[April 30th, 2008]

Carlotta Collette

Tattoo she’d get: Native American portrait on her ankle.

Metro has existed since 1979, yet it still struggles to connect with its constituents and communicate its varied missions.

Councilor Carlotta Collette, who last November filled the vacancy created by Brian Newman’s resignation, is the kind of person who could help on both fronts.

As the regional government responsible for solid waste and land-use and transportation planning, Metro is involved in many of the region’s most complicated

and contentious issues. Metro manages the Urban Growth Boundaryand is tasked with getting the public to recycle more. (To say nothing of deciding whether the public should pay for a hotel next to the Metro-run Oregon Convention Center, or what the monkeys should eat at the Metro-run Oregon Zoo.)

Collette brings a wealth of experience dealing with complex regional issues from 14 years as a public-involvement strategist at the Northwest Power Planning Council. She also boasts strong regional connections from her service on the Milwaukie City Council and Clackamas County Coordinating Committee. A multitasker, Collette serves as vice-chair of Mount Hood Community College’s board. Her opponent, Everett Hall, a truck driver from Happy Valley, is not running a serious campaign.

Video of WW endorsement interview (thanks to Portland Community Media)