

     History is important.  As a grandson of a World War II Army cook on one side and a Navy welder on the other, history is important.   Harold Hodson, a hard working father of two, passed away before it dawned on me that “I should ask”.  James Vlach is 95 and a great man. Every visit home to Ohio I try to draw out more about World War II, being on the Midway Aircraft Carrier in the South Pacific, his first car and seeing the Benny Goodman big-band with my grandma.  Some topics come easier than others. “I should ask”.

     Second is courage.  Our servicemen and women have a courage and a devotion to God and country that can be complicated to explain.  I admire that courage of my grandfathers and Uncles to enlist, the courage of all our veterans, and the courage of all our young people to protect and defend our country and our freedoms.

     History must be revisited to understand the courage it took to take a 5 mile long island or a beach in Normandy.  “I must ask” to hear the history from those that lived through it.  “I must ask” you, our veterans, to please share your stories with those that are close to you.  This history is so very important to remember.

For many of us this kind of service to God and country takes a level of courage we may never realize, yet we want to know and remember what it takes to keep our nation strong. 

Thank you to the veterans and enlisted men and women for your service, your protection and your courage.

God bless you, your families, and our great country. 

Thank you.

Follow @mayorhodson

State of the City

Yesterday, I delivered the State of the City address at the Canby Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  It was a full house and I was excited (and maybe a little anxious) to share my report, analysis, and glimpse of the future of Canby.  I have only been "on the job" since January 2nd.  I did have a lot of help from city staff with much of the technical information and I am confident that my passion for what lies ahead and that we be solutions minded on our future challenges came across.

Below is the "hard copy" of what I presented.  I welcome your feedback, praises, and concerns for what I have presented.  Thank you for reading.

State of the City Address January 8, 2013

Mayor Brian D. Hodson

Before I begin I want to thank Walt Daniels and Randy Carson for their service to our community.  They have contributed a lot to Canby.

If you would have told me 10-15 years ago that I was going to be a city councilor or Mayor, I would have said “No way”.  Well, it has happened.  This has something I have thought about pursuing and even joked – “Some day I will run for office”. Who knew?  What I will not joke about is that I take this responsibility very seriously and appreciate the trust you all have placed in me.  I’m excited and energized to take on this role for the city and for you.

Our world has shown that it can change in a flash.  In the last 6 months I have run a campaign, been elected, decided to change jobs and work with the Chamber Board to plan a Christmas Light Event.  Since November, we have selected a new mayor and council members, changed the leadership of our county, and re-elected President Obama.  We witnessed tragedy at the hands of desperate, hurting individuals that touched some in this room, and every one of us across the country.

There were several Canby detectives and officers that assisted in the investigation at Clackamas Town Center and several churches in Canby that united to support the city of Sandy Hook, Connecticut.  I want to thank those officers and churches for lending a helping hand and support.  It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we come together and unite for a good cause.

On Sunday January 6^th in an interview with my Pastor, he asked what excited me about Canby?  It is the heroic, heartfelt acts I just mentioned, like those by our Police Team and our community to reach out across our nation. Such actions say we are thinking of you in this time of need.  I become excited and proud about our city when the Canby Center is able to meet its financial need to continue its operations because of donations by the community. I am excited when we have talented youth that pour their hearts into theatre, music, art, sports, and science. I am even more excited when the community shows up in support; and when one of our community members, Francisco Zamora is recognized as a local hero by local media.

I am filled with excitement and optimism when I hear of new businesses expressing interest in Canby and existing ones staying open or expanding in this continued tough economic climate.  These are the things that lay our foundation.

What I will present to you today is a city that is in good shape and that I am proud of.  We can always do better and we will do our very best, to be better.  I will go out on a limb for the council and for staff when I say we can always do better.

Financially Speaking: Our city is holding the course.  We were faced last year with a higher than anticipated increase in health care costs that impacted us.  Mr. Ellis and his Leadership team presented a balanced budget to the budget committee this past spring with further cuts to expenses all the while working hard at maintaining our high levels of customer service. 

For the remainder of the fiscal year that began in July we have already begun to look ahead to next year and the next couple of years after that.  We will be having a supplemental budget coming to us in February to capture the $1MM in county capital money for the new library and the savings of over $250,000 through the restructuring of debt on projects from 2003 and 2004, combining transaction fees and taking insurance on our library and Sequoia projects.  The restructuring can be looked at like refinancing your home for an interest rate below 3% and this will be a huge savings.  Thank you to Mr. Ellis, Haley Fish our Finance Director and her team for pulling this together.

