Q&A: Commission candidate Casey Garrett

In last week’s edition, the Chronicle & Chief heard from the three candidates vying for Position 1 of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. This week, we will hear from incumbent Casey Garrett, who currently holds Position 3 on the commission and is running unopposed in the upcoming 2024 Oregon Primary Election on May 21.

The following is an interview with Commissioner Garrett about his motivation to run and some of the issues he hopes to address if reelected.

The Chronicle & Chief: Why did you decide to run, and what skills will you bring to the Commission if elected?

Casey Garrett: I decided to run for reelection because I believe in the progress we’ve made over the past four years and am committed to continuing that work. With a focus on customer service, infrastructure improvements and maintenance, and responsible resource management, I’ve demonstrated my dedication to serving Columbia County.

My background in construction, facilities management, and local government administration has provided me with the necessary skills to effectively address the county’s challenges. I take my role as County Commissioner seriously and am honored to have the opportunity to serve for another term.

The Chronicle & Chief: What do you see as the greatest challenges facing the county you hope to address if elected?

Garrett: Our greatest challenge is maintaining our road system.

Local property taxes fund a small portion of county operations, while inflation and a growing range of state-mandated services strain the county’s general fund. Historically, county roads have been supported by Federal DOT dollars and State allocations through fuel tax, vehicle registrations fees, and the commercial vehicle weight-mile tax. Counties are responsible for more road miles than cities and the State, yet we are allocated the least amount of funding.

Unfortunately, a once lucrative local tax base from timber and associated industries has diminished over the past decades, decreasing our commercial/industrial property revenues and increasing the residential tax burden. While our county is positioned well to attract a future, more diversified local economy, this will take time, so the challenge will be finding ways to prioritize our limited resources to help bridge the gap.

I will leverage my relationships gained with our state legislators and my positions on the NW Area Commission on Transportation and Association of Oregon Counties to lobby for our county’s fair share of state and federal transportation dollars. I will also advocate for any excess county General Fund resources to be prioritized towards roads first before other programs.

The Chronicle & Chief: When hearing from constituents, what are the issues that come up most consistently?

Garrett: The most common concerns I receive are related to road maintenance and repairs, land development permitting processes, and dilapidated properties associated with a range of other criminal or undesirable activities.

The Chronicle & Chief: What do you want the voters of Columbia County to know about you?

Garrett: I was raised outside of Scappoose and am now raising my own family in St. Helens where we’ve lived for nearly 20 years. I’m active in our communities and a dedicated volunteer at local events and non-profit organizations. I take great pride in our county’s history, culture, and future potential.

I earned a Bachelor of Science from Portland State University, majoring in Architecture and Construction Project Management. I then went on to work as a construction engineer for a large civil construction company in Southern California before moving back to Columbia County in 2006 to start my own general contracting business. During my time as a contractor, I successfully completed many industrial, commercial, and residential projects throughout the greater South County area.

For the past 10 years I’ve served Columbia County as a Facilities Manager, Director of General Services, and County Commissioner. I also serve as Co-chair of the Association of Oregon Counties Governance/Revenue Committee, President of Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, Vice-chair of NW Area Commission on Transportation, and the Board of Directors for Columbia Economic Team and NW Oregon Workforce Consortium.

My experience and background have provided me with the knowledge, essential skills, and ability to be an effective County Commissioner. With your support, I will work tirelessly to manage our public resources responsibly and make the absolute most of what we have. I look forward to your confidence and vote to continue to serve.