Tuesday’s special election for Newberg City Council did not go as I was hoping. This morning I met with Derek Carmon, one of the newly elected councilors, at his request. I am grateful for his time, his desire to meet face to face, his commitment to listening to others, and his commitment to helping Newberg city government function well. We share a love for Newberg. We share a desire to not speak untruthfully about others. We share a desire to find solutions and listen to others outside of our echo chambers.
Derek raised concerns that while my previous post about the election did not name him, a sentence I wrote referred to him and was unfair since I had never met with him or asked his position on the transitional housing project at North Valley Friends Church: “The COPS PAC, the mayor, and candidates for Newberg City Council are naming this as a threat that needs to be stopped.” I apologize for using language that implied I knew that his position was against that project. I am committed to being truthful in what I speak and write and am taking the time here to correct that implication from what I wrote.
I was grateful for his invitation for further dialogue on future issues. As he said in our meeting, I’m sure there are things he and I would agree on, and things we would disagree on. I appreciate his willingness to take time to raise a concern with me about what I wrote, and to listen to me.
My values and commitments remain the same. I want health and good for all of Newberg. I want public and private partnerships that will work together to solve difficult issues like houselessness, affordable housing, and transitional housing. I want a community that engages over our disagreements with truth and respect for the other.
I will continue to use my voice to advocate for the people in our community who are on the margins. I will continue to stay engaged for a fair, just, and caring Newberg.