Tigard life article written by Barbara Sherman 12/02/2024

The Nov. 5 general election is now in the rear-view mirror, but it didn’t completely resolve who will be filling all the seats on the King City City Council.

At Tigard Life’s press time, the latest unofficial results posted Nov. 26 showed two likely winners for three open seats: Jessical Braverman with 1,446 votes (20.25 percent) and Rachel Kazmierski with 1,371 votes (19.20 percent). Neck-and-neck for third place were Vince Arditi with 1,303 votes (18.25 percent) and Steve Gerhart with 1,297 votes (18.17 percent).

But a new wrinkle appeared after the election on Nov. 12 when Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin ruled from the bench that he was ordering the City of King City to remove Smart Ocholi from the City Council.

see full article here: All seats on King City council should be filled by end of yea

Tigard life article submitted by Susan Meredith 12/02/2024

If Council rushes to fill the vacancy before the newly elected councilors begin office in January, then they will once again be bypassing voter sentiment. Every council member, both departing and remaining, should take a moment to consider their duties. In order to demonstrate their respect for the opinions of the electorate, they should either select the candidate who received the next-highest number of votes in the most recent election or let the newly elected councilors take part in filling the new vacancy in January.

see full article here: letter from Susan Meredith

Community Letter from Vince Arditti submitted to 3 city council members regarding new city council appointments:

I watched the minutes of the June 15, 2024 council meeting which included a segment to choose the four city council people to replace the recalled members. 

Mayor Thompson’s input during this city council meeting focused on my work regarding a bond levy in Tigard in 2015 (Levy 34-241) $34.5 to build a community center operated by the YMCA. Funded by an increase in property taxes.

I am disappointed with Mayor Thompson’s reasoning that since I helped defeat a bond measure in Tigard 9 years ago (which was totally inappropriate,) I could at some future time provide negative input for a community center in King City as a council member. 

Her comments suggested that since I ran the campaign to defeat this bond measure, I may not be an advocate for a center in King City.

Mayor Thompson failed to mention the information that was submitted with my application identifying the flaws in this bond levy as stated in two articles published in the Tigard Times (October and November 2015).

see full letter here: letter from Vince Arditi

Valley Times article submitted by Peter Huhtala 3/19/2024

Fischer Road was identified to serve an urban growth community, but it is clear that the extension would create a popular way to move fast between 99W and Roy Rogers Road. This is unnecessary and environmentally harmful. The road would destroy wildlife habitat, including parts of the Bankston Nature Preserve. Running adjacent the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, the noise would harass animals and pollute the air and water.

It will not be easy to reverse this plan, but the recall was an appropriate step.

see full article here: OPINION: King City recall appropriate step in reversing Fischer Road plan

After the recall: Tigard Life article written by Barbara Sherman 3/29/2024:

Patti Nichols, spokesperson for the recall campaign, issued a statement saying, “We are of course very pleased with the results of this recall election. This has been a community effort with the focus on what’s best for the future of King City and for the people that live here and will live here. Transportation, environmental protection, and representative leadership have been the focal points of this recall.

The certification of the recall and the removal of the mayor and the three city councilors should make it clear, to both the remaining and newly appointed councilors, that change is wanted, needed, and required…

see full article here: King City City Council carries on with three members, elects new mayor