Virginia Stapleton (left) and Jan Kailuweit (right) are running to represent Ward 1, which encompasses downtown Salem and parts of west Salem.
Salem Reporter wanted to know what issues were top of mind for this year’s crop of candidates for Salem City Council. We provided each candidate written questions intended to elicit their understanding of challenges the city faces and how they would overcome them. We will be publishing their responses ward by ward in the coming days.
First up is Ward 1, where Virginia Stapleton is running against Jan Kailuweit.
The Marion County Election office started mailing ballots on Wednesday, April 29. The election is on May 19.
Name: Jan Kailuweit
Age: 50
Home: Salem
Employer/position: manager, Oregon Employment Department
Years at current job: 2.5 years (16 years of state service)
List leadership positions you have held in any nonprofit or civic organizations in the past five years.
· Grant Neighborhood Association, vice chair
· City of Salem Budget Committee, vice chair, chair
· Marion County Compensation Board, board member
List any government service in the past five years, including boards/commissions and any leadership roles.
· Oregon Department of Revenue – disclosure officer
· Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services – information security policy analyst
· Employment Dept. – manager, Project Management Office
What are the two defining issues facing Salem City Council right now?
· Impact of Covid-19 restrictions on families and the economy
· Homelessness
List the three steps you would take to address those issues.
The City of Salem has little expertise in providing mental health services, addiction recovery services, or other services needed to help the homeless community. These types of services are provided by government agencies like Marion County Health & Human Services, the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority. In addition, nonprofits like Union Gospel Mission, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (Arches Project) and Northwest Human Services (HOAP) have a clear mission to serve the homeless community. I envision the city’s role as that of a strategic partner and collaborator coordinating and streamlining services between government, nonprofits and the business community.
In addition, the city needs to encourage affordable housing. This is an area where the city has direct control and expertise. It starts by recognizing that Oregon has the largest housing shortage in the nation, which also affects Salem. The city must direct its policy making, infrastructure planning and land use planning strategically to encourage affordable housing. Any planning for future growth must include planning for affordable housing.
Finally, we must ensure that our small businesses are able to recover as quickly as possible from the impact of Covid-19, so they can begin hiring workers again, and those workers can support their families. This will also reduce the number of those at risk for homelessness.
How would those steps lead to a better life for Salem’s residents?
We’re all in this together. When the homeless community suffers, or families are on the brink of losing their homes, we all feel the effects. When the city gets back to focusing on its core responsibilities of infrastructure (roads, bridges, water, sewer, etc.) and public safety (police, fire) families and businesses thrive.
The Salem City Council is often described as being made up of progressives and conservatives. What should voters know about your general posture towards issues that would place you in either one of those bloc?
I politely disagree with the notion behind the question. Now more than ever, we cannot afford partisanship to seep into our local politics. We need to come together and overcome real challenges facing us all. Salem City Council is a nonpartisan position and I love that it is. I will try my hardest to preserve that in spirit and by my actions. I have reached out to both major parties simply to introduce myself, but have not accepted money or endorsements from either. I have also reached out to non-affiliated folks which make up almost 40% of Ward 1, a fact that indicates others are growing tired of Washington-style partisanship. I much prefer we leave the partisan bickering to paid, full-time politicians and elect leaders who have integrity and can get the job done. While Salem is growing and we all feel the growing pains, I believe there is still a feeling of community and a sense that we’re all in this together that I’ve come to love.
What key change or improvement would you like to see Salem make in the next 20 years?
We must plan for future growth. Salem needs a third traffic bridge across the Willamette. The Center St bridge opened in 1918 and the Marion Street Bridge in 1954. The population was approximately 45,000 when the latter was built. By 2035 Salem is expected to have 240,000 citizens; that’s a lot of growth in almost 80 years without any major east-west infrastructure improvements.
However, this should in no way be done at the expense of public transportation and other alternatives to vehicle traffic.
