It has been three months since I declared my candidacy for a city council position in Manzanita. What a pleasure it has been spending the summer meeting and listening to residents. Be it pulling weeds at the library or Lower Nehalem Community Trust (LNCT); walking with citizens in hiking groups or on the beach; meeting with concerned citizens individually or in groups; or interactions at the Manzanita Farmer’s Market, post office, or grocery store, I have listened to your concerns. I have also met with our city manager, neighboring towns’ city managers, and past local office holders, learning from each and every interaction how to be effective and inclusive in city government.
I may be a bit old-fashioned, but I believe in people and meeting people face-to-face. I’m not a Facebook guy who argues and attacks people I don’t know. We all live here, we all care about this place, and we can all treat each other with respect and dignity.
I believe the role of a councilor is to be informed, seek community input, and be willing to make and implement decisions. Sometimes, that takes compromise. Sometimes, it takes implementing a policy and then reassessing and tweaking it as necessary. It never means failing to listen or failing to understand your constituents.
Like any serious candidate, I have studied Manzanita’s comprehensive plan and charter, our zoning ordinances, and attended council, planning and budget committee meetings. We all know that the comprehensive plan needs updating to reflect the desires of residents. We all know that we need budget diversification, which is critical to our future.
There are many reasons to be optimistic. We have a city manager who has changed the transparency and accountability of our city council and who actually encourages citizen input. We will have a new mayor excited to lead. In a week, we will have a newly appointed city council member. Changes are afoot. I believe I can continue to build on these positive changes and make a difference for the residents of Manzanita.
While I have no prior government experience, I do have 30 years of experience as a medical professional, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating complex problems. I’d bring this contribution to the team and use this as my starting point in bringing about a positive change in this diverse and challenging community. The problems we face are complex but not unsolvable.
From listening, researching and asking the tough questions, here’s what I’ve repeatedly heard and witnessed: Manzanita is at a tipping point, where a fresh perspective is vital to its future. The community is yearning for a new approach to governing—one that’s willing to challenge conventional wisdom and ask difficult questions that have been ignored in the past.
I’m Brad Mayerle, running for Manzanita City Council. I will give you a seat at the table. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you face-to-face and listen to your concerns and ideas. Feel free to contact me via email, text or give me a call.
mayerleformanzanita@gmail.com
503.260.4105
www.mayerleformanzanita.com/