The city’s budget committee has already held its 1^st meeting of the year in November to discuss the potential impact that PERS, Cost of Living Adjustments, and Health Care Costs will potentially have on us.  As of now these items could have a tremendous negative impact on services.  I am stressing ‘potential’ and ‘could’ because they are our best guess numbers as of right now.  Our State legislature will be weighing in when session convenes, we enter into contract negotiations with our Police Union this year and I am confident that conversation will give way to dialogue with the City Employees Union, where all of these will impact that overall number.

Our city leadership are working from the position of what are the “have to do” versus the “want to do”.  They are being frugal and a spend it all mentality has not, does not, and will not work.  They understand that we need to work now to set up the future so Canby will continue to be successful.

A large aspect that we provide for is public safety and this year was no exception. 

Canby Police Department

We completed the new police station where police staff moved in the week of August 14-17^th.  Our Police had an average response time to all calls within the 2011 calendar year of 114 seconds, or 1 minute 54 seconds.  Over 14,000 calls were dispatched to Canby Police Officers. That is about 1,170 calls per month.

GREAT Program – Gang Reduction Education and Training –has been maintained with Canby Schools due to an overtime grant funded by a partnership with the Clackamas County Juvenile Department.  Taught in the classroom by a trained uniformed officer, the goal of this program and curriculum is to prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement while developing a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and our young people to create safer communities. 

In an effort to improve efficiency, cost savings, and prepare for the development downtown the Municipal Court, to include court personnel and City Attorney, is now under the direction of the police department.  Court hearings with will now temporarily take place at the police department beginning January 7 of this year. 

Chief Smith and the department continue to mold our police force through hard work on the identification and implementation of the police department’s “new” Mission, Values, and Vision Statement.  This will give shape and direction to the Police Department’s future.

In September 2012, the department implemented a patrol shift that will allow for the better movement of sworn personnel to other shifts.  Such rotation of assignment will minimize fatigue, create opportunities for personnel growth and development and promote oversight and familiarity of personnel by supervisors.

We are committed to continuing the School Resource Officer at Canby High School.  The placement of a law enforcement officer, Greg Larrison, within the school system is a very proactive and preventive decision.  The officer works in partnership with the high school and typically will focus their duty related functions on a model consisting of law enforcement, student counseling, and law-related education. 

In the upcoming year our Police Department is working toward accomplishing the following important goals:

·         Fill police officer vacancies that will promote better shift coverage, increased officer safety, provide better service to the community due to decreased response times and allow for multi-agency partnerships and collaboration.

·         Create a new web page for the police department to interact with the city’s web page.

·         Implement the Citizens/Community Academy that is a series of classes designed to give community members and City Leaders a peek into the inner working of the Canby Police Department. 

·         With a grant from Oregon Department of Transportation, will begin implementation of an Electronic Ticket System that will issue traffic citations in less than 60 seconds and enables officers to return to service faster. 

Other public safety measures taken this year include the completion of sidewalks and walkways at the area called the Triangle that separate 3^rd and 4^th and extended them past the Fairgrounds.

Canby School District and the city partnered together to improve several of the routes to area schools.  With more children walking to school this school year, additional striping, cross-walks, stop signs and flashing pedestrian indicators were added.  Canby Police also increased patrols around the schools before and after school for safety, monitoring, and presence.  I am confident these helpful additions will be evaluated at the end of the year by the school district and the city so we can course correct as needed for future needs.

Within the Urban Renewal District we saw the completion of our Police Station.  This modern and updated facility places Canby at the forefront of public safety with improved technology, improved evidence storage, protection to our officers and it came in under budget to name a few important elements.  The 1st Avenue Redevelopment project brought new streets, streetlights, parking lot, wider sidewalks, landscaping and seating areas. The project also undergrounded utilities, and replaced sewer, water and stormwater lines.   I want to thank the businesses along 1^st Ave and in the Downtown area for their patience; I know it was not easy. 

Economic Development headed by Renata Mengleberg, continued to be an important focus for the Council and Staff this past year.  A Canby Business Survey was conducted last spring to gather input from all sections of Canby’s business areas. Over 70% of businesses rate Canby as an excellent or good place to do business, and appreciated the quality of life, proximity to customers, amenities and local vendors. New resources that have been developed to support local businesses include:

·         “Shop Canby” was launched in January. This searchable website lists all Canby businesses. This enables each business to have a micro website that they can customize to promote their services.  65 business have customized information on the site that attracts 200-400 each month.  On average 65% are new visitors customers. 

·         The Canby Retail Market Analysis was completed last summer. Over 900 residents and 221 employers responded to the survey to help with this analysis. The study provided recommendations on types of business to attract based on the survey feedback and marketing materials to promote Canby to new retailers.

·         The city now has an updated online inventory of vacant retail, industrial space and land available to promote Canby.  This is being updated quarterly so potential businesses can see what is available.

·         A Canby Revolving Loan Program was launched in July to support local business investment.  Loans from $10,000 to $250,000 are available with 10 year terms for building expansions, new construction, building code upgrades, fixtures and seismic retrofits.