In 300 words, please provide an example or examples of a project or issue you were directly addressed in a leadership role. We are looking for examples of how your involvement resulted in specific action to resolve or improve a local issue.
I served as citizen member on the City of Salem Budget Committee, including as vice chair and chair. A municipal budget is a legal document that provides the city with the legal authority to appropriate funds in accordance with Oregon Budget Law.
For seven years I served in an advisory role, reviewing and analyzing the City Manager’s recommended budget for the City of Salem and the Urban Renewal Agency, and making recommendations to city councilors. This included reviewing quarterly reports and five-year forecasts. As chair of the committee, I facilitated the public meetings that provide the public an opportunity to testify. The work culminates at the end of the fiscal year (June 30) by setting the city’s tax levy and recommending a budget to the City Council.
I played an important role providing citizen input into the fiscal planning, recommending expenditures and representing the interests and priorities of Ward 1. But even beyond Ward 1, as vice chair and chair, I was in charge of making sure the public’s voice was heard in the process of developing the city’s budget. While that may not seem like much, ensuring and safeguarding public testimony and democratic processes like that was -and still is- very important to me. My goal was to make the process as open and transparent as possible so Salem residents can get a good look at how their local government works.
In 300 words, please provide an example of a decision you made or action you took later proved to be unsuccessful or misguided. We are looking for an example of how you deal with failure or mistakes.
I remember several years ago when a city official visited the Grant Neighborhood Association where I served as vice chair. The official presented plans for a pedestrian bridge connecting Riverfront Park and Minto-Brown Island Park. I had many fond memories of walking in Minto-Brown Island Park and watching the wildlife there, and I felt that it was a mistake to open it up by way of adding another entrance from downtown. When our neighborhood association decided that night to take a vote concerning the city’s proposal, I voted against it.
In retrospect I see that the Peter Courtney Bridge has become very popular with residents and has become the destination of many Salem families. I think I had a hard time seeing Salem grow and my vote was driven mostly by my desire to preserve the city I’ve come to love.
In less than 100 words, describe why you want this office and how your candidacy would improve Salem.
I was born and raised in Germany and have lived in several countries before immigrating to the US. I love being local -I’ve lived and worked in Ward 1 for 20 years now- but I bring a truly global and valuable perspective to city council. These days I am especially grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given as an immigrant and American citizen and I look forward to the difference I can make in my community as an elected official.
Name: Virginia Stapleton
Age: 38
Home: Salem, Oregon
Employer/position: full-time mother and student
Years at current job: N/A
List leadership positions you have held in any nonprofit or civic organizations in the past five years.
I was a founding member of the Englewood Forest Festival, president of the Englewood Parent-Teacher Club, leader of our neighborhood watch program, and currently serve on the Lord and Schryver Conservancy Advisory Board.
List any government service in the past five years, including boards/commissions and any leadership roles.
I have served on the Salem-Keizer School District Budget Committee for the past two years.
What are the two defining issues facing Salem City Council right now?
Homelessness and the economic fallout from the pandemic
List the three steps you would take to address those issues.
There are more than three!
Homelessness: I want to see a Sobering Center and Navigation Center, and a permanent, 24/7, low barrier shelter with enough capacity to never have to turn anyone away. I also want storage units and 24 -hour public bathrooms downtown. I would also like to continue and expand the good work being done with the Housing Rental Assistance Program.
Pandemic Response: It is still too early to know the extent of the damage done to our local economy and to our residents here in Salem, but this situation will undoubtedly affect all of us and for a very long time. We need to do everything possible to help our small businesses and continue the amazing revitalization work happening downtown. I want to see Salem continue to grow and thrive as it has in recent years. We can do that by investing in our neighborhoods and increasing livability across the city. We must be able to offer a variety of affordable housing options while increasing our public green spaces and creating walkable neighborhoods for all.
How would those steps lead to a better life for Salem’s residents?
