This Friday, August 23rd, 2024, is the filing deadline for Hillsboro residents who want to serve the City at the Council and mayoral levels. A summary of the information and how to get involved is listed below, and there is still time. This election will be a critical one, and the next four years will be a time of great change and challenges. The current Council and our Mayor, Steve Callaway, have brought us through a period of tremendous growth. Residents seem to enjoy some of the benefits of a time of prosperity and challenges. Covid 19 was a huge challenge, and we made it through together. But as Intel continues to fall apart on what seems to be a downward spiral and layoffs loom, storm clouds seem to be gathering. How will the new Mayor and Council balance all that is needed to keep Hillsboro safe and economically secure? This will be an election season where residents must know exactly who is running and what they represent.  Candidates had better be the real deal, not just the talking heads with campaign buzz speeches people learn to speak about in Soundbites, but intelligent thinkers with fundamental knowledge of real issues.
Three Council seats and the Mayor’s Chair are open. Should Councilwoman Beach Pace, who is running for the Mayor’s position, win, her council seat will open up and be filled through a separate process.
Here is the information we have so far.
2024 City Council Election: Candidate Filing Period Now Underway
Hillsboro residents interested in serving the community as a member of the City Council can file to become a candidate starting on Monday, July 8, and continuing through Friday, August 23, at 5 pm.
Four City Council seats will be up for election on November 5, 2024:
- Mayor: Mayor Steve Callaway was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He is term-limited after eight years on the Council, creating a vacancy.
- Ward 1, Position B: Councilor Rick Van Beveren was appointed in 2015, elected in 2016, and re-elected in 2020. He is term-limited after nine years on the Council, creating a vacancy.
- Ward 2, Position B: Council President Anthony Martin was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He is term-limited after eight years on the Council, creating a vacancy.
- Ward 3, Position B: Councilor Gina Sanchez-Roletto was elected in 2020 and is eligible to seek another four-year term on the Council.
All City Council positions are nonpartisan. Elected terms are for four years. Candidates must be registered to vote in Oregon and must reside in Hillsboro for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
Get the candidate filing packet, key election dates, and City Council Ward Boundaries at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Elections, or contact the City Recorder’s Office at 503-681-6219.
Here are the Ward Maps and Candidates Filed So Far
The Candidates So Far – From City Website
Current Filings
City Council Position, Mayor – Beach Nicole Pace —  https://electbeachpace.com/
City Council Position, Mayor – Taneshia Redmond — https://www.taneshiaformayor.com/
City Council Position, Ward 1, Position B – Saba Anvery —Â Â sabaanvery,com
City Council Position, Ward 2, Position B – Jake Mead — Â https://weneedmead.com/
City Council Position, Ward 2, Position B – Elizabeth Case No Election Webpage Found
City Council Position, Ward 3, Position B – Rob Harris — Â www.electrobharris.com
City Council Position, Ward 3, Position B – Marc Grambo — https://www.facebook.com/marcgrambo/
District 1 has no one running against Saba Anvery. According to LinkedIn, she is an Engineering Manager for Platform Integration at Intel.
Anyone living in District 1 wanting to run would make things very interesting if they filed before the election deadline. In the last election cycle, many candidates filed on the last day. So we shall see if any new faces arise to take up the challenge of running the City of Hillsboro the next four years!
Emerge Oregon – The Sisterhood – And The Future Of HillsboroÂ
The interesting thing about this election, and in elections going on around Oregon and the United States, is the rise of a political powerhouse known as Emerge, also known within their group as The Sisterhood. Here in Oregon, you can learn more about them and their organization at https://or.emergeamerica.org/. While not a stealth or trojan horse organization, they have more quietly become a power in putting people, specifically women into office. Each year, Emerge selects 25 women to participate in a Signature Program that prepares them to run for and win a public office. 400 of them by some data have won since 2009.
The Emerge training program is a unique opportunity for individuals who identify as women, who are registered Democrats and who want to run for public office! We offer an in-depth, 70-hour training program that provides prospective women candidates the best practices in fundraising, networking, outreach, voter engagement, core campaign communications, political endorsements, press and more. We train one weekend a month and expect 100% attendance in our program. By participating fully, women graduate with a foundation from which to run a successful campaign.
