Getting to know Casey Banks, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 2.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

Running for office was not something I had considered until a few Newberg leaders I respect invited me to run due to my passion for affordable housing and supporting the city’s goals of fostering a culture of inclusivity and planning for long-term development. I care about seeking the welfare of our city, especially as I am raising my daughter here. Because Newberg is experiencing significant growth and cultural-political divisiveness, I believe my experience as a pastor guiding people through crisis, conflict, and change will be useful to our city in the coming years.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

I find that important work, especially contentious work, is done best by people who trust one another, who believe each person at the table has common interests at heart, and respect one another even in disagreements. While co-workers don’t have to be friends, I believe in creating space for co-workers to learn each other’s hearts. We need opportunities, either as a group or in one-on-one conversations, to share what keeps us up at night, what breaks our heart, what change we hope to see in the world and why. If elected, it is my intention to meet with each councilor to better learn their stories, values, and passions and always practice the principles of the Civility Pledge so that our work for the city can be the best work we have within us. When cross-cultural dynamics are present, healthy interpersonal relationships require intentional learning to become competent communicators. I receive such trainings through my professional work and would be eager to participate in similar trainings with city council and staff.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

City Council action on the Housing Production Strategy, zoning laws, and building processes will result in more affordable apartments and modest homes, especially near public transit with walkable neighborhoods, with realistic solutions available for those needing emergency temporary shelter. The city would have composting services to turn organic waste into a valuable resource and incentives will be in place for homeowners and business owners to renovate and build with environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient designs. Newberg tourism will thrive and workers will have access to good-paying jobs without long commutes.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

My husband significantly reshaped the way I think about gun safety. I grew up fairly sheltered from gun culture and would have supported just about any gun reform legislation that used the phrases “military style” or “assault weapon.” My husband grew up in a hunting family, and as a Marine veteran, he was highly trained in weapon safety. We both supported safety but we disagreed about what gun regulation should look like and what kinds of weapons should be reserved for military only. The day I had my ah-ha moment was when he took a wood stock hunting rifle and swapped the stock of the gun for a black tactical stock and added a scope. All of a sudden that gun looked much scarier because of associations I had learned through entertainment media…and yet the function of the gun had not changed one bit. It was still a hunting rifle meant to shoot squirrels and rabbits for dinner. It made me realize that in order to talk about gun safety regulation, I needed to have a better understanding of the specific features involved and not base policy choices merely on assumptions, ambiguous phrases, or broad categorizations. Now, I don’t speak of “assault weapons” because definitions and connotations vary widely. Instead, I speak about magazine capacity, bump stocks, bullet types, etc. Do my husband and I agree on everything today? Nope. But we have more fruitful conversations and find more common ground when we get specific about the details. As a city councilor, before making policy decisions, I will ensure that I am well-informed and that the conversation gets specific to ensure we are at least discussing the same thing and not just talking past each other with misunderstandings.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

In my own supervision of staff, I like to ask employees how they best receive gratitude—do they feel appreciated through words of affirmation, through having good access to me and my time, etc.? City Council can foster appreciation for staff and city leaders through public recognition of tasks done well, through careful attention to the reports prepared by staff, etc. Council can encourage productivity by being clear about expectations and timelines, with inquiries into what the staff need in order to fulfill those expectations. Transparency can be cultivated through improving the navigation of the city website to highlight major ongoing projects and recent actions of the Council, with a more intuitive design, so residents can easily access the many resources staff have already prepared.

Getting to know Peggy Kilburg, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 2.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

I’ve raised my family here (except for a few years in southern California), and I want to give back to this community. Now that I am retired, I have the time and energy to devote to serving on the city Council, and my 30+ years as an HR professional have equipped me for this role, especially my 21 years as the HR director at George Fox. Being successful in that position required strong leadership, decision making, and communication skills. I have been a city councilor now for just over 3 months, appointed on June 25th to fill a vacancy, and I find it both challenging and enjoyable.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

I have strong interpersonal skills, but beyond that, I sincerely enjoy getting to know people as individuals. Sometimes that is in spite of differences in viewpoints. I am friendly and engaging, and I believe there is comradery among council members even now, despite having different perspectives on issues. I have spent extended time with one council member in particular, and I plan to do that with each and every person on the council (just as soon as this campaign is behind me).

And perhaps more importantly than any of this, I am committed to endorsing the excellent Civility Pledge recently put forth by the United as Neighbors group. It is a breath of much needed fresh air, and I’m grateful for the hard work of those who have been working on the civility project for the past many months.

The Newberg/Dundee Area Civility Pledge

I will be kind and respectful to everyone.

I will listen to understand the views and values of those with whom I disagree.

I will work to solve problems by seeking common ground.

I will refrain from mocking or ridiculing those who disagree with me.

I will seek to trust, and be trustworthy and truthful, in my interactions with others.

