HomeMy WebLinkAboutDavid Young
David G. Young
747 Oak St.
Ashland, OR 97520
Dear Mayor Stromberg and Councilors,
Please accept this letter of my intent to be considered for the vacant City Council
seat. I submit this after careful consideration because I feel, due to my demonstrated
long commitment to Ashland public service and unique background, that I am best
positioned to fill the post and immediately be an informed and experienced
collaborator with this important body.
I have tremendous respect for the public process and, since moving to Ashland in
1994 from Richmond, Vermont (pop. 3,700), where, as Town Health Officer and
founding trustee of the Richmond Land Trust, I was first smitten by the experience
of real, representative democracy. My commitment to serving my community has
never wavered since.
Like most residents of Ashland, I live here because of the special and various
amenities, good-hearted and intelligent people, intriguing history, and beautiful
natural resources that we enjoy. I respect history, appreciate decorum, and am a
forward thinker, appreciating our obligation to face the changes the future requires
of us. Having returned this week from Washington, D.C., where I participated in the
Women's March, sat in on the Senate confirmation hearing for Treasury Secretary,
and bore witness to a very auspicious and polarized transfer of power, I, like others,
feel more strongly than ever about the importance of local civic involvement, being
informed and becoming part of the solution to the myriad challenges facing all of us.
Ashland is no exception, faced with fiscal, social, and environmental issues no
different, but certainly on a different scale, from other communities large and small.
I hope to join the long chain of others who currently and in the past have served
make Ashland the special place it is, and I look forward to doing my part, if selected,
to ensure that it becomes a leader in diversity, inclusion, economic opportunity, and
welcomes the direct participation of all citizens.
I look forward to having an opportunity to meet with you, and I thank you for your
consideration for this important post.
Sincerely,
David Young
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What do you think are the biggest issues facing the city?
Housing, to me, is probably the biggest issue for Ashland, as the very real increasing
economic polarization that is certainly a global phenomenon has direct and visibly
troubling ramifications for Ashland. With an aging population, limited job
opportunities, virtually non-existent rental inventory, housing prices that are out of
reach of working families and young adults, Ashland has already reached a crisis
that has serious ramifications for its future vitality, viability and livability.
While we cannot ourselves solve the social and economic problems of the larger
society, there are certainly some difficult and creative solutions and decisions to be
made to ensure that, in fact and within reason, Ashland is doing its best to be on the
leading edge of the curve in ensuring a diverse and inclusive economy and
population. In my opinion, access to the basic amenities of shelter, food, health care
and education is the essential first step toward this end. These are, of course, not
easy problems to solve.
Another very important issue for Ashland is energy. Within this broad category I
would include transportation, food security and access to water. There is so much to
say about this, and we all know how difficult the decisions are in preparing for what
looks to be an increasingly challenging future, both environmentally as well as
fiscally. I would like to help Ashland in unifying its goals among various
departments so as to tackle problems efficiently and effectively, with everyone
pulling in the same direction. The C.E.A.P., when adopted, will provide a tremendous
opportunity for the City to orient its actions and decisions around a very real set of
principles and a potentially unifying goal.
The recent election has shown the need for an engaged, informed and educated
electorate, one that is involved and in which individuals are welcomed to become
involved in the process of governing the City. I feel the urgency, like others, to
expand the tent and empower citizens to participate on commissions and
committees in an ever-increasing way.
I would be remiss to not mention the importance of maintaining and growing the
vibrant tourist and business economy that makes Ashland an attractive destination
for visitors from around the world. Having a degree in economics, as well as being
married to a Professor of Economics, makes this issue impossible to ignore.
Having raised 2 of my 3 children in the Ashland. School District, as well as having
taught as a substitute teacher in all Ashland schools, I feel that supporting the ASD in
whatever ways possible to continue its tradition of supporting a diverse and
rigorous educational experience for our youth is critical.
