By John Nelsen
NW Connection - http://nw-connection.com/
June 2008
As residents of East County, we share a common interest in addressing problems facing our community. Challenges like rising crime rates, the on-going need to improve our public schools, the lack of living-wage jobs, and an inadequate transportation infrastructure are not just political platform issues; they are real problems that affect our daily lives. Clearly, East
My comments here are not specific to any political cause or issue. I have seen in this election year a growing belief that we can make a difference. We are tired of the same old government. We are ready for that change. We are not as apathetic as many of the old politicians believe. We are alive and care deeply about our nation. This revival of the American spirit is heartening.
Still, many of us don’t believe that they have a voice in public decision-making. Some doubt that individuals can make a real difference or that the politicians will just ignore us and do whatever they want. As a result, too many of us don’t participate in our community’s decision-making process and far too few exercise the right to vote. It’s not that we don’twant to make a difference…it’s that we don’t think wecan.
This non-participation, whatever the cause or justification, undermines the representative nature of our democracy and virtually ensures that we will continue to get more of the same from ALL levels of our leadership.But it doesn’t need to be this way.
In every county, town, district, and neighborhood there are committees, task forces, councils, and other entities through which individual citizens have opportunities to share concerns, values and ideas (whatever they may be). My personal experience over the past decade has taught me that if we participate, we can have a voice, we count, and we can make real change happen! Change doesn’t often come from any political party, nor should it. Change, comes when individuals add our voices to the public dialogue and our votes to the ballot box!
Today, as was the case when I started in public service ten years ago, I am a working guy. Like many of my neighbors, I struggle to stretch my paycheck through the month. My wife and I are both exhausted when we get home from work and just want to spend evenings hanging out with friends and family. I want to spend my weekends riding my Harley, watching TV, and doing things around my house.
But I decided to do more. I wanted to try to make things better for the next generation. I wanted to give my children an example of community service and instill in them an appreciation for involvement. At first, I went to an occasional PTA meeting. Soon I started serving on committees and non-profit boards. Then, in 1999, I ran for and was elected to the Reynolds School District Board of Directors. Imagine that—I had a voice, I used it!
After several years, I began to assume a leadership role on the board and ultimately was elected chair. I am very proud of this service work and am honored by the commitment and support of my fellow board members. As a direct result of my willingness to be heard and be counted, Reynolds School District now has increasingly effective elementary instruction, data-based decision making at all levels, several charter school options, and most importantly a diverse and effective school board culture that promotes open dialogue, transparency, and an honest respect for differences in individual views among board members and community stakeholders.
Not only do I have a voice, but by sticking to it, my voice has counted. I feel increasingly hopeful about the future of our community.
So here is what I’ve learned:
We have a voice worth listening to, but only if we speak out!
We have a vote worth counting, but only if we add it to the ballot box!
We can only expect change if we are willing to participate in making the change!
Please take the time tohave a voice and be counted! Encourage friends and family to do the same. Together we can restore confidence in our leadership.
I know that some folks might not expect to hear this call-to-action from a conservative in Multnomah
Now I am embarking on yet another journey in my public service life. I am running to be your next State Representative in House District 49. I plan to takesour voices, as as East County residents, to the Oregon State Legislature.
When I get to
Please visit my website at www.johnnelsen.com and leave a message for me. I will read it and get back to you. We may not always agree, but I will give you a voice if you will take the time to be heard.
John Nelsen, Candidate
House District 49