For me, key words in this pledge are “listen”, “seeking common ground”, “trust” “trustworthy”, and “truthful”.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

I answer this, knowing issues will arise that we don’t yet anticipate, but these are my thoughts based on our current realities:

• I will have worked to ensure that our community is a safe place for families, and part of that is supporting our police department and addressing homelessness.

• I will have been a watchdog regarding spending and reducing fees whenever possible.

• I will have worked to address our housing shortage and affordability.

• I will have worked to attract new businesses to Newberg that provide good paying jobs.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

I used to think of marijuana solely as a recreational drug. In fact, I had a brother whose habitual use of it contributed to his alcohol addiction and ultimately, his premature death. I basically thought of marijuana as “pot” that should be illegal. Then, through conversations with one of my sons and also with one of my daughters, I’ve come around to see that there are medical benefits. In my son’s case, he has two young daughters who have battled cancer, one as a toddler, and one who is currently in a 2 1/2-year treatment plan that won’t end until early in 2024. In talking with my son, I’ve come to understand that marijuana is can be effective in controlling pain, and it can also help with appetite and nausea issues. My daughter has convinced me that it can also be used to treat stress, anxiety and sleep issues.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

I love this question because these are so important! They can be accomplished by keeping communication channels open, especially with the City Manager, who reports to the Council. But it is also important that we have at least a basic understanding staff’s jobs and the primary functions in each department. I would add to that the importance of expressing appreciation for their work. An example would be the Finance Director’s work and leadership during the annual budgeting process.

Sometimes people are impatient with local government because they want a certain outcome. And sometimes it’s just not possible to make that change quickly. Talking with the city department heads has helped me better understand the reasons. An example is the municipal (aka water) bill, which includes fees for public safety and transportation line items.

Getting to know Daniel Lindsey, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 2.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

I want to bring back the development patterns that created our historic downtown by allowing more mixed use development and ending parking minimums. I want it to be easier for Residents to contribute services to their communities and build wealth for themselves and their neighborhoods by allowing people to start low impact businesses in residential areas. I want streets designed to connect those that live along them, and safe enough that parents don’t worry about letting their kids walk to school.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

Customer service is all about working well with people. And I have plenty of experience working with people. I’d like to take tours of the city and talk with fellow council members about their thoughts and ideas for Newberg. Even if there’s disagreement, there’s never a reason to be rude.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

The City would have established vulnerable road user routes that receive traffic calming treatment and connect to important destinations like schools, stores, and jobs. There would be a greater variety in businesses and availability of community services as people take advantage of relaxed single use zoning.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

I’m always considering and reconsidering my ideations. The people I meet and talk with offer perspectives and information that, even if it’s at odds with what I think, I appreciate and it helps me consider a topic in a new way. Because I’m running for office I recently talked with someone who took a more extreme position along the lines that elected official should do as the people say. I didn’t become a convert, but it’s prompted me to think more about how I can engage with people.

Getting to know Jefferson Mildenberger, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 4.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

Primarily it’s important to me to lead Newberg out of the division we’ve experienced in the last few years. Newberg must be able to return to work as neighbors again, even if we don’t politically agree. The current hyper-partisan focus on non-partisan local elected positions has damaged Newberg’s reputation and the way our community does business. We can’t have a well-run city without collaboration.

Secondarily, I believe in an all-inclusive Newberg. I will work to ensure everyone feels welcome in Newberg, citizens and visitors alike.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

I’m committed to my approach of listening to understand both sides of every issue to find commonality in our values and beliefs. You can then better understand the multiple strategies to address every issue. In this position, you can’t make decisions on quantitative data alone. From that point, we can work towards solutions that don’t diminish either side’s values. I take the non-partisan designation of my role very seriously. We all love Newberg, but we have different ideas about how to arrive at the future of our city. We need to develop a collaborative vision to get there.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

Above all else, a clean, well-run city that is flourishing financially. Newberg will be viewed as a welcoming city for businesses and residents alike. News headlines about Newberg will be focused on the announcement of new companies coming to our city or the accomplishments of our residents.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

At the start of my campaign, I was very focused on Civility. After conversations with some of my constituents, I understand that the word “Civility” can be problematic because it has been used to mask racism by justifying suppression and exclusion. I used the term to describe how I conduct myself in my position and my methods for navigating heated disagreements. Although this new understanding of the perception of Civility has not changed my approach, it has changed my language and improved my understanding of our community.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

Working through the City Manager, City Council sets the direction of the city. The Council’s goals and values cascade through the organization. It’s important for Council to role model the culture it expects from the city through its behavior and actions. The Council is also the voice of Newberg’s citizens and should be first to identify and make recommendations if there are transparency issues.

