Harrington best choice for Metro

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 19, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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For much of the past eight years, the Beaverton area and western Washington County have been under-represented on the Metro Council.

That can change in the Nov. 7 general election if voters elect Kathryn Harrington to serve the District 4 seat on the Metro Council, the body that shapes regional decisions on growth management, natural habitat protections, transportation investments, solid waste, open spaces and regional centers, such as the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Convention Center.

Harrington has a long resume of community involvement in the county, including service in community involvement organizations, transportation planning committees and the county’s road project advisory committee. Such experiences will her serve her very well, connecting the community and Metro — a link that oftentimes has not been emphasized by current District 4 Councilor Susan McLain. But what’s more, Harrington’s past employment as an Intel manager will help her analyze complex public policy issues with real-world perspectives.

For the past half year, Harrington has campaigned effectively for this seat, learning the issues facing Metro and the region over the next few years and the next few decades. At the same time, she has listened to and built relationships with citizens, business people and local government leaders who we think she help be better involved and better represented at Metro.

Harrington’s opponent is Tom Cox, a former Libertarian, who has unsuccessfully run for statewide office, but who now directs a message of smaller, less intrusive government and a call for more trust and honesty at Metro. Cox is bright and well spoken. He sometimes appears to entertainingly brash. But a style that makes bold and brash statements, we fear, will not serve him — or Washington County — as well in building partnerships on the Metro Council.

Looking ahead, we believe Metro can benefit by Harrington’s commitment to working in partnership to achieve solutions on the issues of growth management, transportation congestion and paying for needed infrastructure. Vote for Kathyrn Harrington in the Nov. 7 general election for the Metro Council.