·         Three Industrial Forums were held for major employers that provided expert presentations on operational excellence.  Thank you to local manufacturers including MEC Northwest, Pioneer Pump that have hosted the forums. The program was successful and will continue for a second year in 2013.

Industrial Business Expansions and Additions have fueled our economic development this past year also:

·         Pioneer Pump completed its $2.7 million expansion in March. The 34,500 square foot warehouse will support 54 new jobs over time.

·         Shimadzu celebrated its 54,000 square foot expansion in June. The company invested $4.4 million and will add 45 new jobs in Canby.

·         Hawksoft, an insurance agent software developer, moved in to its new 15,000 square foot building in June bringing 42 jobs to Canby. Their goal is to grow to 100 over time.

·         Bold Ideas - a precision metals manufacturer moved in to the Canby Pioneer Industrial Park in bringing 15 jobs. They are projecting to add 40-50 employees over time.

·         Dragonberry Produce broke ground on their new 12,384 square foot building in the Canby Pioneer Industrial Park. They will invest $2.5 million in the new building which will be completed in June bringing 15 jobs to start with.

·         The Habitat for Humanity ReStore opened a shop in Canby this Fall.

·         The 6.1 acre former police site has been cleaned up to make it more competitive for sale.

·         The city promoted Canby to 10 industrial business leads and met with or assisted 13 larger Canby companies.  

·         The Canby Pioneer Industrial Park is now home to 17 companies that employ almost 850 people and have invested over $74 million in buildings and equipment. The park is 35% developed at this point.

Staff is currently developing an economic development plan that will be brought forward for adoption in March so that we can have continued success in the future.

Included in the umbrella of the Urban Renewal Agency is our Main St Program, headed by Jamie Stickle.

2012 brought many exciting successes to downtown Canby.

·         The Façade improvement program continued to gain steam with several projects completed – including the new Bricks and Minifigs building and Canby Station. Many more façade improvements were approved by the Urban Renewal board including the American Legion, T-Line Design, Trinity Counseling, and Canby Music that we will see this year.

·         Ten new businesses opened within the downtown commercial district, spanning everything from hair salons to accounting firms, wellness centers to health clinics.

·         Downtown events promoted downtown including the ongoing First Friday program, Halloween festivities and a new Halloween costume parade, the Cruise In and the annual Light the Night parade and tree lighting.

·         Two rounds of the artistic banner program brought art from local artists and high school students to the streets of Canby, while forging key community partnerships.

·         The Main Street program currently has 18 active volunteers supporting the Promotion and Design committees. Involvement is always encouraged to expand existing committees to leverage Canby’s assets.

Looking ahead, the Main Street Program will focus its efforts on a wide variety of projects, including a blade sign program, creating a sign that will be stationed at the Event Center to direct visitors to the downtown core, adding two additional Main Street committees – Economic Restructuring and Organization,  To expand the Main Street Program, staff will provide additional funding sources including pursuing various grants, and holding special events throughout the year.

Additional accomplishments and items on the horizon for Canby – we adopted the 99E Corridor Plan; we started and are close to the completion of a series of city visioning meetings that will direct our planning and goal setting efforts in the coming years; The Ford Family Leadership Foundation completed a year long bike rack project bringing new and unique elements around Canby.  Here in 2013 we will be moving forward with Stormwater Master Planning, the planning for the new library is progressing forward with community meetings starting this month, and we will begin the Sequoia connection to SE 13^th Ave this spring. 

There is much to be proud of for the past year and there are a number of things that will need our attention, we need a new level of detail, and the ability for government to do the work differently.  What worked in the past may still not be a viable option.  We must realize that we have to prioritize the “have to do’s” before we do the “want to do’s”.  It is not easy.  It means delayed gratification in most instances and it may not be a “No” answer.  It may be a “not just yet”. 

I encourage the council to take a detailed look at how we are setting up Canby for success in not only the city budget and use the Urban Renewal District funds but how we need to plan for the future.  The District closes in about 7 years and as we have seen, the planning we do now will very well be executed by a different council.  Let’s be great in the little things as well as in the big things.  We are building for another generation.

For us to grow Canby’s economic engine we have to be aggressive to draw businesses here to our Industrial Park.  At a state level, the legislature must focus on how to make Oregon a desirable place to bring and open businesses.  Our state as a leader in manufacturing must continue to grow this by becoming more business friendly.

We need our County Commissioners to come together and change the image and reputation that our county is not business friendly.  When a business is looking in the Portland Metro area, we want Canby to be one of the top three places they look into. Canby is not just “shovel ready” we are “Job Ready”. 