Source: https://or.emergeamerica.org/training/signature-program/
Their Opening Statement from the website is:
We inspire women to run, we hone their skills to win.
And you know what, they win! This organization is about 15 years old and includes thousands of women who have graduated from the Signature Program and gone on to win. In Oregon, here are just a few names of note that you can find on the Emerge Oregon Alumnae Page:
- Shemia Fagan – Former Secretary of State
- Val Hoyle – Congresswoman
- Andrea Salinas – US Representative
- Jamie McCleod-Skinner – Candidate
- Lacey Beaty – Beaverton Mayor
- Kathryn Harrington –Â METRO COUNCIL – Washington County Commission Chair
- Mary Peveto – Neighbors For Clean Air
- Nafisa Fai – Washington County Commissioner
- Olyvia Alcaire – Hillsboro City Council – Current Member
- See Eun Kim – Hillsboro School District
- Ivette Pantoja – Hillsboro School Board
- Sushmita Poddar – Washington County Land Use & Transportation Planning Commissioner
- Gina Roletto – Hillsboro City Council – Current Member
- Beach Pace – Hillsboro City Council – Current Member- Mayoral Candidate 2024
- Elizabeth Case – Hillsboro City Council Candidate 2024
- Saba Anvery – Hillsboro City Council Candidate 2024
If you are reading this, you can see that the future of Hillsboro and Washington County is already in the hands of women trained and nourished by this organization. Should candidates Pace, Case, Anvery, and Rob Harris (Emerge Fan Club) win their races, the City of Hillsboro will be firmly in the hands of an Emerge majority. Because they are running as a panel of 4 candidates in social media and doorknocking etc., we will just call them The Emerge Four.
I will not say Emerge and its candidates are good, bad, or otherwise. I realized something by looking at those alumnae names and then applying their Hillsboro power roles and interactions, which I have witnessed. Those currently on the Hillsboro Council do vote together and back each other. Rarely have I seen any open debate on matters of great importance between Councilwomen Alcaire, Roletto, and Pace. At times, it seemed like two of them were holding their tongues while one ran the table, and they went along. It reminded me of any group dynamic where the more dominant member ran over and used the weaker to get what she wanted. Sort of like the mean girls in the movie The Help who stifled the independent thought of other members of their elite society. It’s like a sorority where the cool girls run the show, but everyone wants to be in the group in order to succeed.
But I am projecting- guessing – and applying my intuitions fueled by some personal interactions that I will not get into here and now.
Adding to these comments is the in-depth Oregonian article by Julia Silverman | The Oregonian/OregonLive , and  Hillary Borrud | The Oregonian/OregonLive:
Emerge Oregon, the powerful political network for Democratic women that nurtured Shemia Fagan, reckons with her downfall
This story is an intense dive into Emerge, the political-ethical-financial scandal that erupted over Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan that led to her forced resignation. The woman many believed was headed to the US Senate or who would be Governor was investigated and entangled in a mess of questionable campaign contributions, side consulting deals, and ethics complaints. Governor Tina Kotek subsequently called for an ethics investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission into Fagan’s actions, along with an investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Shemia Fagan was the star of all stars in the Sisterhood, rising to the top, and the 2009 Emerge Graduates actions raised the question. Are members of the group more a product of a system that wields incredible money and influence than they are experienced and safe candidates to be leaders? Do they have what it takes to be good at leading? In her case, it appears she did not.
The article also had some damming statements about the treatment of women within the group. The power within the power is in question.
But in recent years the very strength of the organization – creating bonds among women candidates and elected officials – has also become a potential liability, as some of its own criticized it for favoritism and lack of support for women of color.
While Emerge Oregon is not a political action committee, it no doubt has a significant influence on Democratic politics. Its graduates often hold positions on boards that grant coveted endorsements and donations. This dynamic has led to a situation where Emerge associates frequently receive support from one another, mirroring the very political networks the group aimed to dismantle.
