We are a grassroots organization that was formed by concerned citizens and neighbors who feel that David offers the "Common Sense Leadership" that Damascus needs right now. David and his wife Diane are among the 80% of Damascus citizens who live on an acre or less. David understands that while our city may grow in the future, it is important to protect the quality of life that the current citizens enjoy.
Our group felt strongly that David should not follow common political strategy and hire outside campaign consultants and managers. This group formed to allow David to run a local citizen-based campaign to be a different kind of leader for Damascus. We need a leader who is in touch and willing to speak to all of the citizens of Damascus? We need a leader who when talking about individual property rights, actually means everyone’s property and not just their own rights to develop their real estate holdings? We feel David is that leader.
David is committed to improving the communication between the citizens and the Council and city staff. He was the lone supporter of the Committee for Citizen Involvement that resigned enmasse. David took a very principled stand and offered to resign his Council seat and join their committee in an effort to support their work. David will continue to develop opportunities for citizens to share and participate as he has done with the Coffee with a Councilor program he started four years ago. To date, David has hosted over 40 Coffee with a Councilor events, creating the opportunity for citizens to share their concerns in a comfortable non-threatening environment.
David will continue to work on ensuring a fiscally responsible city government that will never sacrifice essential services such as police and fire protection.
David will work diligently with our City Manager and our city staff to ensure that your concerns are addressed with both compassion and understandable responses.
David will continue to push Clackamas Co. and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation regarding safe roads in Damascus. We have to have the ability to identify and correct roads with speed limit, access and signaling issues.
David will work to improve the image and increase the trust in our City Council. He will be working to create a Council of 6 other leaders who will be accessible and responsive to the citizens and will learn to not only make decisions but how to make them in the best interest of our citizens and our community.
David is committed to sit across the table from the jurisdictions and agencies that will be reviewing our Comprehensive Plan and ensure that Damascus's citizen developed Core Values are adhered to! That we are crafting "our" plan, no one else’s. His opponents will talk about slamming the door on these same jurisdictions and agencies. Jurisdictions and agencies that every other city has to work with in regards to adhering to Oregon planning rules. David will work on behalf of Damascus to "change the rules" as needed through a spirit of cooperation along with the facts and data to back our position. You cannot open a cooperative dialogue by leading with a left to the jaw. Damascus needs a true leader and statesman to work through these issues. We believe once again that David is that Common Sense Leader.
We encourage you to contact David via phone or email with any questions, comments or concerns you have for Damascus and for our next Mayor. We can schedule him for neighborhood or homeowner association meetings, and if you do meet or chat with David, we are sure that you will come to the same reality that we have. That there is but one choice for the next Mayor of Damascus. There is one candidate that has a proven track record of "Common Sense Leadership" and that candidate is David Jothen for the next Mayor of Damascus.
Thank you for your vote!