The Chase 10 point Environmental Plan!

Oregon’s unique landscape deserves to be protected. I have an agenda for clean water, natural resources, and most importantly, well planned communities. Oregon’s second largest industry is tourism. People come from all over the world to enjoy our mountains, rivers, beaches, parks and clean air. Our economy can’t afford to let the environment go down the drain.

Following are my commitments in the legislature. I won’t let special interests and politics get in the way of doing the right thing.

1) Protect water quality in our local rivers with stream buffers.

I’ll advocate keeping water in the rivers and pollution out. I’ll advocate creating better stream buffers in grazing and logging areas and where new development occurs.

Last session even some Democrats sold us down the river when they made a backroom deal with Republicans to change the law so that new development could take more than its fair share of water out of the Deschutes river—the crown jewel of northwest rivers. That hurts our fish and recreation economy.

As a board member of the Coalition for a Livable future, I testified and helped shape advocacy strategies to create better wildlife areas around our streams. As a nonprofit affordable housing developer, I went beyond environmental requirements to create model sustainable developments.

2) Keep toxins out of our air by requiring stricter emissions standards on new cars.

Clean air is one of the qualities that makes Oregon great. We have to face the fact that we’re growing. It is how we grow that matters. As pressure on our transportation system increases, we need to minimize pollution. California law has shown that stricter emission standards are possible without economically damaging the auto industry.

3) Create marine reserves in our ocean that will protect fish and other wildlife habitat.

The ocean is one of Oregon’s most precious resources. A sustainable fishing industry needs a dependable fish supply. Marine reserves make economic sense for our fishing and tourism industries.

4) Assure scientist and environmentalist are appointed to the Oregon Board of Forestry.

Managing our forests without science or environmental perspectives means the foxes are guarding the hen house. This board and others has too much influence to leave its power unchecked. I’ll fight to place well qualified environmentalists on the board that will have the perspective of a much broader community of stakeholders including those who fish, hunt, hike and much more.

5) Assure that Measure 37 doesn’t blow out our land use system

The Oregon Supreme Court has made its decision to keep Measure 37. As the legislature begins implementation, we need to bring innovative ideas to the table—not fall into defensive mode. I will focus on four areas that will improve our ability to keep 37 from creating unwanted and unchecked development.

First, all development must meet safety and health standards. That means development must comply with needs for quality sewers, water systems, fire and police service and more.

Second, Measure 37 development should account for devaluation to nearby properties. For example, if a Wall Mart is developed in a community where it devalues the neighboring properties, then the neighboring properties should have some recourse for mitigating that cost.

Third, there may be cases where a Measure 37 claim is won, and the community does not want that development to occur. An option should be available where development rights can be transferred to areas where development is wanted.

Fourth, in some cases, we’ll have to compensate for takings claims that we don’t want developed. We can generate funding by capturing value of areas the government provides substantial increased value due to zoning, such as areas we expand the Urban Growth Boundary.

6) Protect park and wildlife funding.

When voters passed Measure 66, they made clear that they wanted a percentage of lottery funds to be used to fund the protection of parks and wildlife. The legislature is using the funds to backfill budgets and diverts these precious resources to other uses. That’s not respecting the will of the voters. I’ll fight to restore Measure 66 funds to protecting wildlife and parks.

7) Improve alternative transportation choices to reduce traffic jams that pollute our air.

I’ll seek to improve our systems by advocating using them more effectively. By developing at higher density around our light rail, we’ll encourage the market to use our existing system rather than creating more pressure on our roads. Buses also need to reach more places and more frequently.

8) Advocate for System Development Charges and Impact Fees that pay for the impacts of new development.

When new development occurs, it needs parks, transportation systems, firefighters, water and sewers, roads, schools and more. I’ll push for fees that means development will help pay its share as we grow.

9) Stop logging in old growth forests.

We can’t afford to lose anymore old growth forest. I’ll stop clear cutting of old growth wherever I can.

10) Ensure local food is accessible.

Community gardens and farmer’s markets need to be protected. Locally grown food creates healthier lives.  



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