May 2012 Primary Election - Online Voters' Guide

Metro Councilor, 5th District

TERRY PARKER

OCCUPATION: None

OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: 2+ years: Customer Relationship Manager, Auto Industry; 21+ years: National Account Rep. (retired), Yellow Pages; 3+ years: Supply Center Management, Financial Institution

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: PCC: Automotive, Ethics and Logic Classes; Madison High School, Portland, Graduate

PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: Neighborhood Association Board Member (current); Banfield Transitway Citizens Advisory Committee, Chair (late 1970s)

To Make a Difference,

My Top Priorities are:

•  Equity– including economic equity with policies that aspire to help create and maintain family wage jobs together with representing the interests of working class and retiree taxpayers who financially support government services, but often feel their needs are being overshadowed by special interest agendas and/or pet projects.

• Diversity:bringing together cultural, ethnic and lifestyle differences plus a healthy diversity of opinion at the table on citizen advisory committees.

• Financial Self-sustainability– including balancing and broadening the transportation infrastructure funding base by establishing user fees for adult bicyclists to help fund bicycle infrastructure, and assisting TriMet to find transit service efficiencies coupled with enhanced farebox revenues to “better” reflect the actual fiscal costs of providing on the street service. Low income programs are also needed for transit riders.

• The Columbia River Crossing: Any user charges/tolling on a new CRC need to be equitably levied to the users of all vehicle modes – including tolling bicyclists and adding surcharges to transit fares. Hammering only the highway users with high and excessive tolls will only have a negative impact on jobs and the local economy. History clearly demonstrates higher rates of personal mobility significantly contribute to greater economic productivity thereby generating more family wage and better paying jobs.

• Land Use/Housing:Improve the planning process to the extent it can reduce gentrification, augment efforts to include more affordable and special needs housing, increase the availability of reasonably priced working class single family homes with yards, and enhance strategies that remove regulatory barriers to reduce new and rehabilitated housing costs.