State Workers

Part of Salem’s history is our being the Capitol City, and with that came our acceptance of the State Hospital, State Prison, Fairview Training Center, School for The Deaf, School For the Blind and many other services for Oregon’s special needs people.

We also have Oregon largest administrative work force.  I’ve worked with and known these people for 50 yrs. and I can’t think of an industry which would provide our community such a bright and diverse group.  Workers who are so solidly within the middle income group are very good parents and neighbors, coaches, cookie bakers,  and supports.  Salem is a very good place to live because of our heritage and because of our workforce.

I think our administrative work force is Salem’s 1st asset.  I think our leadership, our legislature, our government leaders, city and county and school board  leaders have been very weak for decades:   Not our best  people, seem to lack the skills of leadership – courage, intelligence, creativity, humility.

We can only hope to see people with these skills rise to leadership if we participate in this democratic process. Our apathy is why government functions so poorly.  We must vote, we must make some noise, we must make ourselves heard – write, yell, talk, but most of all – VOTE.