As a two-term Budget Committee Chair, Jake safeguarded your tax dollars in City Hall. He championed practical solutions to community problems and smart investments in City programs. He reformed the City’s grant programs to establish formal grant requirements, clear funding priorities, and a transparent scoring system. Jake’s leadership fostered open dialogue, valued public input, and brought together diverse perspectives to strengthen City policies.

As a City Councilor, Jake will continue his practical, inclusive leadership in City Hall so that Tigard remains a dynamic, attractive place to live.

Jake believes that public safety is the core responsibility of local government. Everyone should be safe when walking, biking, or driving in Tigard. Everyone should feel secure in their home, neighborhood, and local parks.

Jake believes that affordable housing is central to the American Dream. It creates stable households, supports wealth-building, and guarantees a dignified retirement. As a long-time renter and first-time home owner, Jake understands the need for affordable housing in Tigard.

Unfortunately, only 26% of Tigard residents feel that there is adequate availability of quality affordable housing. Even more concerning, 28% of Tigard’s renter households are severely rent-burdened (or spend 50%+ of their incomes on housing costs). This crisis affects our entire community: young people starting out in life, families raising kids, seniors on fixed incomes, and many others.

Jake believes homelessness is our region’s moral challenge. It is not progressive to let people live on the streets, full stop.

When Jake talks with community members, homelessness often tops their list of worries. Residents worry about the impacts of unhoused residents on safety and livability. Business owners worry about disturbances to commercial property and business operations. Unhoused residents worry about finding a safe place to sleep and a path to stable housing. This is a complex issue that requires careful handling.

As a City Councilor, Jake will address homelessness with compassion and common sense. In his first weeks in office, Jake strengthened Tigard’s time, place, and manner restrictions to keep community areas safe while still providing designated camping spots. Jake will continue backing community-focused police officers, sending mental health clinicians on police calls to people in crisis, and more staffing resources to help unhoused residents. He supports partnerships with nonprofits and government agencies to provide wraparound services in Tigard and tackle the root causes of homelessness. Jake is committed to reducing homelessness and strengthening services in Tigard for everyone’s benefit.

Jake understands the value of public libraries. As a kid, he spent summers visiting local libraries with his grandparents. Now, as the Council liaison to the Library Board, Jake has learned firsthand about the dedication it takes for the Tigard Library to offer its amazing programs and services for free. It is a safe space, a hub for connecting with educational and support services, and a vital resource for accessing digital resources.