On a city level if the draw of new businesses to the state is a trickle, we must appeal to businesses in Washington and Multnomah County to bring them to Canby.  If we can be more attractive to draw the right community minded businesses here then let’s do that.  We have a tremendous amount of Economic know-how at our disposal – our Economic Development Director worked at the county, our former Economic Development Director is currently at the county, and our Chamber Director has ten plus years of promoting Canby across the state.  This is an incredible team that we must leverage for Canby and Clackamas’ benefit.  Let’s “coach up” the members of the Planning Commission so that when businesses do come knocking and housing starts begin we can be ready, without any delay.

For eighteen years I worked for a company that stressed we answer the question – “How do we stay small as we grow bigger?”.  Through the visioning process we have heard it come across that we want to keep our small town feel.   We stay small through making connections in our neighborhoods, being involved by going to community events, and by being engaged in solutions for what is happening in our community.  We will grow positively together on our terms and in a way that is best for Canby!

Thank you to the Chamber for allowing me to speak today, thank you to city staff for all your hardwork this past year, thank you to the city councilors that work hard for all of us, and thank you to the citizens of Canby for your passion.  God Bless you, your families, and Canby.  Let’s get to work!

Sincerely,

Brian Hodson

Mayor

City of Canby, OR.

New Year, New Mayor

I hope this blog post finds you reflecting on a joyous holiday season and prosperous 2012. I as well had a wonderful holiday season with my family and am looking forward to an exciting 2013.

 One of the main reasons I am looking forward to the new year is I take the realm as your new mayor in Canby on January 2nd! I've spent the past few months since the election meeting with fellow city councilors, our city administrator, and other key officials to strategize, create priorities, and get a feel of what is our highest priority as we begin the new year. I am also meeting with and listening to you, the citizens of Canby. 

As I stated in my campaign, you are the true voice of what is most important to the growth and prosperity of our town. I value your opinions and suggestions. I hope you know that you can email me or call me anytime with your concerns and feedback. As the new year begins for our town, there are a lot of immediate concerns and issues to address: fine tuning 1st Avenue, addressing issues with 99E, and other key parts of our town.

 I invite you to attend the City Council meeting on January 2nd, when I am sworn in. If you have specific concerns, questions, or community issues you feel need immediate attention in my tenure, I encourage you to voice them at the meeting. If you supported me on my campaign and are excited for this new venture, I would appreciate your support at the meeting as well as I am sworn in. Be sure to RSVP on Facebook, to show your support and that you will be in attendance January 2nd. Happy New Year!

What A Week!

I am humbled and thankful for all of you that supported me on this campaign.  It has been nothing short of amazing running this campaign and being elected as your next mayor of Canby.  Thank you.

We are now in the post-election wrap ups of final numbers being counted, news articles being printed, and last thoughts.  A few things came to light as read over the Canby Herald's coverage of election night; there are also a few corrections I need to state in regards to the paper's coverage. 

I had an interview by Peggy Savage at my election night party at Puddin' River Chocolates.  Her article summed up well my vision and first action items as your new mayor.  I had a problem, though, with the headline on my article:  "Hodson, council candidates a team...."  I am a team with ALL the council members.  It has always been about all councilors and the mayor working together for the good of the city.  Am I thankful for the support and help the 3 councilors who ran with me in this election?  Yes.  But this in no way should come across as "taking sides".  My record for the past 3.5 years as a councilor stands as testament to the fact that I am a proponent of working as a team in the betterment of Canby.

Furthermore, the anonymous editorial seemed to imply that partisanship would play a role in my duties as mayor and in the elected councilors roles.  Yet, the writer also makes a great quote when he/she states that councilors and mayors in the past "have had strong political, fiscal or faith-based views...."  And this is where I fall.  Because some of my political beliefs and convictions are so strong, of course this is going to transcend somewhat to my goals as a councilor and mayor.  In my campaign, I certainly emphasized my belief and platform to be conservative with the city's budget.  Have we forgotten what "conservative" means?  Long before it was so closely tied to one's political views, it simply meant this:

"....cautiously moderate or purposefully low...."

If stating that I want to be "conservative" with city dollars makes some assume something about my political views, then so be it.  This is precisely why I have also emphasized keeping the lines of communication open.  On my campaign, I spoke one on one with citizens about their concerns and my goals.  I would hope that citizens would continue to call me or come before the council if they felt the city's best interests were not being considered.

Furthermore, the paper printed some pictures from my election night party.  Yes, this was MY election night party.  It was not the "Canby Republican Party", as Savage stated with the photos.  People from all parties were in attendance.  I don't believe the word "Republican" was on any literature for my party, nor was it discussed at the party.  It was a celebration of the campaign and the efforts of my supporters.  As the evening went on, it took the shape of a victory party.  She also misidentified the attendees that were pictured.  I also find it slightly odd that the only article I can seem to find on the Herald's online site is the editorial telling us how to run things as a council.  Where's the election coverage?  Where's the picture of myself and Carson?  Where's the "news"?

