Elections 2010

The 2010 Oregon APA Election is open!  

This year, there are four candidates running for two open At-Large Board positions and one candidate running for the open Vice President position.  

Candidates for the two open At-Large positions are:

• Tom Schauer, AICP
• Lisa Gardner, AICP
• Angela Lazarean
• Kimberly Moreland, AICP

Candidate for the Vice President position is:

• Amanda Ferguson, AICP

Candidate statements and photos are available below or click here for a pdf of this information.

Members are encouraged to vote using the on-line ballot available on the member page.  
Click here to log in.  

However, if you prefer to submit a paper ballot, you may fill-out the election announcement / ballot (mailed to all members on February 3) and return via US Postal service or fax to OAPA (see instructions on the ballot).

Don't delay!  The election closes on February 25, 2010.

Vice President Candidate

Amanda Ferguson, AICP

Summary of Planning Involvement (education, employment, volunteer activities)

Professional Experience

• AICP, 2008-present
• City Planner, City of Cottage Grove, 2002-present
• Planner, Lane County Public Works Department
• Permit Technician, City of Eugene
• Park Ranger/Environmental Compliance, USACE Willamette Valley Project
• Architectural Historian, Southeast Archeological Services, Athens, Georgia
• Preservation Consultant, Piedmont Preservation, Athens, Georgia

Volunteer Activities

• At-Large Board Member, OAPA Board of Directors, 2007-present
• Conference Co-Chair, 2010 OAPA Annual Conference
• OAPA representative, 2009 Oregon Planning Institute Planning Committee
• Awards Committee Chair, 2009 OAPA Annual Conference
• Legal Policy Affairs Committee, OAPA, 2008-present

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, Theatre Production & History with Honors, University of Georgia
• Master of Historic Preservation, University of Georgia School of Environmental Design

Planning Areas of Interest
Small town/neighborhood comprehensive planning, downtown revitalization, historic preservation, emergency management, parks planning, arts management.

Other Relevant Facts / Info
I am the Artistic Director of Cottage Theatre, a non-profit community theater in Cottage Grove, Oregon. I specialize in lighting design, although you can sometimes see me dance and sing in shows if you come to CT!

 Candidate Statement
I bring a unique perspective to the Oregon APA Board of Directors. I have a diverse background in planning in the Southern Willamette Valley. I have worked for large and small towns in Oregon, and for County and Federal land management agencies. This has given me a well-rounded understanding of the planning issues facing both the rural and urban areas of our state.

I have had the opportunity to bring this perspective to the OAPA Board of Directors as a Member-At-Large since 2007. I have had the pleasure of becoming very active in Chapter activities during my time as a Member-At-Large, and I would love to continue to serve our diverse planning community as Vice-President. 

I have spent the last eight years working for the City of Cottage Grove. Integrating smart growth, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship into a small city's development process has highlighted for me the importance of both individual passion and group investment in bringing about change in our planning process. I am keenly interested in how we as planners engage with the public and foster investment in elected officials and citizens-at-large in the importance of planning in creating sustainable communities. Equally important is professional development and support for students, new professionals, and planners isolated throughout the state by distance or lack of funds.

I would be privileged to serve as Vice President of the Oregon APA Board of Directors at this critical juncture in the history of Oregon land use planning. I believe it is vital that Oregon continue to provide leadership for the nation in sustainable development and community planning. Oregon APA is perfectly positioned to play an integral role in addressing the statewide and national challenges we face in infrastructure financing and climate change.

Board Member At-Large Candidate

Tom Schauer, AICP

Summary of Planning Involvement (education, employment, volunteer activities)

Senior Planner, City of Grants Pass
Education:

• MUP, Urban and Regional Planning, Texas A&M University, 1994
• BS, Architectural Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1991

Planning Experience:

• 16 years in city and county planning, the last 10 with the City of Grants Pass

Planning Areas of Interest

Sustainability, Urban Design, Placemaking, Green Infrastructure, Historic Preservation

Other Relevant Facts / Info / Candidate Statement

It has been an honor to serve on the Oregon APA Board as an at-large member over the past two years.  I hope you will find that my service has provided value to the membership.  I am proud to be part of the organization.  When I ran for this position two years ago, I recognized the dedication and hard work of the Board and the membership.  Serving on the Board has only reinforced my recognition of how much the Board, staff, and volunteer members and students contribute to make Oregon APA such an outstanding organization. 

Shortly after election to the Board, I served as a member of the strategic plan committee, and the work resulted in a new, focused strategic plan that aligns the organization's work plan and budget.  This also led to establishment of a reserve fund to ensure fiscal stability while providing the services members need and desire during economically challenging times.  

When I ran for this position two years ago, I noted support for the position statements approved by the Board to guide testimony before the legislature, the Board's work to make effective use of technology, and the Board's work to consider and build partnerships that benefit the membership. 

I believe efforts focused on organizational discipline have made the organization more effective in delivering services to the membership, including legislative work, partnerships, committees and committee structures, and the effective use of technology. 

With bylaw amendments submitted to and approved by the membership, the organization has increased regional capacity by adding regional professional development representatives.  While this work is in the early stages, it should continue to increase the organization's capacity to effectively serve members throughout the state. 

With a changing media landscape, we also continue to evaluate the most effective ways to communicate with and among the membership.  With our foray into new media, I have even had the opportunity to build and maintain OAPA's facebook presence.  In the upcoming months, look for changes to the website and its content. 

I would appreciate your vote and the opportunity to continue serving the organization.  There are a number of projects underway, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue this work. 

