In 1998 Oregon voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot measure directing elections be conducted by mail, commonly called vote by mail. This replaces traditional polling place elections.
Other states may use strategies such as reducing polling locations in predominantly African American or Lantinx neighborhoods, or only having polling stations open during business hours. Oregon’s vote by mail seeks to improve access.
A Portland State University study found that fewer than 15 percent of eligible voters were turning out to vote for mayors, council members, and other local offices. Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful. – NatGeo
You only need to update your registration in Oregon when:
your residence or mailing address changes;
your name changes; or
you wish to change your party affiliation.
Talk about voting on social media and in discussions with your friends and family. We need to engage and encourage future generations to vote. Use these images below to spread the word!
Media Library – Please feel free to use! Need a custom image for your advocacy? Contact Casey Miller.
I work with elected officials, department managers, county staff and fellow jurisdictions to support our community and ensure our safety. As a result of this experience, I see what is working and what needs improvement in county government.
We have a meaningful mission statement….
The mission of Lincoln County is to provide essential
public services, both legally required and locally desired, in an efficient,
effective, and respectful manner.
We
have many amazing and dedicated employees.
We
have a thoughtful community: many of you volunteer your service to each other.
I am grateful.
We
have strength in our diversity: natural resources, our fishing industry,
tourism, science & education, and our retired talent are all combined
assets.
We
have a balanced budget for 2022-2023. Our general fund reserves represent 17%
of operating expenditures: an improvement of over $1,000,000 from our prior
year.
But we need to stay focused…
Government must be fiscally responsible to balance environmental stewardship, economic growth, health, safety, transportation, and infrastructure. I will continue to prioritize a fair, balanced, results driven approach to quality governance.
How can we improve? Create a Countywide Plan
County government needs to analyze, define, and develop our
organization’s goals and values into a cohesive strategy. This includes: (1) Asking for your needs and
priorities (2) Measuring what government is doing for you (3) Proposing a
shared strategies that are tangible (3) Developing goals and objectives (5)
Monitoring customer service, setting timelines, tracking our progress (6) Sharing
our plan openly with each other (7) Revising and pivoting as needed, when
needed
Oregon League of Conservation Voters – Endorsement
Our economy and quality of life depend on strong
environmental protections. I will make enacting an equitable and community focused
Climate Action Plan a top priority.
Our ecosystem is a shared resource. Let us better preserve
our natural habitat, drinking water, wildlife and community health. We are an
interconnected system and should not take it for granted.
National Organization for Women – Central Oregon Coast –
Endorsement
I will fully support all mothers who are trying to protect
their children from abusive fathers who aggressively litigate against them,
using family court to stalk, harass, punish, and impoverish their former
partners and children.
I will call out and prevent discrimination at any level.
Justice for women. Justice for our aboriginal community. Justice for LGBTQIA+
Justice for BIPOC.
Lincoln County Democrat Central Committee – Endorsement
Why did local DEMS endorse an unaffiliated voter since
2004…? I am a liberal who believes government can and should serve its
community.
Investing in all people with quality education, housing, and
health services will benefit the entire community and give everyone the greatest
opportunity to thrive.
Public officials must be prevented from self-dealing at the
public expense and corrupt influence. There must be transparency in and
restrictions on campaign finance and the financial activities of public
officials and employees.
Like our local DEMS I believe our diversity is our strength
and our future.
What do we aim to achieve in our future together? It is
up to us. Together we are stronger.
I wish I could tell you that a county commissioner had a
magic wand to relieve ALL the cultural stress we are experiencing. County
government can only do so much to alleviate the challenging times we are in.
The good news is local government is doing important work. We provide many
services that support health and wellness. We also provide the fundamental
services that enable economic development. By law we must live within our
fiscal means. Each year we present a balanced budget, our reserves are minimal
but sufficient. Local government must remain steadfastly smart and thrift as it
balances our locally desired and legally required services.
Should you ever need to understand how government is working
on your behalf I ask you to simply contact me. It is difficult to create
unified policies that are a perfect fit for everyone. I am here to create
clarity, engage in problem solving and most importantly understand your
experience. This is one of my core commitments to you.
Thank you for your faith, confidence, and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Casey Miller
“I have spent 14 years in service to you as a public official. My work as your public information officer responding to COVID and our WILDFIRES has further strengthened my resolve to protect and serve Lincoln County.”
“The key to prosperity for Lincoln County is the purposeful balance of our community’s diversity: fishing, timber, tourism and our retired citizens all contribute to economic development. I will be a tireless advocate for smart and sustainable economic growth.”
“Our economy and quality of life depend on strong environmental protections. I will make enacting an equitable and community focused Climate Action Plan a top priority.”
“As your next Commissioner, I will use my passion for civic engagement to foster a whole community approach to disaster preparedness, addressing our housing shortage, strengthening our economy, and protecting our families and most vulnerable populations.”
When and why did you first decide to run for county commissioner? I firmly decided I would pursue being a Commissioner in 2019. Around that time I began asking myself what would/should I do If I was a commissioner? I began to write and reflect publicly. I changed the way I looked at my work and the work of the Commission. How can we achieve excellence as a team? Eventually, I decided that I wanted part of my legacy and my obituary to include “He balanced his community, the work of governance and his family in service to the infinite game.” Commissioner Lindly once said that “I was the best hire ever.” How can I take that recognition to the next level? File for commissioner.
What is the trait you possess that most qualifies you for election, and why is that quality important for the position you are seeking? Openness, being free of personal ego, and trusting others. These all contribute to my trait of emotional maturity (emotional intelligence). An effective commissioner must look beyond themselves and find the common themes that empower county staff and serve our community’s needs The mission of Lincoln County Government is to provide essential public services, both legally required and locally desired, in an efficient, effective, and respectful manner. This mission statement is beautifully written and a guiding principle for both our citizens, staff and elected officials.
How will you address the dual issues of affordable housing and homelessness in the community? Creating more affordable housing will reduce houslessness. But, it will not completely eliminate houslessness. The county in partnership with other jurisdictions and stakeholders have created a Housing Strategy Plan. This document provides our community with good guidance about how to tackle the affordable housing problem. We need to build and innovate upon this work and identify housing in our future strategic planning. One of the more immediate pathways available to us is increased leniency on accessory dwelling units. This is only a slice but it is lower hanging fruit. Restricting STRs is another way to increase affordable housing. Many STRs are indeed suitable for families. Zoning innovations are yet another way to allow smaller and more dense housing. Increasing child care resources will allow families more ability to enter the workforce and improve household income to afford housing. There are many ways to address the problem. But, can we reach a consensus to uniformly respond together? In such a wealthy country why is there so much inequality and suffering. We need to ask ourselves this.
How will you support the goals of measure 21-203, including the 5-year phase-out of short-term rentals (STRs) in residential areas of unincorporated Lincoln County, as a means to help improve our long-term housing stock and neighborhood livability?
The Board of Commissioners are charged with defending the will of the people as expressed in the election approving Measure 21-203. As a new commissioner, if measure 21-203 is still in litigation I will ensure that our government is doing everything it can to support its legal defense in LUBA. If 21-203 is upheld, then I will ensure that the county is making every effort to support the roll out of our measure and that the integration of ordinance #523 supports (not diminishes) the measure where possible.
Note, it is optional for the Commissioners to revise ordinance #523 to further reflect the will of the people. I see no reason that (ordinance #524, 525,526, etc.) cannot further create more restrictions on STR activity should that be desired by our community.
