Who’s on governor’s land use task force?

Question: I read “The Big Look,” the land use planning insert in the newspaper. I want to know:

Who are the people the governor appointed to serve on the task force that is recommending land use recommendations to the Oregon Legislature? What are their competencies?

Long-winded answer: Most people who own land in Oregon know there’s been a decades-long fight over zoning and how people can use their land. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the Legislature want to smooth out the turmoil.

So, in 2005, they appointed a 10-member task force to come up with ideas to deal with current and future land-use disputes. They’ll present their recommendations to the Legislature next year.

That’s how “The Big Look” originated. That newspaper insert you saw last week invites Oregonians to get involved. Almost 30 Oregon newspapers carried the publication. The next step is public meetings to gather information for the task force.

Here’s what the state says about members of the “Big Look” task force:

Nikki Whitty

She’s a Coos County commissioner and more. In her decade in office, Whitty has spent a lot of time on land-use issues. Previously, Whitty was the south coast area manager for Coos-Curry-Douglas Business Development Corporation, and before that worked for legislators in Salem. She’s also on a bunch of state boards and commissions.

Ken Bailey

He’s vice president and shareholder in Orchard View Farms Inc., which grows, packs and ships cherries worldwide from The Dalles. He has a degree in horticulture and serves on the Oregon State Board of Agriculture, as well as various other ag groups and Wasco County committees.

David Bragdon

This Portland man has served on the Metro Council, which essentially aims to improve quality of life in and around the big city. He has worked in international trade and freight transportation, developing transportation strategies for companies such as Nike, Lasco Shipping Co. and Evergreen Airlines. He also spent five years as the Port of Portland’s marketing manager.

Steve Clark    

This Tigard newspaperman runs the Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers, a group of 19 weekly and monthly papers in the Portland area. He was a board member on the Westside Economic Alliance, developing an economic strategy for Portland’s west side. He’s co-chairman of the Oregon Business Council’s efforts to expand the availability of land in Oregon for jobs.

Jill Gelineau

A Portland attorney, she represents landowners in condemnation and land use litigation. She is a sought-after speaker on those issues and recently helped rewrite the chapter on Compensation in Nichols on Eminent Domain, the pre-eminent treatise in the field of condemnation law.

Judie Hammerstad

Currently mayor of Lake Oswego, she previously served on the Lake Oswego School Board and in the state Legislature (1987-88). She was a Clackamas County commissioner from 1990-99. She’s also served on the Metropolitan Policy Advisory Committee, been a board member for the Portland State Institute, Portland Streetcar Inc., and Metro’s Task Force on Measure 37.

Wes Hare

He’s Albany city manager and has worked in local Oregon governments since 1984. He also managed the cities of Oakridge and La Grande.

Cameron Krauss

As the attorney for the Swanson Group Inc., a Glendale forest products company, he works on natural resource issues at the state and federal levels. He serves on the board of directors of Oregonians for Food and Shelter and the executive committee of the American Forest Resource Council.

Gretchen Palmer

A former preschool teacher and restaurateur, she is principal broker for Palmer Homes Sales Inc. She lives in Central Oregon and has worked with the city of Bend on its development code revision. She also is active in the National Association of Home Builders.

Mike Thorne

He’s been executive director of the Port of Portland and CEO of the Washington State Ferry System. He  served in the Legislature from 1973 to 1991 and was a member of the committee that wrote the original Oregon land use planning act. Now he ranches near Pendleton and serves on the board of StanCorp Financial in Portland.

(I Want to Know is a regular feature of The World, offering readers a chance to anonymously ask questions and have reporters pursue answers. Those interested can send questions to The World newspaper, P.O. Box 1840, Coos Bay Ore. 97420; or by sending e-mail to news@theworld link.com.)