Thank you!

Tom Schauer

Board Member At-Large Candidate

Lisa A Gardner, AICP

Summary of Planning Involvement (education, employment, volunteer activities)

Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College (1989)

Masters of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon (1995).

I have over fifteen years experience in land use and transportation planning in Oregon, working at the Lane Council of Governments, Lane Transit District, and the City of Eugene working on land use and transportation issues, including project development and project management of bus rapid transit projects.  

Since 2005 I have worked at the City of Eugene, first in Public Works Transportation, and since October 2006 in the Planning and Development Department as the Planning Director for the City of Eugene.

Planning Areas of Interest

I have focused my career on land use and transportation for the past fifteen years, with particular interest in developing and implementing sustainable policies and practices that contribute to a vibrant urban form and connect people and places through transportation and land use tools.

In my current job as planning director, my primary interest is on building a framework of community relationships that cuts through polarized dynamics and focuses on identifying common goals and positive desired outcomes. I continue to be keenly interested in land use and transportation, and have also more recently broadened my interest, time, and energy towards broader community issues and policy discussions regarding economic development, public health, education, and public safety.

Other Relevant Facts / Info

I've lived in Eugene for over 17 years, though am a native New Englander (and avid Red Sox fan).

Candidate Statement

I have been a member of APA for nearly fifteen years, and currently serve on the OAPA conference committee.  I have found my reliance on OAPA chapter resources increasing as my job focus has shifted to a greater extent on land use and other community planning issues beyond transportation.  The Oregon APA has been a great resource for me for information, networking and education. 

As a member of the OAPA board I hope to play a role in contributing to the OAPA resource and network for other planners throughout the state.  As planning director of Oregon's second largest city, I will bring a valuable perspective of cities and smaller metro areas that deal with complex issues on a different scale. I understand both large scale urban solutions like bus rapid transit, and urban growth boundary determination issues, as well as funding and resource challenges facing many smaller communities.  More than anything, I have tremendous energy and enthusiasm, and I would like to be part of the solution for OAPA!  Thanks for considering my candidacy.

Board Member At-Large Candidate

Angela Lazarean

Summary of Planning Involvement (education, employment, volunteer activities)

I received my Master of Urban Planning from Wayne State University - Detroit, MI with a concentration on Managing Metropolitan Growth. Throughout graduate school I worked in research for the Urban Planning department at Wayne State University primarily focusing on evaluating local economic development needs in the City of Detroit.  My Oregon planning experience entails working for the Department of Land Conservation and Development as an urban planner. I've also spent one year in Adair Village as an assistant planner through the RARE program. My work ethic is fostering commitment to community values and livability through sustainable land use planning.

Planning Areas of Interest

• Sustainable Community Development
• Urban Design/Charrettes
• Community Visioning Workshops
• Economic Development

Other Relevant Facts / Info

• Published Chapter in "Sustaining Michigan: Metropolitan Policies and Strategies" Richard W. Jelier and Gary Sands, Editors
• Co-chaired the APA recognized student planning organization at Wayne State University for 2 years, WSSUP (Wayne State Student Urban Planners)
• My new passion is volunteering for Design Charrettes; I have been a part of three within the State of Oregon so far- Cutler District, Lincoln City; Adair Village; and Beaverton Arts and Communication Academy.

Candidate Statement

First as a state planner, I would bring with me the vision to create and implement planning that reflects and balances the statewide planning goals. I also represent the younger generation of planners and would like to see the chapter invigorate the young public in the planning process. Further I would like to see planning integrated as an art of science in high schools and be made part of the curriculum. I would also like to see more relationship building between local, county and state officials in the land use arena. Of utmost importance are sustainability and green practices in today's built environment through education and I think the Chapter plays an integral role in doing just that.

Board Member At-Large Candidate

Kimberly Moreland, AICP

Summary of Planning Involvement (education, employment, volunteer activities)

Education

Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Portland State University, 1996
Bachelor of Arts, Urban Studies and Administration, University of Cincinnati, 1986

Employment

City of Salem, Oregon, Senior Long Range Planner, Community Development (2005 to the present)
City of Tacoma, Washington, Community Planner (2002-2004)
City of Portland, Oregon, Community Planner (1989-1993)

Volunteer Activities

Tigard-Tualatin School Facility Committee
City of Tigard, Neighborhood Program, Web Administrator for Tigard Area12
Oregon African American Museum Board, Secretary

Planning Areas of Interest

• Long Range Planning
• Regional Planning|
• Historic Preservation
• Land use and Transportation Planning
• Mentoring  

Other Relevant Facts / Info
I enjoyed talking to young people about the planning profession and I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in youth-related planning programs/classroom projects. 

Candidate Statement
As a longstanding member, I have taken advantage of the quality training and professional development opportunities offered by the Chapter. I believe it would be a privilege to help the Chapter continue their tradition of quality services and programming.  Serving as member-at-large will allow me to participate in advancing the mission of the Oregon APA chapter and implementing the strategies and objectives of the 2008-2013 OAPA Strategic Plan. 

As an African American planner, I am particularly interested in helping the Chapter diversify its membership, promoting the Planning field as a viable career choice, and fulfilling the OAPA commitment to social and environmental justice. 

This is truly an exciting time to be a Planner in Oregon and I look forward to utilizing my professional experience to serve on the OAPA Board.

Candidate statements and photos are available above or click here for a pdf of this information.

Click here to log in and vote.  Don't delay - the election closes on February 25th!