Let's focus on the positive.  It's a win!  I look forward to serving Canby.

Election Day 2012

Wow, what a wild ride it's been!  This campaign has been nothing short of amazing.  I pursued a position that I am passionate about and committed to.  I have had the undying support of family, friends, and volunteers.  I have met hundreds of citizens.  I have participated in many events over the past 3 months that have been fun and energizing.  All in all, I am happy with the flow, pace, and the way I have carried myself in this campaign.  I have remained steadfast, honest, and "all in". 

And I am still out there today.  You may see me on a street corner in Canby, waving my sign and American flag, getting the vote out.  I'll be out both for breakfast in town, as well as attending the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  If you'd still like to talk to me, please do!  Please email me, message me on my Facebook page, or arrange to see me.  I am happy to answer any last minute questions you may have.

Tonight I'll be celebrating (win or lose) with my volunteers and close friends.  I'm looking forward to chatting and reflecting on the campaign with them and telling all my supporters and volunteers that they have done an incredible job!  Stay tuned to my Facebook and Twitter pages for up-to-the-minute elections updates, results, and photos.

Thank you for following me on this journey, reading this blog, and showing an interest in your community and the election process in general.  God bless.

                

Thankful

Wow, what a campaign this has been!  I am so thankful for so many blessings that have occurred since we began.

First, I am thankful for the love and support of my family.  From the moment my wife and I discussed the idea of running for mayor, to then actually deciding to undertake it, she and my children have supported me 100% and have been my biggest supporters. 

Secondly, I have the most amazing campaign team in the world!  I bet a lot of candidates say that, but it is so true.  My volunteers have walked miles and miles, going door to door for the campaign.  They have made phone calls.  They have attended and supported me at my debates and various events.  They have hosted meet and greet events.  They have offered advice and feedback.  I could not have done this without them.

I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to run for mayor.  To serve has always been something I have wanted to do.  I have a lot of passion for my town and for the role as a public servant; I am ready for the role as mayor of Canby. 

I am thankful for you, my friends and the citizens of Canby.  You've given me great ideas and feedback on what you want to see happen in our town.  Please know that you can always talk to me about what is concerning you with our community. 

Again, thank you.  As we head into the final days of this campaign, I hope to see you around town or on election day.  Come by and say a quick "hi" to me at Starbucks.  And don't forget to vote!

My Core Platform: The 3 Beliefs

Many of you have received both your voter's pamphlets and ballots.  Some of you have begun reading over the information and filling out your ballots.  I hope you will consider me as your next mayor of Canby. 

I've focused on three core beliefs in my campaign.  Here's a recap of those and how I plan to execute them if elected:

1.  Fiscal Responsibility.  We have a lot to do in our city.  We have improvements that need to be done to 99E.  We have a downtown we are busy revitalizing.  We have police, fire, and other core services to properly staff and fund.  Our URD district is still in place.  We have to balance the needs versus wants of our town.  I am committed to making smart, judicious decisions with the city's budget, with your tax dollars.  I am committed to making sure the needs of Canby are fulfilled first and welcoming the wants as we can afford them.

2.  Safe, Enjoyable Neighborhoods.  This topic is often forgotten by candidates in campaigns.  What could be more important than a town that is livable, enjoyable, and safe for our families?  Having a properly funded police and fire district is key.  Speaking with the community and the neighborhoods is also key to know what their concerns are and what needs to be addressed. 

3.  Strong Economic Engine.  We need to make Canby a welcome place for businesses.  We need to make citizens, both locally and nearby, want to patronize the businesses of Canby.  We need to keep our dollars in Canby, as well as bring in outside dollars.  How do we do this?  We need to make it easy for new businesses to want to open their doors in Canby.  We unfortunately, as an example, have our newest industrial park only 1/3 full.  We need to be driving businesses here!  We also need to make Canby inviting to make people want to stop and stay.  We need more attractive landscaping and signage along 99E.  We need to do a good job of promoting all the wonderful businesses and events that are a part of our community. 

As your next mayor, I promise to address these three key issues.  But above all, I promise to be your voice, to listen to the citizens of Canby, to follow up on your concerns. 

I ask for your vote November 6th.  Thank you and God bless.

Time To Vote!

It's Fall.  The leaves are changing, the Northwest weather is turning rainy, and......your voter's pamphlets and ballots are arriving in the mailbox!  I just got my voter's pamphlet in the mail and it is thick!  I am glad they arrive with ample time to read through the important issues and candidate's statements.

As I leafed through it and arrived at the mayor race in Canby, I had to stop and pause.  I got a little overwhelmed.  This is really happening.  With incredible support from my family, my volunteers, and my supporters, I am officially "published" and running for mayor.  There is definitely no turning back now.  And I wouldn't want it any other way. 