PACE VS HARRINGTON –
In 2022, some of you may remember that Beach Pace ran for the Washington County chair position held by Kathryn Harrington. Both are Emerge graduates, as noted above. But Harrington had been charged with abusing County employees and had become a “problem” if you will. Washington County was faced with complaints of bullying and workplace misconduct regarding Harrington and was forced to hire an outside investigator. The findings were that Harrington had bullied employees and reduced some to tears, according to the Oregonian story. The story concludes that an 80,000 dollar payment was made as part of a hostile workforce lawsuit.
Pace wanted to take that job and carve out her space regardless of the sisterhood ties. She told me at the time she wanted to do the right thing for Washington County, and I believe her.
Pace said, Emerge circled the wagons around Harrington; her impression was that the organization thought she should wait her turn and run for mayor of Hillsboro instead. https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/05/emerge-oregon-the-powerful-political-network-for-democratic-women-that-nurtured-shemia-fagans-career-reckons-with-her-downfall.html
The bottom line is that this organization is like so many others. It is having growing pains, with obvious signs of power struggles and problems. Group dynamics can get nasty, and power-hungry means people exist everywhere.
Hillsboro And Emerge Going Forward
As we progress, it makes sense to be cautious when dealing with candidates’ words. Americans know that candidates lie. Be aware of campaign claims. Being a member of any group, there is certainly no reason to vote across the board for a panel. Hillsboro has seen panels run for offices recently—our Hillsboro School Board has been subjected to that—and the politics behind the group were ugly. They did not win as the Herald and others exposed the radical agendas as frankly dangerous.
The Emerge panel is running as a group of four. In my experiences and readings, I think they are all pretty good folks. Rob Harris is an excellent attorney and well respected around Hillsboro. Beach Pace is a powerhouse political figure of great intelligence and more than capable of running Hillsboro or the State of Oregon. She will be a strong Mayor if she wins, and it is unlikely she will not. Case I have met briefly, and I have yet to meet Anvery, but I do follow her. I think she has a very high level of intellect and would be an intriguing choice.
I am turned off by this Emerge Four panel attempt to run the slate and make it an all-or-nothing choice for voters. That is not a sound strategy, and it feels like someone is trying to line up her base for a smooth-sailing office run with no debate. We can not afford that or survice that as citizens of Hillsboro. Frankly, that has been going on for too long. More to follow on that.
I don’t think Emerge has specific positional platforms—they want women to win. But the record shows that the group has been subject to power brokering, promises to others, and sort of a hive mind mentality.
I was sent an email – one of those group things that goes around. I won’t publish it. Beach Pace sent a message to a group of 2018 graduates of Emerge and others that the Candidates for Hillsboro public offices will be walking the City this weekend. Mayoral Candidate Beach Pace (Emerge class of 2018) and City Council Candidates Saba Anvery (Class of 2024), Elizabeth Case (Class of 2019), and Rob Harris (Emerge Fan Club) will lead the walks around Hillsboro and volunteers from near and far outside Hillsboro are being asked to come, listen to the talking points, and go out and knock. That is Politics 101- but something about it feels so “not Hillsboro,” where we traditionally value local people. Groupthink has been a thing here, but individual integrity and grit built our City. If you get a knock and one of the candidates is not there, it may not be a person from Hillsboro who understands our particular needs and issues- hard to say.
Here is a link to get involved in helping the Emerge Four campaign this weekend. You can see the messaging being sent out.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxmPvQJiNq3Q2I01jdN5Gud1XiQmUQ5hCm3bkJoOBmkMwD1A/viewform
I will close this out by saying to think for yourselves and ask yourselves if a power group with the primary objective of winning using all known means possible is for you. Maybe having an independent person with the self-confidence and strength to run independently would be a better choice and a more decisive leader. Would an independent candidate be better able to speak up and say “NO” or “Slow down” or even “Can we debate this?” when a thorny issue like raising water rates or fluoridating our water comes up? I think so. I can tell you that I have only seen one NO vote in the last seven years during Council meetings. Otherwise, it has been 6-0, with 1 or 2 people leading the issue and the rest following. In my estimation, those days will continue if the Emerge panel wins these seats. That is probably not going to be a good thing for Hillsboro.