Getting to know Robyn Wheatley, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 4.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

My principal motivations for running for city council are to prioritize the safety of our community and fully fund essential city services such as police and public works. I want to prioritize the livability of Newberg by attracting family-wage jobs that improve our quality of life.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

I will contribute to the healthy interpersonal dynamics of the council by making myself available to and establishing relationships with my fellow councilors. I will use the skills I have learned through the Civility Project:

The Newberg/Dundee Area Civility Pledge

I will be kind and respectful to everyone.

I will listen to understand the views and values of those with whom I disagree.

I will work to solve problems by seeking common ground.

I will refrain from mocking or ridiculing those who disagree with me.

I will seek to trust, and be trustworthy and truthful, in my interactions with others.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

My goals are helping to unite and heal our community through healthy dialogue assuring our citizen’s voices are heard. I hope to promote policies that encourage new family-wage businesses to grow in Newberg that help improve our communities of living. I will also work to tackle the rising cost of our water bill. When I look back at my time, those items will be how I will measure my success.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

A time when my thinking was changed about an important public issue because of an interaction with someone I disagree with was when I toured the emergency shelter here in Newberg. I spoke with the manager and he showed me the value of many of the services they provide.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

The City Council can support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture by creating an environment of openness and respect. I will work with and continue to support the city manager, Will Worthy by continuing his precedence of high-level customer service to all. He believes in answering questions quickly and responding respectfully. If I have a question about a topic I will refer to those entities that I feel can effectively and honestly answer.

Getting to know Derek Carmon, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 6.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

Three things have motivated me to run for this office; Revitalization of downtown Newberg, livability as it relates to homelessness and infrastructure, and public safety, especially as it relates to our children. I would like to see more School Resource Officers at the schools; interacting with our youth and providing added safety to our schools.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

I listen more than I talk and I truly care. When one truly cares about another it is easier to hear them. Through disagreements I am able to focus on the ways in which we are similar, which helps me to better understand our differences. I approach every conversation that may present a conflict with the willingness to have my opinion changed. When you can enter a situation with an active ear and an open mind, you can easily contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

-Additional SROs in the schools

-Reduction in System Development Charges to remove barriers to business growth or revitalization

-Investments in upstream solutions to homelessness before people are experiencing it

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

I had a strong conversation with a family member about policing. It was at a time shortly after the murder of George Floyd. I was viewing policing through my own lens, based on my enculturation and experience. My family member, who is also mixed race, was viewing the events through fear. She feared for the safety of her young son. I changed my view to understand the fears that people have are real as I started to consider my own fears. Understanding those fears helped me to have a deeper understanding of their point of view.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

The City Council can support leadership by having regular meetings with them and the staff. Understanding what their needs are in order to accomplish their goals and and working with the City Manager ensure those needs are met. It also means holding people accountable, including the councilors. There has been a history in the last couple of years of not holding people accountable, which has caused lawsuits and a revolving door of City Managers. As public servants, we need to be accountable to the community we serve.

Getting to know Stephanie Findley, candidate for Newberg City Council, District 6.

What are your principal motivations for running for this office?

Newberg has been my family’s home for 9 years and we love it here. I enjoy giving back to my community by volunteering my time to council and I am excited about a lot of the projects coming up. I have really loved getting to know the community in this way and enjoy working with city staff and other leaders to plan for the future.

Interpersonal dynamics contribute to the success of the city council. How will you contribute to healthy interpersonal dynamics?

Good communication skills and an ability to work closely with others are very important to council work. I believe in direct, respectful communication and am committed to listening and learning from every person I have contact with in my role as a councilor.

When your term ends, if it was deemed successful, what would you have accomplished?

I measure success in a number of different ways, both measurable and unmeasurable. I would love to leave my council role knowing that I have formed good relationships, was respectful of all, and am considered to be a thoughtful and direct decision maker. Above that, I would love to see Urban Renewal well on it’s way to the goal of enhancing and improving Newberg, a stable and thriving staff environment at City Hall, and excellent communication and customer service for our residents.

Describe a time in which your thinking about an important public issue has changed because of your interaction with someone who disagreed with you.

Urban Renewal is a good example. Originally, I was skeptical based on my research of urban renewal in other cities and some of the outcomes in other communities. I took the time to listen to a fellow councilor with a lot more experience and knowledge on the subject and to work closely with the city staff and the urban renewal board to understand how Newberg is going to use urban renewal and how leaders have shaped it to avoid negative outcomes. It was very important that I spent time listening to those who had ideas that were different from my own and, ultimately, I changed my position on the issue.

How can the City Council support leadership and staff in maintaining a positive, productive, and transparent operational culture?

It is imperative that the council lead by example. Council must demonstrate collaborative problem solving, respectful dialogue, and trust in employees. I believe the council should be direct and transparent in decisions and work very hard to maintain a level of professionalism and customer service that we expect of staff. Communication with residents must be a priority and a culture of learning and listening to others is important. We have an amazing staff at the City of Newberg!