I ask you to thoughtfully look through your voter's pamphlet.  For the candidates that you are interested in, do not only read their statement, but visit their website, their Facebook page, send them an email.  Invest in your vote and make a well-thought decision. 

I am proud of my endorsements.  Unfortunately, my endorsement list did not make the voter's pamphlet cut (due to word count limits).  So, for your reference, you can access my list of endorsers here. 

So, have fun voting!  Your vote does count and it does make a difference.

Republican: It's My Party In A Nonpartisan Race

We are in full swing with election season.  The election is but a month away.  Campaign signs are up, debates are about to start, special events are taking place.  I'm feeling good about the race. 

I am proud to be a registered Republican.  I am both socially and fiscally conservative.  I am a Christian and a believer in God Almighty. 

But I am running in a nonpartisan race for Mayor of Canby.  My opponent is also a Republican.  This inevitably brings up some interesting conversations as well as some conflicts and issues to consider. 

All voters have their criterion for voting.  For some, it may be one issue that is most important to them and that is the decision-maker in terms of who to cast their vote for.  For others, party affiliation is very important and they vote based on that.  And still for others, it is a wide sweeping range of characteristics and beliefs about a candidate that decides their vote.  All of these are valid and important ways for citizens to make their decisions. 

As we drive around town, do our runs or walks, or pick our kids up at school, you will more than likely see a campaign sign along the way.  With a nonpartisan race with 2 Republicans, the sign landscape has taken on a new look that may not be seen that often.  Republicans are displaying my sign.  Republicans might be displaying my sign with other Republican candidates.  There have also been a few cases in town of Democrats displaying my sign as well with other Democratic candidate signs.  Isn't this an inevitability?  If you are a dedicated voter and you think it's important that as many people in town get out and vote, isn't it good that people are researching their candidate's backgrounds, voting records, and party affiliation?  Isn't it good that all parties are stating an opinion?

Unfortunately, some people are not doing their homework.  Some citizens have assumed because my sign is in the yard with opposing party signs, that I must be with that party.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Republicans and Democrats voting across party lines is nothing new.  I am even married to a Democrat who is walking every street of this town to tell you about me!

Ultimately, what I am trying to say here is to do your research.  Talk to your neighbor about the candidate they have a sign for.  Look up their record online.  Email them, send them a message on their Facebook page, go talk to them!  As a candiate for mayor, this is what I am urging citizens to do.  Come and talk to me at work.  Let's meet for coffee.  Let's talk on the phone.  That is what it is all about when you are speaking of small town politics. 

On that note, if you would like a sign, I appreciate and welcome your support, no matter what your background.

The Safety & Livability of Canby

I've spoken a lot about the heavier issues of this campaign:  economy, development of the city, the library.  But above all this, the main concern and feedback I am receiving from citizens is the livability of Canby and safety of our town. 

Nothing could be more important.  At the end of the day, we want a quiet, safe neighborhood that we can feel safe in.  We want our children to be protected and safe as they walk home from school.  We want a well-staffed police and fire department.

I have three children attending Canby schools.  With the reduced bus scheduling, my children, as well as many others, are walking and biking to school more than ever.  We need to ensure that safety is our number one priority as we make this transition.  Superintendent Steach has made this a top priority, too.  Stop signs and cross walks have been added.  More families in neighborhoods are doing "walking school buses" to school.  If elected mayor, I will stay well tuned and aware of safety issues and the maintenance of safety for children getting to school. 

Speeding has become an issue on certain thoroughfares in town (SE 13th Avenue, 99E, Territorial Road, to name a few).  Many of these thoroughfares are on bus routes and close to schools.  I will work closely with educators and the police department to make sure this is taken care of and if safety measures need to be installed.

I personally know and speak with the firefighters and police of our town.  I am friends with them.  I make sure they have their coffee!  But most importantly, I know the importance of maintaining and nurturing the incredible team we have working for us in Canby to keep us safe.  I will continue to work with them and hear their concerns.

At the end of the day, our citizens want a town to call home, a town they can have fun in and feel safe, a town they want to patronize.  I have spoken about additions to our town that would improve livability and the economy:  a water park, a dog park, improved boat ramp access, and better bike paths and trails.  We want a town that has good, well-maintained parks.  We want to be able to welcome touraments to town to our soccer, baseball, and other sports facilities.  We want that perfect balance of doing the things we love while our local economy benefits from such activity. 

I am committed to keeping Canby livable, thriving, active, fun, and safe.

My Campaign Focus: Clear Direction, Stronger Economic Engine, Growth With A Small Town Sensibility

While running for Mayor, I have voiced my strong desire to serve and provide the leadership that Canby deserves. As I walk around town and talk to people, they always want to know the main issues that I intend to focus on and as a result I thought I’d elaborate on those for you.

