Ballot Measure 34-298 will restructure the government of the City of Beaverton to weaken accountability. It is as simple as that.

Ballot Measure 34-298 will deeply restructure how the governing body of the City of Beaverton works. This will be done primarily by reducing the role of the mayor as city manager and the city council then hiring a city manager to manage the every day business of Beaverton. Do not be distracted by other points of the ballot. Of those, none require the weakening and loss of accountability of the mayor. All of them can be addressed independently.

Vote no on Ballot Measure 34-298 as there are too many unknown consequences that can result from too many changes during a period of crisis.

The Problem of a Beaverton City Manager

There are potential positives of having an experienced city manager that supervises, hires and manages the departments of government. If they are particularly good at their job, they can find efficiencies that can reduce overall costs. However there are some significant downsides as regards to the City of Beaverton, one of which is expressly a part of the new charter.

• The voters of Beaverton will have no say in the hiring and firing of a separate city manager
• The voters of Beaverton will have no built in method to review or evaluate the city manager
• The voters of Beaverton will have no say in the not only the direct compensation of the city manager but also the indirect, which can ultimately be more costly

While superficially it may appear to be more democratic for the city council to be able to vote on all three points, it does so at the expense of the public.

A far better solution is to make it easier to recall both the Mayor of Beaverton as well as any City Council member.

Mail in voting empowers Oregonians to have greater participation in government. More direct participation is an Oregon value.

As it currently is now, the mayor of Beaverton is the city manager and elected for that role.  While the people of Beaverton would hope that electing someone to the City Council would also imply their ability to determine if someone is fit or not to serve as City Manager, there is no more requirement for that role than the people of Beaverton electing someone specifically for their role as City Manager.

The difference under Ballot Measure 34-298 is that the people of Beaverton are expressly giving up their vote to determine who is City Manager.

A Well Informed Leader Leads Managers

Some may be concerned that a mayor can do a good job if they are not also a seasoned manager. Much like other leaders, the mayor has departmental reports that supply expertise. Departments gather, organize, rank and evaluate information, then they provide the result to the mayor. Leaders in both the private and public sector do this.

Costs Argumentation for Reform is Misdirection

Supporters of Ballot Measure 34-298 look to the compensation of the mayor of Beaverton as a problem. As City Council-person Cate Arnold points out, the mayor receives $185,000+benefits and points to that as too high. However, consider that Don Grotting, Superintendent of the Beaverton School District is paid $289,000 per year (after being hired back and topping out his PERS contributions).

Paying as little as possible isn't a problem if you set expectations of value for your investment.

Beaverton City Council members claim to work 15-20 hours per week, meet three times a month, with $1,300 to $1,600 direct compensation (and minor benefits) per month. They also are elected officials and not simply volunteers. Even collectively, the entire Beaverton City Council including the mayor makes less than the Superintendent of Beaverton Schools.

The problem here is in thinking lowest cost is the only real value.

A thriving City of Beaverton has strong, local businesses that are not exclusively located outside of the city. It should have businesses that are not only retail and service outlets but also include corporate offices. Life in Beaverton would be improved by being able to walk, bicycle, drive or take the bus to work with as short a commute as possible. Beaverton should always be the focus: as its own city rather than being the friendly 'bedroom of Portland'.

And the Rest

We can vote against Ballot Measure 34-298 and still approve of some of its measures. At some later date, we can address as specific, separate issues such matters as term limits or gender neutral language. A new version could also allow for easier and quicker recall of the Mayor or any City Council-person.

And there is no reason at all the Beaverton City Council cannot vote on using gender neutral language immediately.

Don't Vote for Cate Arnold Platform for Mayor if You Oppose Ballot Measure 34-298

City Council-person Cate Arnold is running for mayor in this 2020 election after having served 15 years on the city council. It it entirely clear that this push to change the city charter at least partially originates from her. It is fully understandable for a city council-person to feel the city suffers from a certain amount of stagnation with few term limits. However this argument is to weaken the power of an elected official and not to enhance the power of other elected officials to better serve the people of Beaverton.

For this reason and, because Cate Arnold is basing her run of mayor almost entirely on this ballot, do not vote for Cate Arnold if you oppose this ballot.

Here is Cate's Message from her promotional website:

CATE'S MESSAGE

I’m Cate Arnold, proud to have represented you on Beaverton City Council for the last 15 years as well as serving on more than 40 City, County, State and Volunteer Organizations over the last three decades.

During this time, I have likely met you, your families, your neighbors. I’ve supported our schools and churches, businesses and restaurants. Beaverton is in my heart and soul and doing what is right for our community has always been my passion. It’s why I originally ran for office and why I am running today for Mayor.

In these unpredictable times of a global pandemic, leadership could not be more important. Leadership that is EXPERIENCED and RESPONSIVE to citizens, is TRANSPARENT, brings critical FISCAL AND BUDGETARY EXPERTISE, and comes from a place of SERVICE vs salary and perks.

For that reality to happen, for our elected officials to truly respond transparently to citizens, we need to make some changes. And that begins with updating our City Charter.

Our 40-year-old charter has many problems, including putting too much power and pay in the hands of the mayor and the lack of term limits. Ballot Measure 34-298 Beaverton Charter for 2021 will usher in a new era for Beaverton! An updated charter will bring professional management with oversight to our operations in the form of a City Manager who is accountable to City Council, allow us to reduce the Mayor’s salary to a service level, adds three, four-year term limits so that new people are elected to office, updates archaic practices and includes gender neutral language.

If elected, I will accept only a salary of service, donating the excess to our Social Service Funding organizations.

Let’s bring Beaverton government back to the people! Elect a service-focused, experienced leader for Beaverton Mayor! In the May 19th election, Vote for Cate4Mayor and for 34-298 Beaverton Charter For 2021!

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