News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Jennifer Letz has thrown her hat in the ring for another term on the Sisters City Council.
Letz, who is finishing up a four-year term, helped navigate Sisters through the challenges of hiring a new city manager, a contentious battle over a proposed emergency homeless shelter, and is currently embarked on the state-mandated project to expand the City's Urban Growth Boundary.
Jennifer Letz.
Letz is one of five candidates running for three available seats on Sisters City Council in the November 5 election. The incumbent councilor told The Nugget that she ran for reelection because she wants to continue working on some key council efforts.
"Your projects never end neatly on your last day in office," she said. "There's some important projects I'd like to see through and keep working on. I think over the last four years, we've done a pretty good job of making progress, and I'd like to keep that momentum. I'm proud of the work we've done."
Letz sites securing grant funding for a Northwest Housing Alternatives affordable housing project as part of that momentum, as the City continues to grapple with the challenges of affordable living in the community. She also sees the Council trying to find ways of providing a variety of types of housing options in new developments.
Wildfire resilience and mitigation is also a key priority, with the Council working on code changes to encourage "hardening" of homes at most threat from the incursion of fire.
"That's been a top issue for all of us on Council," Letz said.
Letz said she is also proud of the "high level of dedication of all my fellow Councilors to their role, these volunteer positions in the community. I'm hoping that work ethic and momentum continues as well."
Council work is demanding of both time and attention. There is a lot of meeting preparation that goes on before Councilors gather to deliberate on issues.
"I've had an 800-page packet once," Letz recalled.
Accessibility to the public is important to Letz. She encourages citizens to email their thoughts and concerns, and asks that they be specific.
Letz has deep roots in Central Oregon. She's left for work, but always returned.
"Our family moved to Deschutes County over 40 years ago," she said. "To say I've seen some changes is an understatement, and you have to accept the notion that change is a constant."
She and her family moved from Bend to Sisters, primarily drawn by the school system. She is determined to maintain the small-town, neighborly qualities of Sisters.
"What was very important to me is walkability and bike ability," she said. "I walk and bike everywhere."
Diversity of background and talents is also important to Letz, and drives the desire to keep working on housing issues that could force many people out of the community, and puts a strain on employers seeking people to work in their businesses. She doesn't want to see Sisters become an exclusive resort community.
"Shame on us if we don't learn the lessons of those communities," she said.
Letz says she has always been driven to serve. She says she loves government but hates politics.
"I just want to go in and get the work done," she said. "This town would not be what it is without volunteerism of one kind or another. This is my way of doing it."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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