(Tillamook County, Oregon) Wheeler resident, community organizer, bird enthusiast, and volunteer extraordinaire, Mary Leverette has announced her candidacy for Tillamook County Transportation District in a run against Thomas J. Fiorelli for one of two open seats.
Election Day is May 16th, 2023 and Leverettte is hitting all of the stops along the way to meet with voters, especially riders of The Wave and Dial-A-Ride to understand what they want and need.
The Tillamook County Transportation District was formed in 1997. Its mission was, and is, to provide public transportation throughout the county and it has done an amazing job. It started with no funding, two borrowed buses and limited routes. Since then, over a million passengers have ridden The Wave throughout our county and into neighboring counties. Trips that were once impossible without a vehicle, like doctor visits, shopping, visiting family and friends and going to work or school are now taken every day, seven days a week, by Wave riders. This is a wonderful accomplishment and one that everyone in the county can rely on and be proud of. “But, we can, and need to do more,” Says Leverette.
She goes on to explain her motivation for seeking the position in her public statement: “I have chatted with riders of The Wave and Dial-A-Ride and I have learned that the ease of local public transport has yet to be achieved. Riders are limited by routes, infrequent buses, long waits for connections, complicated scheduling that may demand multiple days in advance to schedule, areas not served, and costs.
I see a future for our public transportation system in which every member of our community can travel seamlessly, at a moment’s notice, and at an affordable price. I see daily commuters to work and school who won’t have long wait times and can be home in time for dinner. I see solutions for tourists that may curb traffic congestion during peak season, and much more. However, achieving these goals means getting into the details of demand, connections, frequency of current ridership and making changes based on data.
I’m ready to sit down with riders to assess their wants and needs; then talk with service providers, government programs, grant providers, and others to learn the issues and develop solutions, find the funds, and make the goal of smooth, easy travel a reality for anyone in Tillamook County.
If elected Ms. Leverette will bring a wealth of diverse experience to the task of improving the rider experience and creating an enriched public transport system for the county. She has an almost 30-year career in government service, both for the State of Oregon and the City of Portland where she supervised both projects and staff. To assist in the deeper understanding of what motivates riders, businesses, employers, tourists, and communities she has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and was a Hospice Volunteer for 14-plus years. “True solutions start with caring how people feel. I do that by nature and I have been trained to do that,” says Leverette. “I would be honored to take all of these years of experience and apply it to solutions that will serve the county long term. I am organized, positive and practical. My opponent works full time. I am retired and have the time, energy and experience to serve. I am seeking a position on the County Transportation District because I am committed to serving my community. I want to see the Tillamook County Transportation District flourish into a system leaves no one behind. I believe this is possible and I feel that I can help create this.”
Ms. Leverette invites any riders or people with opinions on The Wave or Dial-A-Ride to contact her directly at MaryLeveretteForTCTD@gmail.com or 503.449.8445 or to visit her website MaryLeverette.com