Nov. 5 General Election: Cascade Locks City Council

I’m running to assist council in putting the city’s financial house back in order and adopt policies that serve the long term needs of our community. Currently, we are behind by three audits in our annual reviews, our sewer utility is almost revenue negative, and many of our general fund services, e.g., fire and police are underfunded to meet their requirements. 

What are your qualifications for this position? 

I worked in local government management for 18 years, including 44 months as the city administrator for the City of Cascade Locks. Since departing the city, I’ve served on the City of Cascade Locks Budget Committee for multiple terms and the planning commission for one year. I’ve also served on smaller committees like the Charter Review Committee. I’m intimately familiar with local government operations and policy as well as all the services being provided in Cascade Locks.

What are the top three issues facing the city? 

Financial stability, housing, and downtown/economic redevelopment.

What is an innovation you would recommend the city try? 

A utility billing customer appreciation program. Also, I think the city should consider forming a fire district in the greater Hood River service area or merging its fire/EMS services with Hood River. Many efficiencies could be created in this space and provide Fire Chiefs much more flexibility in managing personnel and coverage.

Finish this statement: In five years, my vision for the City of Cascade Locks is ...

A city with stable finances that are 100% up to date, properly funded and functioning sewer, water, electric utilities and general fund services, a diverse housing portfolio that can accommodate residents regardless of job situation from server to CEO, and an improved downtown with new or refurbished properties emerging from our main street’s existing stock.

Marianne Bump

Why are you running?

Mostly I am running because I want to help the community I have lived in all my life. After having participated in council meetings for over a year, I have observed the council members not following the rules as well as interpreting them to fit what they want. They also hold the audience to a standard they don’t abide by themselves and in my eyes that is not right.

What are your qualifications?

Twenty-one years accounting for the Port of Cascade Locks, 15 years as finance officer for the city before retiring from city government. I have been attending city council meetings for over a year and am currently serving on the budget committee and served on the Charter Review Committee.

What are the top three issues facing the city?

1. Finances. Observing this council with the new city administrator, I am concerned that our audits are more than two years behind, making it unclear how much money is in their balances, yet spending hasn’t stopped.

2. Staffing. Contracting staff positions to outside contractors loses continuity within the office, causing response time delays.

3. Public safety. In many community surveys by the city, public safety was a top priority. Funding for emergency services/police should be the council’s top priority as well, instead of cutting those funds, which is what has been suggested in different committee meetings by the city administrator.

What is an innovation you would recommend the city try?

Innovations can cost money if they don’t work. Our budget is way too tight to try anything new. If it isn’t broken, stick to what works.

Finish this statement: In five years, my vision for the City of Cascade Locks is...

To become financially sound without hurting citizens and businesses, as well as improving the overall vitality of the downtown, while maintaining our small town. I have heard it said that we are “Portland’s backyard,” which is wrong because that just makes us a suburb of Portland. We are a unique community and we have to stop trying to make Cascade Locks a big metropolis city because bigger cities come with bigger expenses.

Tiffany Pruit

Why are you running?

I am running because I have been going to council meetings for almost two years, seeing citizens with differing opinions being disrespected and not listened to. I want to bring the citizens back into the conversation and have all voices heard again. I am also running to get the city back on track financially. The current council and city administrator are spending money they don’t even know for sure they have. They have also hired people and firms not qualified for our city’s needs, costing us more money. We need to get back on track.

What are your qualifications for this position?

Current experience: Resident since 1994; Cascade Locks Budget Committee, more than 20 years (many as budget chair); precinct committee person; Columbia Gorge Friendship Club organizer; Arc special needs bowling organizer; and Special Olympics bowling head coach.

Past experience: Cascade Locks City Council member,  including council president; Pioneer Potlatch organizer/cook/treasurer; Give Them Wings volunteer; Gorge Family Fun organizer, Red Cross volunteer with FEMA and CERT training; Cascade Locks Benefit Association treasurer; Cascade Locks Garden Club; and Crown Point volunteer.

What are the top three issues facing the city?

1. Finances. The city is two, almost three years behind in financial audits, yet they keep spending money like everything is A-OK.

2. Community safety. During budget, we were surprised to learn that the city administrator had cut the extra money for designated police coverage. Hard work got it back in the budget but it will continue to be a financial battle. The fire department is much loved but financially unstable. We have to find sustainable financial resources to keep it going.

3. Fractured community. Since part of our school was closed, we have lost our sense of community and togetherness.

What is an innovation you would recommend the city try?

How about we be less innovative and be more sensible, get back to basics and, follow the Rule of Law. The council needs to work for the citizens and stop spending money on reports that will just tell us we need to spend more money. Cascade Locks is a bedroom community and a great tourism destination; we are not a big population city. People move/visit here to get away from the big city, NOT bring it with them.

Finish this statement: In five years, my vision for the City of Cascade Locks is ...

My vision for Cascade Locks is that we become financially stable while at the same time staying affordable for the citizens and businesses who choose to call Cascade Locks home. This includes stable funding for the Fire Department, police coverage and not taxing our utilities. My vision also includes a balance of events for citizens and tourists, with an aesthetically pleasing downtown we can all enjoy, where we want to spend money. Residents need a place where we can converse and socialize together, that doesn’t involve alcohol and reflects the beauty of where we live.

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Butch Miller (incumbent), Courtnee Keilman, Emily Seely, Samuel Murillo, Scott Jackson and Sean Crompton (incumbent), also running for Cascade Locks city council, did not respond by press deadline. Any responses received before the Nov. 5 election will be included in upcoming editions of Columbia Gorge News.