Simonis wants new voice among city council members:

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Sep 26, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

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One candidate is a city government veteran with years of experience under his belt.

The other is a political newcomer who wants to represent a Gresham constituency not reflected on the council.

Jenni Simonis, pronounced, “Simon is,” said it’s the perfect time for voters to elect a new fresh-thinking councilor to the city’s only contested open council seat, now held by Councilor David Widmark. Because the two other councilors up for re-election are running unopposed, six councilors with extensive experience would remain to mentor her if she wins Widmark’s seat, formally known as Position 1.

The current council “doesn’t represent the entire city,” she said. “I’ve heard again and again we don’t have any representation for the northern half of the city.”

Four councilors live in Gresham’s high-end Persimmon area, with a fifth living in an adjacent neighborhood. Only one lives on Gresham’s north side, and even that councilor’s home is on the north-south edge, Simonis said.

Simonis lives in Northeast Gresham near Mt. Hood Community College.

Forty percent of Gresham residents rent, as does Simonis, but all the city councilors are homeowners, she said.

More middle-class working families are moving to Gresham, but only councilor — Mayor Shane Bemis — has young children.

“I understand what they go through every day,” she said of Gresham’s growing young-family demographic. There aren’t enough family-wage jobs in town, which forces residents to commute. Which means more money spent on gas or time spent on buses traversing the city as part of a mass transit system that needs better connectivity, she said.

Electing her would, “just allow a greater voice of the community on the council,” she said.

As for issues facing the council, Simonis said the most important ones are public safety, transportation and livability issues.

Although the council has various positions, they do not represent a particular geographical part of the city. Instead, each seat is at large — or represents the entire city.

For example, although Widmark lives in Gresham’s older Northwest Neighborhood, as a city councilor he recently found himself in the home of a Mt. Hood Neighborhood resident who complained about construction noise as early as 7 a.m. at the new sports park.

“And in about 20 minutes we had the problem solved,” Widmark said. “I guess you’d call me a fixer.”

Although Widmark is a homeowner, he also has a rental property and knows the issues facing renters. In fact, he spearheaded the city’s landmark ordinance regulating payday lenders because they took advantage of the city’s poorer residents.

Widmark’s had a yo-yo like history as a councilor, coming and going as career, family and health issues interfered with council duties. But his health has improved, he’s retired, no longer is caring for elderly relatives and in a sense, wants to be re-elected so he can finish what he and the rest of the council has started.

“It’s that commitment that I have to my community, I care about my community,” Widmark said. “I know the issues. And this council works really well together … The team would like to stay together.”

The current council has been praised as professional, productive and hard-working. Recent accomplishments include getting construction of the sports park, which languished for 18 years, off the ground; starting construction of a Center for the Arts plaza; creating a new design commission; an eco-friendly de-construction of the old Fred Meyer site in Rockwood; streamlining the citizen involvement process; and placing a public safety levy before voters on the November ballot.

Such actions reflect Widmark’s top council priorities — economic development, public safety and redeveloping West Gresham/Rockwood.

Another project near and dear to Widmark’s heart — a skate park in Main City Park — is set for next spring. He’d like to still be on the council to see the project to fruition and hopes voters recognize his experience, leadership and vision for the community by re-electing him, he said.

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