There’s an election for many special districts and boards – these local special districts are the very foundations of our communities — water and sewer districts, school districts, fire boards and more. For the seats that had more than one candidate, the Pioneer has sent out it’s semi-annual “questions for the candidates.” Here are the answers we received for the candidates for the Tillamook County Transportation District: Position #1- Jim Heffernan and David McCall; Position #2 – Vern Ressler and Tyler McComas; Position #5 – Eric Sappington; and Position #7 – Gary Hanenkrat.
Jim Heffernan – Position #1 – Tillamook County Transportation District
1. Why are you running for this board position? Because I believe in non-partisan community service. I have developed a deep respect and appreciation of the role of public transportation in the county, and beyond.
2. If elected, what will be your priorities? Listening to the views of the public (including bus drivers) and making decisions and voting to promote what’s best for the entire community.
3. What motivates you to serve on this board? Witnessing the continued decline in the service provided by the District.
4. What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member? Lifetime of working with people and solving problems.
5. What community activities/organizations have you been involved with? I was an active Democrat for about 20 years, past-president Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Assoc. (RETA), Historian for American Legion, Post 47 (Tillamook).
6. Why should you be elected? I am deeply committed to the well-being of public transportation in Tillamook.
7. What differentiates you from the other candidates? I will listen to the community at large, not just what the District Management spoon-feeds the board.
8. What steps, if any, will you take to ensure full equality for marginalized demographics, such immigrants, LGBTQ+ people in our community? I do not see this as a problem with District, but will not support any policies that harmfully impact equality for any group.
9. What issues do you believe the board/organization needs to address in its programs/offerings and community image? All the deterioration in service by the District stems for poor retention of drivers.
10. What changes would you recommend? If there is not demonstrated improvement soon, I would advocate that board use its only power, removal of Superintendent.
Any additional comments …. District has lost 28 drivers/dispatchers in last 14 months. At this rate, District is as likely to lose Saturday service as it is to re-institute Sunday service for in-county routes.
David McCall- Position #1 – Tillamook County Transportation District
- Why are you running for this board position? I was asked to step up and serve, and add my name to the roles of the TCTD so that TCTD can continue to serve the community in a reliable, respectful manner. I applied for and was appointed to the vacated Position #1, for which I am running for election.
- If elected, what will be your priorities? Maintaining quality service according to prioritization metrics, which should be periodically re-evaluated as circumstances change; Expanding service as logistics and economics allow; Ensuring a transparent, collaborative approach to issues that affect the operations of the District.
- What motivates you to serve on this board? I think TCTD is one of the most important service districts this county has to offer its residents. Especially in a rural community, transport is an essential part of our daily lives, and more often than not the answer to that need is driving your own vehicle. It’s not fair to force people who can no longer or don’t feel comfortable driving to get behind the wheel because they have no other way of getting to see their doctor or getting groceries. Most people are surprised how many people use this vital service, which has grown and evolved substantially since TCTD was formed in the 1990s.
- What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member? I have served on several boards, and am familiar with public budgeting laws and practices, public meeting rules, and Robert’s Rules of Order. I believe in transparency and providing for public comment and involvement.
- What community activities/organizations have you been involved with? I was a board member and president of the Tillamook Farmers Market. I was a part of the Social Directors Network when it was formed. I am a member of AAUW and the Bay City Arts Center. I have been active with the Tillamook County Democrats, serving as County Chair, a representative to the state party, and Chair of the Environmental Caucus. I am on the Executive Committee of the Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (ColPac) and a delegate to the Northwest Area Commission on Transportation (NWACT). I was appointed to the Tillamook County Transportation District.
- Why should you be elected? I believe that the core purpose of the TCTD is to serve all residents of Tillamook County in their transportation needs so that they can live productive lives. I will be a good steward of public funds, whether those funds come from our local taxpayers or from other public sources, such as grants.
- What differentiates you from the other candidates? I am currently on the Executive Committee of the Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (ColPac), as well as a delegate to the Northwest Area Commission on Transportation (NWACT). In this role I interact regularly with other transportation districts in the region, as well as ODOT and city and county representatives.
- What steps, if any, will you take to ensure full equality for marginalized demographics, such immigrants, LGBTQ+ people in our community? The Transportation District is responsible to serve ALL members of our community, regardless of any real or perceived social, ethnic, economic, mental, physical, or other status. Each and every resident deserves the opportunity for equal treatment and support in supporting them with their transport needs, including access to medical care/treatment, veterans services, grocery shopping, and social interactions that keep them healthy. As a board member, I will do my best to ensure this fair and equal treatment is provided.