Clear Direction

I will strive to be a mayor with a clear and precise vision for the city. Whether it is downtown, 99E, or our neighborhoods, I will consider every aspect of these important components of our town and make my decisions wisely.  For example, with the recent improvements and rejuvenation of our downtown core, I don’t want to see the rest of downtown left behind. I believe all of downtown must look, feel and work together in order to thrive. 

We’ve begun slowly improving aspects of HWY 99E.  Beautiful banners were added to telephone poles and clearly visible signage that marks downtown can now be seen. Despite those efforts we still have crumbling sidewalks and non-existent landscaping.  A clear vision is needed to finish these projects on time and on budget..

When we speak of quiet and safe neighborhoods, once again vision is the key.  How will changing traffic patterns, bus schedules, and truck routes affect everyone?  We have to think of all these things as puzzle pieces that must intricately fit together make a complete picture.

What I am ultimately speaking of here is planning AND execution.  Mayor, city staff, councilors, and citizens must all work together to ensure proper planning and completion of projects is taking place.

Stronger Economic Engine 

1. Further promotion of our infrastructure and our industrial park.  The addition of industrial parks over the past few years has been an incredible and lucrative addition to Canby.  However under the current mayor’s term, it still remains at only 25% capacity with no signs of improving.  This must change.  We must make sure we are attracting not just any business, but the right businesses to Canby, strengthening our place in the market as a desirable location for business.
2. Connecting Berg Parkway to I-5.   Completing this project will increase the transport of goods and services in and out of Canby and will once again add to our desirability as a destination for business.  We must make it easier for people to get in and out of our city if we ever hope to succeed in our goals.
3. Building Our Retail Base.  I live and breathe retail every day.  I run a local retail business and I shop at local businesses.  ‘Shop Local’ is something I hear from citizens on a daily basis.  But all too often, we must travel out of town to have a nice dinner or to do our errands.  We need to show retailers and restaurants how wonderful Canby is for them and at the same time continue to promote those businesses that are already here. This is a huge area of opportunity for Canby and I am confident we can succeed under my leadership.  If we have a desirable business district to keep Canby residents shopping locally, we feed our economy not just from inside our city but from surrounding areas as well.

Growth With A Small Town Sensibility

Naturally we want to grow, but we need to do that without compromising the small town feel and sense of community that makes Canby the place you and I want to raise our families in. The obvious question is how do we do that?  It comes down to community involvement plain and simple.  Growth decisions that we make impact a multitude of people in our community including business owners, families, and anyone else who comes to our city.  I would ensure that citizens play a large part in serving as a guide for city staff and the council and to keep us grounded and aware of what is important to them for Canby as we grow.

Why Am I Running For Mayor?

It was 4^th grade.  A fellow student, Holly, and myself, with various assignments, Mrs. Cohen would refer to us as “President and Vice President”.  We had an innate ability to command presence in the classroom, we always volunteered to take on projects and extra credit, and we were always willing to help other students with their homework.  This memory always stuck with me.

As I grew older, this childhood memory grew into a “heart for service”.  I had a desire to help people.  My parents were (and still are) incredible role models of service.  My older sister has multiple disabilities and they have been her primary care provider for 42 years.  You don’t do this unless you have extreme love but also a desire to serve, to care. 

I come to you today with a strong desire to serve.  To serve as mayor means to boldly take the reigns as a leader.  To lead is to inspire others, empower others, and ultimately, see them become leaders.  It would be an honor to serve Canby.

My Vision For the Library

The library in Canby is an important issue for many voters, as it should be.  Our library needs improvements and I am looking forward to what will be a beautiful addition to downtown.  I am still receiving a lot of questions about my vote on the library and what my idea for an alternate plan would have been.

I published a complete response in regards to my "no" vote on my blog.  The reasons for my "no" vote included:  the debt load we would incur with the proposed plan, the lack of community involvement with the plan that was approved, and the location of the library tying up prime economic real estate that is close to 99E.  I urge you to read my full post.

In reality, I did come to both Mayor Carson and our city administrator, Greg Ellis, with my idea for a plan.  The library fought hard years ago for their current location on Holly and 3rd, adjacent to Wait Park.  This is Canby's living room.  It makes sense to have the library in this location.  There was structural research done on the current building and it was found to be structurally sound and could be remodeled and added onto.  There is also additional real estate directly behind the current library; I offered the idea that these properties could be acquired by the city and we could build and extend the library back.  It was also found that you could add a second level to the library. 
The most enticing part of such a plan is that we would save a significant amount of money!  We still get our new library, still take advantage of historically low construction rates, yet have a lower debt load that we can payoff quicker in the future. 

