2024
Salute to First Responders Special Section Headlight Herald
Citizen North Coast
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Serving North Tillamook County since 1996
Thursday, October 31, 2024 | Vol. 31, Issue 20
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www.northcoastcitizen.com
Cyrus Javadi
Javadi prioritizes housing in reelection bid WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor
Adventist Health Tillamook leadership and local elected officials ceremonially break ground on the hospital’s surgical center expansion and modernization.
Adventist breaks ground on surgery center expansion and modernization WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor
Adventist Health staff, local elected officials and construction team members gathered on October 17, for a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion and modernization of the hospital’s surgery center. The three-phase project has a projected budget of $18 million and construction is expected to begin formally in the coming weeks and be completed in 2027. Preparations for the project began when staff noticed that the foundation in the current surgical suite, which was constructed in 1995, was settling and causing cracking
in the floor. Addressing that issue will be the top priority of the renovation of the existing facilities, while the addition will facilitate an expansion from three to four operating rooms and the addition pre- and post-operative beds, expanding the unit’s capacity. First, the new structure will be constructed in the courtyard immediately adjacent to the current center at the hospital’s rear. That will allow operations to transition there while renovations take place to the existing suite, which will become the pre- and post-operative waiting area, preventing a disrup-
See ADVENTIST, Page A2
After a first term in which he helped to secure funding for several infrastructure projects in district 32, State Representative Cyrus Javadi hopes to build on that momentum and take other steps to promote housing growth in a second term. Javadi said that he would support legislation to make it easier for cities to expand their urban growth boundaries, increase allowed density in areas near cities and reduce or waive system development charges for housing development. The district 32 representative also said that he would promote solutions to address the high cost of living in the district including reducing utility bill fees charged by the state, lowering barriers to opening childcare centers in private homes and expanding the state’s free school lunch program to all students. “What type of fat can we cut, and can we run lean and mean for a little while to balance out inflation,” Javadi said had been a guiding question as he looked ahead. In his first term, Javadi said that he was proud of the work the legislature had done to pass Governor Tina Kotek’s housing bill and pointed to his work to cut red tape slowing development in coastal
Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson addresses the crowd gathered for the groundbreaking.
See JAVADI, Page A2
City of Rockaway Beach candidates During the production of the Tillamook Headlight Herald’s Voters’ Guide three candidate responses submitted in advance of the deadline were mistakenly not included due to editorial oversight.
Mayor
Mayor Charles McNeilly I have lived in Rockaway Beach since 2018 with my wife Sue and our border collie/walking partner Abigail. I previously worked in banking,
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Mayor
We apologize to the affected candidates as well as voters and are including the statements for Mayor Charles McNeilly, Mayoral Candidate Rodney Breazile and Councilor Alesia Franken here.
software development, and electric utilities for over twenty years managing projects, products, processes, and people before being elected Mayor in 2022. I work hard to deliver clear communication across diverse audiences. I have had the honor of serving as Mayor for the last 21 months. Here are a few highlights from my first term: • Spearheaded the increase in transparency and communication between city government and community members including Town Halls, Open Houses, annual State of the City messages, monthly Coffee with Manager and Mayor, and monthly updates on the city government activities and accomplishments. • Took the lead in our City’s efforts to acquire Jetty Creek Watershed and guarantee an abundant supply of clean water on into the future. • On the forefront of establishing a balance between support for tourism and livable neighborhoods with a short-term rental cap.
• Provided easy access on smartphones for tourists to know where they can eat, shop, sleep and recreate while in Rockaway Beach. • Fully engaged in assuring Strategic Planning Initiative gathered input from across all segments of our community. • Productive, collaborative partnership with our City Leadership. I believe our biggest challenge is the rift in our business community; it creates a headwind which negatively impacts our community and city government. I will look for ways to heal this rift in my second term. I ask for your vote so I can continue the work I began in January 2023 with a continued focus on taking control of the Jetty Creek Watershed so we have a clean, abundant supply of water, short term rental management, community engagement and communication, continued fiscal responsibility and a productive collaborative partnership with our city leadership.
Rodney Breazile My name is Rodney Breazile, and I have gratefully lived in Rockaway Beach for 38 years. I’m a co-owner/operator of a local custom-home building business. However,
my unwavering commitment to Rockaway Beach truly sets me apart. I have volunteered for over 20 years as a parent, neighbor, community member, Lion, and committee member. My 6-year tenure on the Rockaway Planning Commission and as a general contractor has given me a deep understanding of infrastructure and city development. This, coupled with my experiences as a previous local employee on a commercial fishing rig in Garibaldi, a parent who raised children in NKN, a business owner, and my commitment to volunteering and listening to people, equips me with the qualities needed to serve as mayor. One issue that has caught my attention over the years is the unequal treatment
of citizens by the City. It’s concerning to see some citizens being held to every requirement of a specific request while others are not. If elected as Mayor, I am committed to ensuring that our city treats all citizens equally and is held accountable for its actions. As your Mayor, I will prioritize transparency in all City operations and decisions. I will also work tirelessly to promote the health and prosperity of our community and businesses, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to thrive. I also want to uplift our local workforce by implementing ways to increase housing opportunities, like through city-pre-approved accessory dwelling unit plans.
Council Position 4 Alesia Franken My name is Alesia Franken, and I have lived in Rockaway Beach for four years. I am a small business owner here on the North Coast and have been a Rockaway Beach City Councilor for the past year and a half. My prior career was in high-tech in the Pacific Northwest as a Chemical Engineer
with the last portion of my high-tech career in upper management, primarily as the Head of Quality. Volunteer work I engage in: • Served on the board of Tides of Change in Tillamook County • Volunteered for the Lower Nehalem Community Trust at Alder Creek farms from 2021 through See CANDIDATES, Page A3