- What issues do you believe the board/organization needs to address in its programs/offerings and community image? The Transportation District has gone through a difficult period of transition, and while the entire country was faced with a driver shortage, here in Tillamook County it was compounded with the loss of our local dialysis center. The Transportation District stepped up, and has ensured that each and every patient was able to have transportation (typically three times a week!) to their lifesaving medical care appointments – all of which were in locations outside the TCTD normal service area. TCTD has done this largely in the background, without fanfare, taking the blame on social media for having to decrease routes as a consequence of prioritizing essential medical care over other services. In retrospect this should have been done with more public engagement, and with additional outreach to the public about why those choices had to be made. We need to improve on this in the future.
- What changes would you recommend? We need to bring back routes, but not just reinstate them in the form that they were before. We need to support staff in analyzing the data and needs of our community, and provide the best services that we can, within the constraints of the budget and operational viability. This includes continuing adequate future planning. In the interest of transparency, I will support the recording of board meetings – an issue that has been resisted by several past board members.
Vern Ressler, Position #3 – Tillamook County Transportation District Board
1. Why are you running for this board position? I was asked to run due to my 5 years experience driving the Tillamook Transportation buses. I quit the bus service 2 years ago with a honorary lifetime bus passenger pass.
2. If elected, what will be your priorities? Since the pandemic the bus service has declined dramatically. Sunday services in Tillamook have been canceled along with the Pacific City trolley run and also Lincoln City to Salem routes. I would hope to get all these needed and required bus routes back and secured for the future. The Veterans Service in Tillamook tries not to rely on the District due to sketchy service. I am a disabled veteran and have been asked in times past to get my own ride as drivers weren’t available.
3. What motivates you to serve on this board? I left bus driving for Tillamook in 2023 and have kept in touch with many of the current and ex-drivers. They have kept me informed of the steady decline in route services.
4. What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member? I operated wastewater plants for 30 years. 10 years as a supervisor. I was responsible for 3 Plants at one time. I understand how personnel matters affect operations as much as mechanical equipment.
5. What community activities/organizations have you been involved with? I have been to many Board meetings while working as a city employee.
6. Why should you be elected? I would hope to use my experiences and a wastewater operator and bus driver to help understand the challenges that are presented to the District. I understand the importance of maintaining the community transportation.
7. What differentiates you from the other candidates? I believe what separates me from other candidates is that I have 5 years driving all the Tillamook routes and know many of the current and ex-employees of the District.
8. What steps, if any, will you take to ensure full equality for marginalized demographics, such immigrants, LGBTQ+ people in our community? The District is in place for all members of the community. During my 5 years of driving I never discriminated against anyone wanting a ride. Who rides or doesn’t is designated by management and not by drivers.
9. What issues do you believe the board/organization needs to address in its programs/offerings and community image? It is critical for the District to obtain, train and retain top notch drivers and dispatchers. Driving is at time dangerous due to environmental hazards, weather hazards and at times riders. Drug addiction and alcoholism play a role at times and can be extremely hazardous.
10. What changes would you recommend? I would review with the District Manager how hiring, training, and retaining professional staffing is failing.
Tyler McComas, Position 3, Tillamook County Transportation District Board
- Why are you running for this board position? The position was recommended to me from community members
- If elected, what will be your priorities? Strengthen team coordination and leadership, prioritize hurdles, increase exposure and confidence to the community and workforce, streamline efficiency, maintain safe and acceptable space and usage for all, driver safety and confidence, increase capital, reduce deficits.
- What motivates you to serve on this board? The privilege to share experience and volunteer services
- What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member? Team building, operational management and leadership, data analysis, innovative solutions, network of community members
- What community activities/organizations have you been involved with? Netarts/Oceanside Fire Department (Contact :Jeff McBrayer Fire Chief)
- YMCA Swim Team Beach Camp (Contact: Chelsea Radley Aquatics Director)
- WEBS (Watershed Estuary Beach & Sea) Beach Cleanup
- Why should you be elected? I aim to bring solution oriented leadership, network development and resources to the district
- What differentiates you from the other candidates? Every person presents their set of strengths unique to industry and environment development. My strengths reside in team development and leadership, data interpretation, marketing, community outreach, network development, innovative solutions and evolving operations
- What steps, if any, will you take to ensure full equality for marginalized demographics, such immigrants, LGBTQ+ people in our community? Review any data collected as well as increase data collection to organize variables missed from assumptions and poor review. Extend language barriers with signage, review protocols and update to promote safe and confident passage for all travelers of non-ill intent.
- What issues do you believe the board/organization needs to address in its programs/offerings and community image? Driver hiring and resources, retaining focus and safety for drivers and riders, increase exposure and usage to more community members and businesses, review processes and evolve to conditions that can be budgeted, streamline services and adapt to user friendly systems
- What changes would you recommend? I believe operational changes should be prioritized and planned with current and future scaling plans reached in agreement with team members and users. Personally, I seek more awareness in community exposure and confidence through additional marketing strategies.