I may vote for 1 or 2 of this Emerge Four, but not the entire slate. Not without some assurance, we are not headed for a Harrington or Fagan-like episode. These are just my two cents, but because no one else prints articles about who is running for the Hillsboro office, I wanted you all to know. And I hope some of you file and make this race even more interesting.
The Hillsboro Herald is sending each candidate a position questionnaire focused on what Hillsboro needs- and issues that matter to our town. That will be this weekend and the results will be published in the next 3 weeks as we all get to know these candidates better.
Last two points: Ponder this and reply below:
1)Â Would an all-male group like Emerge be allowed to survive unscathed by the Press or a significant number of retractors or groups?
and
   2) What is diversity, equity, and inclusion?
“Values held by many organizations that are working to be supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.”
Given that, how does Emerge and the Sisterhood grapple with or explain how an all-female group, by its very premise and creation, can honestly support DEI—something every one of their graduates certainly aspires towards? Wouldn’t it be even better if Men were allowed into the training? Food for thought.
Here are some social media posts for the Emerge Four.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The Hillsboro Herald is a News source- an online digital newspaper and media source. Most of our stories are one-of-a-kind, unique, hyper-local, investigative, and uncovered by no other news media. We have subscribers and allow advertisers to work with us and meet our readers. We are formally organized as an Oregon LLC with the express purpose of gathering and diseminating news to the public and the Citizens of the Communities we serve. The City of Hillsboro leadership denies the Hillsboro Herald access to Executive Sessions, which has been held almost every meeting lately. There is no record of what happens in those meetings, and media and journalists are allowed. The Herald has been denied access because their city attorneys stated that this is a blog site, not a news media source. This makes it convenient for them to hide what is being done and said from the Herald. We tell you, our readers, this to make you ponder their decision and why they have made it. Several attorneys from the State and National Levels offer to take this matter to court. We want to bring you the news- and the best of the news. We do not force our readers to pay for the news like The Oregonian, Oregon-Live, The Business Journal, and others will. We do ask for your support and patronage as a subscriber or supporter. You can do that right here- https://www.patreon.com/join/HillsboroHerald
Well done comprehensive article on the local politics.
As there is so few woman in elected positions in Hillsboro, It makes sense there is an organization to help them.
It’d be interesting to see what the current percentage is of elected leaders of Hillsboro are that are woman compared to men and how that has changed over time. Might give a sense of how long until there is a sense of “equity”.
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It would be nice to have similar articles done on the topics covered at the executive sessions. I imagine many of the more interesting/concerning topics are being moved to this domain to “hide” them from being discussed by particular scrupulous reporters.
I am curious what the requirement is to be allowed. Do they require legally adjudicated newspapers? State media? Profitability?
Rather than going to court over the matter, would it be better to file a petition that would remove the requirements? Unless there is a sound reason for preventing access to these meetings (which would seem to apply to all forms of media), it would appear that there is a concerted action to shape the narrative and prevent any dissent.
Would the South China Post or Izvestia be allowed in the meetings? Why not a free local independent news reporter?
It would be interesting if a petition from your “non-news” platform was more effective at implementing change than relying on these closed-door meetings with lack of oversight to produce results.
Speaking of diversity, it seems the diversity of news may be of particular concern. For without this, the public’s perception of diversity is shaped by the narrow interests of the particular administration and by the means they approve.
Things are better now, as Jason Flint pointed out in his comment below. Washington County was all men at the helm for a long time. It was the Good Old Boys club with an occasional woman – and there were some greta ones over time, but always in the minority.
In regards to Executive Sesssions- there is no way I nor any reporter could do that. They are sealed private meetings. Attendance by Press is almost unheard of. I have been specfically excluded. They will never let me in without litigation and they have written denials to me on several occasions. Even if I make it in, there is a very narrow amount of information I could ever share. The point is that someone needs to be in those meetings to witness what is happening and have notes that can be used in extreme cases of graft, discrimination, and runaway power.