Would you still have wanted the current library project at a price tag of $8.1 million if you knew $500,000 is pulled from schools every year the URD is in place? Such funds are also pulled long after the URD ends as we still pay off the debts incurred by the URD program. 

When I brought these ideas to Mr. Ellis, he did say these could be considered.  Mayor Carson essentially had no response and did not offer the idea for consideration or push it forward in any way. 

It's also important for the citizens of Canby to understand that the mayor and city council positions are not full time, paid positions.  Yes, we have influence and we make decisions.  But our city administrator, planner, and outside consulting agencies (consultants that often do not even live in Canby) are the ones formulating the plans and policies that we then meet on and make decisions on.  While we as a council will contribute, shape, mold, and determine what is right for our community, it is important to know that there are others involved in the process.  Communication and open dialogue is crucial, so educated decisions can be made.

Endorsements

I submitted materials on Monday, September 10th, to be included in the voter's pamphlet for the November 6, 2012 general election.  I diligently prepared my statement, materials, and endorsements.  For two weeks, I felt like I was on a whirlwind tour of Canby, seeing old friends & community members and meeting new people who were supporting me on my campaign.  I am truly blessed to have the support of the following citizens (an "*" denotes official endorsement filed with Clackamas County Elections):

Canby Area Chamber of Commerce*

Canby Firefighters*

Wayne Scott, Scott Investments*

Jeff Scott*

Tom Scott*

Mark and Dawn Depner*

Michael Vissers*

Paul & Stefani Carlson*

Traci Hensley*

Shawn Hensley*

Nancy Perman

Bob Backstrom*

Karelyn Backstrom*

Kate Murphy, Degrees of Chic*

Derek Hill, Advantage Mortgage*

Gary and Terri Jones*

Tim & Deb Dale*

Rick Reid*

Larry Boatwright*

Holly and Matt Meredith*

Liz and Bill Chapin*

John Savory*

Lisa Zurcher, Park Avenue Salon

Bricks and Minifigs*

Kevin & Loretta Tolson

Teresa and Scott Sasse, Pudding River Chocolates*

Olive Photography

Scott Miller

Robert Hopkins

Kris & Todd Rocha*

Pam Thomas*

Doug Thomas*

Tim Stewart

Burt and Judy Aus

Judd Palmer

Ryan & Kerrie Oliver

Tim & Cam Davis

Sean Joyce

Christie & John Schwary

Chris German

Keri Morris

Cindy Atkins

Jason & Karen Hewitt

Carmen Ralls

Amy & David Westom

Lonna Bruener

Becky Unger

Lora & David Pittman

Carole Risley

Eric Saub

Renee Stricker

Dr. David Dewar

Dan & Lisa Trisler

Russ & Kaci Hall

Pastor Tim & Heather Barton

Karen Dietz

Dawn Anderson

Jill & Brian Chambers

Nikki & Paul Douglas

The campaign is still thriving and growing; as more endorsements come in, we will update this list!

Voter's Pamphlet Statement

The rules and regulations for voters' pamphlets limit you to a very small submission to be included in what voter's see as your "mission statement".   Below is the full version of what I would have liked to be printed in the upcoming voters' pamphlet:

My fellow citizens, I, Brian Hodson, would be honored to be your next Mayor of Canby.  As Mayor, I will be your voice.  I will set and provide direction after listening to all the voices of the city – citizens, businesses, city staff and the Council.  Our city deserves strong leadership and I am dedicated to that cause.  “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” –John Quincy Adams.

·         Clear Direction:

o    Our direction and goals needs to be re-established.  What do we want and need as a city?  With citizens, businesses, city staff, and the council, we will work as a dedicated team to accomplish this. 

o   One-on-one commitment to discussing the needs of our city’s future with families and business owners.

·         Stronger Economic Engine:  Canby is the crown jewel of business and economic growth in the County.  To capitalize on this, we must:

o   Be fiscally focused, making sound decisions with a clear vision.

o    Spur new small business growth.

o    Improve transportation within and through our city.  This will draw investment, create jobs, and make our local economy thrive.

·         Growth With A Small Town Sensibility: With direction set and the engine roaring, where we take Canby is crucial.

o    Sensible yet innovative planning of homes, parks, local and county roads, and businesses.  I have worked with businesses and their challenges, like design codes.  I will continue this direct involvement.

o    Work to maintain our tight-knit community as we grow.

Will it be easy accomplishing these goals?  No.  Can it be done?  Yes.  As a retail manager and city councilor, I have listened directly to the community and made tough decisions.  This kind of leadership, stewardship, and dedication is what Canby deserves. 

A vote for Brian Hodson is a vote for leadership and commitment.  A vote for Brian Hodson begins the next great chapter in Canby’s legacy.

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