Finally, I feel that it is very important to remove barriers for any human being to feel
welcome and included in Ashland. While that is a global and generic statement that
is more difficult to actually achieve in real life, I want to see Ashland continue to be
vigilant and forward-thinking in addressing glaring needs and looking toward the
future.
What is your primary motivation for seeking the vacant council
seat?
Frankly, I feel most qualified. This represents a continuation of my long years, since
the mid 1990's, of involvement in Ashland, of engagement in civic affairs. I
understand and appreciate public meeting laws, have years of experience at
committee and commission levels, have respect for and some knowledge of the
history of Ashland, and know personally a very large percentage of our citizens. I am
a business owner and have worked with, and supported, many of our businesses.
From my two decades of involvement in civic affairs, I have seen some areas where I
feel that I can help Ashland to become even better, in terms of inter-departmental
communication and collaboration, and engagement with the public.
While I understand and embrace my own personal demographic status, much of it
not of my choosing, I stand firmly for representing all stakeholders who are not
necessarily represented in body. I have a strong commitment to, and am adept at,
listening to and considering carefully all points of view. I make decisions based on a
dedication to looking at every issue from as broad and informed approach as
possible.
I have a demonstrated track record in showing up to meetings prepared, and I am
committed to such an approach if selected.
Finally, I simply cannot help but to continue to find ways to be an active part of my
community in ways that matter, and this is now, a time in my life where I am ready
to take on this new challenge.
What community and city activities have you been involved in
recently?
* Transportation Commission: current member and former Chair.
* Ad-hoc Downtown Parking and Circulation Committee: current member and
former Chair
* Ashland Response Team, AFD, planning team for Cascadia Rising Earthquake
Preparedness city-wide event
* Siskiyou Blvd. Committee: member
* CERT member: first training
* Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission: member and former Chair
* Ashland Soccer Club: coach
* YMCA: coach soccer, basketball, flag football
* Ashland Little League: coach and board member
* Lincoln Elementary School: Site Council
* Ashland High Arts Advocates (AHAA): member and President
* Ashland H.S. Senior All-Night Committee: member
* Downtown Ashland Phase 2 Committee: member
* Ashland 41h of July Parade: performer
* Ashland MLK Day: performer
What is the role of the city councilor?
As I understand it, the councilor is part of a collaborative team of individuals who
each represents the citizens of Ashland in carrying out the various tasks of running
the city. Responsible for the hiring and oversight of city staff, the many departments,
citizen commissions, inter-governmental relations, and addressing complex and
difficult challenges requiring decisions. Councilors are available to citizens to listen,
guide, and encourage them to be informed and involved. Councilors must be
prepared to intelligently and diligently approach issues, and do so collaboratively
and respectfully with fellow members, the community, and staff, while respecting
decorum and public meeting laws that bind them. Councilors are available during
major events such as disasters and emergencies, to help other agencies and
departments respond and communicate. Additionally, a city councilor is a liaison to
various commissions, available for City events, must comport him/herself in a
manner consistent with the position.
Education:
B.S., Political Economy of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Teaching, Southern Oregon University
Valedictorian, UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources
Employment:
Current:
Southern Oregon Educational Services District: substitute teacher (AHS and AMS)
Occasional Music: performer and business owner
Prior:
Field Guides (CA): outdoor educator and site director
National Gardening Association (Vermont): Director, National Youth Garden Grants
Camp Exclamation Point, Inc. (Vermont): founder, Exec. Director, Camp Director
Vermont Migrant Education Program (Vermont): Camp Director
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (VT): Dir. of Warmth Program
City of S.F. (CA) Dept. of Public Health: 911 Paramedic and dispatcher
City of Denver (CO) Dept. of Health and Hospitals: 911 Paramedic and dispatcher
Clear Moment Food Coop (Bloomington, IN): founder, director
Ketchikan Pulp Company (AK): logger
Seward Fisheries (AK): processing plant
Bureau of Land Mgt. (AK): emergency forest firefighter
Eureka, CA: commercial salmon fisherman