There exists almost no independent news, diveristy in news, or free though published anymore. AI is now dishing up the daily headlines. Investigative journalism is all but a thing of the past, and reporters are being fired as Media outlets would rather let instagram and Twitter take up the news sphere.
Smaller outlets like ours have a chance and some of us are banding togetehr. Passion for the truth, independent thought and voices, are the only reason to do this. There is no money in it nor do I expect anything. That way I am not biased or swayed by my employer. Just look at CNN- they were bought by Billionaire John Malone and immediately swerved to the right and cleaned house on anyone left or left leaning. There is no more bravery left in Journalism at any decent scale. Here on the homefront the work continues, and I will tolerate the things that happen to me on a daily basis which are an outcome of me using my voice.
Thanks,
Dirk
Well it’s good to hear woman in the area are making progress on that front. It always seemed interesting that with as many woman teachers as there are, or were when I was growing up, that there would be so few in political positions. You would think it would leave an impression of a role of leadership and would result in more being elected to these types of positions.
As far as the executive meetings, I don’t think I quite understand what the intention is. You’re statement says that media and journalists are allowed but that you have been specifically excluded. Now it sounds as though they are almost never allowed and would not be able to share much information, is it a moot point? If there is a lack of accountability or oversight, perhaps it would be good to look into how this could be remedied? Should an independent agent be present in the closed door meetings? Would this hinder the effectiveness? Interestingly enough, perhaps the meetings could be analyzed by AI and instances of those extreme cases could be reviewed by an independent auditor.
Speaking of AI, I agree that there is a lot of “news” out there generated through it. However, other than it being inaccurate much of the time, there are a lot of positive benefits from being able to utilize it. It seems that it has been realized that posting inaccurate information regardless of the tools used doesn’t go down well with readers, therefore the sources are often verified as like any other information (at least with those with reputations to maintain.) Many interesting subjects are often only discovered after going through a lot boring data and making sense of certain aspects of it (for example you mentioned a lady who looked at the water rate increases.) AI is quite good at going through this kind of data and gleaming interesting facets of it. I would imagine you are quite familiar with its potential. Although there are less investigative reporters, it seems the days of walking around with a tape recorder is in the past. Imagine how amazed one of the old reporters would have been if they had access to the electronic bulletin board of most the local citizens, could find interesting stories, easily contact the individual for a remote interview, and then have a transcript automatically generated along with a summary and draft article on the topic as soon as they finished?
Lastly it seems like there should possibly be some sort of fund or programs to help support local investigative journalism and education thereof. Perhaps this could discussed in an executive meeting lol :)
If you want to debate any of those candidates based on their platforms, go right ahead.
But based on collective gender and where they’re from? And their connections to an influential civic organization?
C’mon, Dirk.
I moved here when Jerry Willey was Hillsboro’s mayor, Aron Carleson and Steve Callaway were still on city council (and not yet on the Hops’ annual ticket list) and the country commissioners looked like this:
Andy Duyck
Dick Schouten
Greg Malinowski
Roy Rogers
Bob Terry
A bunch of men. A bunch of “from here” guys. A bunch of people who ended up giving millions to minor league baseball and dithering with the urban growth boundary until it enriched some friends’ grandkids and forever alienated others.
Hillsboro was not in better hands with the devil it knew, nor did that familiarity preclude the kind of favor we saw during Fagin’s brief tenure—especially among contractors or “old friends” who’ve since moved businesses to other corners of Washington County (or the country).
Hillsboro added 70,000 people within the last 30 years. That included a whole lot of groups not represented by the folks I listed above. If there are new people coming in with new ideas—and, keep in mind, the old idea was simply “growth at all costs”—they should be heard based on the merits of their platform and not whether they’re women from Emerge rather than men from the Rotary Club or the grange.
I agree 100%. My purpose anytime there is a group is to make people aware of the group and understand who they are. We will certainly be asking for all candidates to respond to a set of questions to get to the heart of who they are. Just because those past leaders were not in a group formally does not mean they were not part of a group – it was the good old boys club and I am all for women to have as many seats as they can in our political offices. Change was certainly needed.
