I write this letter to strongly support the appointment of Jerry Keene to Position 2 to fill the anticipated vacancy created by Commissioner Yamamoto’s retirement. I believe Jerry is the best candidate for this position. I wanted to write this letter to give you the basis for this conclusion and the reasons why I believe it to be true.
I am a resident of Oceanside, Oregon, and prior to that have been a long-time visitor to Tillamook County. My family has owned property in Oceanside since the 1970s and my parents and grandparents were full-time residents of the community. I am the current president of the Oceanside Neighborhood Association (ONA) and have served for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 terms.
I first met Jerry in 2017, shortly after he assumed the presidency of the Oceanside Neighborhood Association (ONA). He took over leadership after prior president Judson Randall retired after ten years in that position, and immediately his organizational skills and energic enthusiasm for the community were evident. Shortly after taking on this position, he led efforts to update the organization’s structure and guiding documents. He improved the communication to the community, and identified needed community projects to enhance the community’s livability. He recruited community members to address long-neglected issues such as updating the community plan, creating improved beach access. He also organized the community’s response to other topics including short-term rentals, roads, transportation, water quality, and communications. Under his leadership, the participation and interest in the ONA expanded dramatically. He actively sought to involve full-time residents, part-time residents and non-resident property owners in community issues. In 2022, when I became president of the ONA, Jerry agreed to serve as my vice-president.
I had the opportunity to work closely with Jerry over the past three years both as officers of the ONA as well as prior to that time in Oceanside’s incorporation effort. I was incredibly impressed by Jerry’s ability to review and digest voluminous research and relevant documents, solicit, absorb and reflect countless opinions, and create cohesive presentations as a result. He is able to prioritize and manage tasks in a productive and efficient way. He is also able to identify potential negative impacts of a proposed course of action and compose solutions that help resolve those impacts. He communicates effectively and comprehensively. He is energetic and a very hard worker. He has a fantastic memory. Perhaps most significantly, he is able to identify upcoming issues and work proactively to resolve them rather than playing ‘catch-up’ when they become imminent and difficult.
His commitment to Tillamook County is clearly shown by his past and current community involvement with the ONA and with other community and civic groups. He led the ONA to create a short-term rental committee before the issue came to recent prominence, and has participated on the county-wide STR Advisory Committee. He has worked with the local organizations including the Oceanside Protection Society, the Netarts-Oceanside Sanitary District, and the Oceanside Community Hall in leadership and advisory positions, and assisted many others in a more informal manner. Through these efforts, he has developed cooperative and effective working relationships with many county and state elected officials that would be very valuable in his work as Commissioner.
Finally, I would like to tell you that Jerry is the best candidate for appointment to this position because he truly cares about Tillamook County without being a prior public employee of the County. He certainly possesses all the skill and knowledge that you would want in a candidate, but beyond that he has shown us how much he cares about his community and the County as a whole – as a volunteer. To me, this attribute goes beyond the obvious sign of continuing commitment to the County and to its residents. His involvement as a volunteer gives him ‘new eyes’ to approach the work of a Commissioner, while still having knowledge and understanding of operations and legal requirements. I urge you to appoint Jerry Keene to the position of County Commissioner, Position 2. Thank you for your time.
SHARON M. BROWN
Oceanside, Oregon