We have a moral obligation to do everything we can for those among us experiencing homelessness. That includes helping those who are suffering from mental illness and addiction as well as financial insecurity. As we care for those less fortunate than us we create a culture as a just and caring community and this will have a positive effect on all our residents. The key to recovery from the pandemic is to restore our small businesses. As a former small business
owner, I believe small businesses are the heart and soul of our downtown and the driver of our city’s vitality. When we find ways to ensure the success of our small businesses and keep our downtown a thriving area for all to come and enjoy life together, we are enriching the lives of all who live and visit our town.
The Salem City Council is often described as being made up of progressives and conservatives. What should voters know about your general posture towards issues that would place you in either one of those bloc?
I consider myself to be a strong Democrat, leaning progressive on most, if not all, issues. I look forward to working with people across the political spectrum in order to get things done that have a positive impact on the daily lives of our citizens.
What key change or improvement would you like to see Salem make in the next 20 years?
I would like to see the creation of more neighborhood hubs and a variety of housing options with many different price points so that people can get into housing that fits their needs and price range. We need greater investment in walkable neighborhoods, connected bike lanes and creating more greenways, as well as investments in public transportation. As our town becomes more densely populated, we need to make sure our greenspaces are keeping pace. Not only do we need more land dedicated to parks we also need to develop the land that’s already been set aside so that it’s usable space for the people in those areas. I would also like to see a linear park installed along the Willamette River north of Riverfront Park. This area, along Front Street, has so much potential for housing and small businesses.
In 300 words, please provide an example or examples of a project or issue you were directly addressed in a leadership role. We are looking for examples of how your involvement resulted in specific action to resolve or improve a local issue.
A few years ago I noticed the need for the installation of flashing lights at the crosswalk at 19th and Market Street. Everyday many school age kids and their families crossed busy Market Street in order to get to Englewood Elementary School. Even with the 20 mph flashing lights cars still sped by, oftentimes ignoring the crossing guards and the kids waiting to cross. This was simply unacceptable to me. I connected with our city councilor at the time, who is now our mayor, and together we worked to get that crossing improved with a flashing light in time for the next school year. Now school children and other people who live in Englewood use that crossing every day — they feel safe, comfortable, and seen.
Another project was the Englewood School beautification project. Over the years I noticed how run down the landscaping was around the school. Most of the plants were overgrown and out of place and the irrigation system needed some work. Last year I took on the challenge to make these improvements. I worked with the school district to get a landscaping plan approved and the irrigation system updated. I worked with local businesses and the school’s Parent Club to raise all the funds needed and finally I got all the volunteers needed to make the project a success! Every child deserves to go to school in a beautiful place and now Englewood students and surrounding neighbors have a beautifully landscaped school grounds that they can be proud of.
In 300 words, please provide an example of a decision you made or action you took later proved to be unsuccessful or misguided. We are looking for an example of how you deal with failure or mistakes.
I’d have to say it’s been my inability thus far to get the changes made to Capitol Street, where my family resides, that would increase livability for those living here. I started trying to get some changes made about a year ago and we haven’t made it as far as I’d like. I would like to see some traffic calming measures taken to try and slow traffic down as it moves through our neighborhood, provide crosswalks for people who choose to walk, and connect the bike lane from Center Street to Market Street. Projects like these take time and I’m dedicated to seeing the improvements made even if it takes years.
Some may think that I think too big, especially with projects like my Capitol Street ideas, but I would disagree. As a leader you must think big and stick with things even when it takes longer than you’d like. You must stay positive and be willing to work with people — listening to experts and brainstorming solutions that are balanced and fair.
In less than 100 words, describe why you want this office and how your candidacy would improve Salem.
I am proud that Councilor Cara Kaser, who has been a terrific councilor in Ward 1, reached out to me and asked me to run for her seat. She chose me because she knew of all the work I had done over the years to make Ward 1 a better place to live. A seat on the Salem City Council is just the next step up for me in service to my neighbors and my community. I think I have the right vision and values to set the best policies so Salem can achieve great progress in the years ahead.