The thing I think is best for Hillsboro is for candidates and those who win to be able to think freely, freely debate and interject their beliefs. The issue at hand is precisely that- it has not been happening, especially between the current group members. The three seated City Councilors have shown a more than uncomfortable tension when making decisions. I have not seen independent voices and have first-hand knowledge that members of the group were chastised by others when anyone broke ranks.
Of course than can be said of Mayor Callaway who called out park commission members when the spoke up about the Hops Stadium and wanted to maintain the advisory power they have been given by the City. I hate special deals, private deals, power brokering that harms the city and its people. Manipulation of the UGB, of power rates, of zoning codes. Anything that places a special interest over the needs and best interests of our people I will be calling out, and in many of the 500 plus articles I have written I have done that.
Hillsboro in the end needs to be in the hands of the best candidates. Those with lived experiences that make them that. Not those who take the benefits of special interests and political allegiances and alignments. Am I a fool for wanting that? Maybe so. It is probably unrealistic. As it is, I think we will see members of this Sisterhood in power in Washington County, Hillsboro, and the State of Oregon now an in the distant future. Let’s hope we get their best and that they can leave those connections at the door.
Beach has shown she will do that- her taking on Harrington exemplifies that. I respect her for that. Naturally, she wants these candidates sitting with her in City Hall for the next four years. That will make her job to do what she sees fit easier. I expect nothing less from a Westpoint graduate who understands the art of war and politics.
Always appreciate your thoughts, analysis, and input. Thank you for adding to the discussion, as always!
Dirk
Ward 3 looks to be the most contentious race imo.
It could be- although I think all the races are important. The Council is six members. The Mayor can be a tie breaker vote on issues. This next 4 yuears we will see more debate- I can guarantee you of that. So really all three races are huge in terms of how thinsg will go. We will see- that is all up to people of Hillsboro and the Candidates to make their case.
Dirk,
Please enlighten me…”The Mayor can be a tie breaker vote on issues. The next 4 yuers (sic) we will see more debate- I can guarantee you of that.” How can that be said?
The last Mayoral “tie breaker” by Willey, was an F’in joke. It was defeated and both he and Callaway were humiliated by a group of us led by Carol Faber, the late Ron Guillory & Sharon Cornish. (Sharon in fact forgot more than anyone at city hall ever knew)
The latter two both Conservatives with the Guts to fight City Hall that HAS NOT been seen since their passing with one exception…
The Jackson School Road project of which this publication was quite obscure.
As for your contention that in the next four years there will be more debate I say BS! We know nothing about
Saba Anvery. Rob Harris is a very nice man but OH God, Liberal as they come. Elizabeth Case is a member of the girls club. Pace can be very rude and I have witnessed her as an impatient bully. Team these up together with Alcaire , Rolletto, and Pace’s HANDPICKED successor and I’ll tell ya that Kipperlyn Sinclair will be debating NOBODY!
My head is spinning………
Mike…
You get it. But we are in a small minority that watch City Hall and know this. Beach is clearly wanting these three to help her get what she wants done as Mayor. As members and Fans of a group, they will be subject to group dynamic. Kipperlyn Sinclair has shown some real potential as the voice of reason. Alcaire is fed up and I can assure you that her Sisterhood alliances are weak. I think she is ready to be a force but time will tell. Much of what you say is 100 percent right. I think you should run.
There are other chocies out there for people to vote for. Once the filings are done we can see how people respond to questions. At the end of the day whoever wins will have to show up and do the work. Things luke crim, homelessness, water rates, housing costs, become the representation of the policies and work they do. We are in very interesting times most certainly.
Mike-
I’m happy to meet one-on-one to talk about affective debating.
-Kipperlyn
Elections are supposed to be about choices. But Hillsboro City Council Ward 1, Seat B has only one candidate on the ballot. That is not a choice! We need another candidate (a write-in at this point) who is an independent thinker, and a community-focused, common-sense individual.
I don’t know anything about Saba Anvery, but the voters deserve to have options.