November 2015 Election Message

Board Chair Andy Duyck Thanks Washington County Voters

I am grateful to the voters for their definitive support of both the Library and Public Safety levies yesterday.

Although I believe these services are critical to the well-being of our community, our democratic system puts the final say in the hands of the voters. Yesterday's unofficial election outcome reinforces the idea that the County's role in providing library and public safety services is as important to them as it is to those of us providing these services.

I am particularly thankful to Eva Calcagno and her staff at Washington County Cooperative Library Services and the network of library supporters throughout the county, but especially in the Aloha community where the public came together with determination and focus around adding a new member to our cooperative system: the Aloha Community Library. Because of yesterday's vote, the public will also receive expanded library services in Bethany, Cornelius and Hillsboro, not to mention the stability of keeping, and in some cases expanding, operational hours, book purchases, outreach and electronic offerings countywide. Also, I must acknowledge the important role our city partners play in our cooperative system and their outstanding contribution in the form of voter outreach over these last several months. This was truly a cooperative partnership effort.

With respect to the Public Safety Levy, my hat is off to Sheriff Pat Garrett, District Attorney Bob Hermann, Community Corrections Director Steve Berger and Juvenile Director Lynne Schroeder for the services the men and women in their departments provide every day for our community. Because of the Public Safety Levy, the County has both stability and flexibility to serve the public as it grows. We have stability to provide essential services such as fully operating our Jail and Community Corrections Center to minimize the early release of offenders. We are also able to give stability to a network of nonprofit emergency shelters helping women and children facing domestic violence, among other challenges. But the Public Safety Levy also provides our County the flexibility to innovate when changing times demand it. A truly inspirational example of this involves the Mental Health Response Team, a partnership among our Health and Human Services Department, the nonprofit LifeWorks Northwest and the Sheriff's Office. Our intent is to allow for innovation like this so that the County can become a more effective provider of criminal justice services over time. We can do so in cooperation with our city partners, state circuit court, nonprofits and with support like the voters gave yesterday.

On behalf of my colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners, I wish to thank the voters for their continued support. Our community is better off thanks to the library and public safety services these property tax levies support.

Andy Duyck
Chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners