Editor’s note: All of the candidates who have registered to run for the available seats on Oakridge’s city council in this coming election have been invited to submit a photo, biography of themselves, and were asked three questions for publishing in The Herald. Each candidate that has accepted the offer will be published over the next few days.
Hello! I am Bee. I’ve been involved in public service continuously since childhood, and I co-founded my first nonprofit at 19. I’ve been an officer, consultant, or active member of numerous organizations since — I’m currently an officer in two groups serving Oakridge.
I have a passion for teaching and helping others otherwise achieve their potential. I’m a technically adept person, currently working in electronics manufacturing and repair. My engineering background and skill in communicating complex concepts are where I will excel in the council chambers.
Questions:
- Why do you want to be on city council?
I love Oakridge and intend to help it thrive. I aim to utilize my experience in grant writing and development to extend the town’s budget. Oakridge has immense potential; it just needs the right resources and effort to flourish.
My focus will be on supporting programs that make Oakridge an attractive place to site a business, ensuring they have the resources they need to grow and succeed. I intend prioritize sustainable development, making sure that as Oakridge grows, it does so in a way that preserves our natural beauty and enhances the quality of life for all residents.
By listening to the community and working tirelessly to meet its needs, I am confident I can contribute to long-term, positive change for Oakridge.
2. What do you picture Oakridge looking like 10 years from now? 25 years from now?
In the next decade, I envision Oakridge as a hub for industry and creativity, where artists and innovators collaborate.
To that end, I’m founding a nonprofit makerspace—a collaborative hub with tools and technology for creation, learning, and sharing. Within a month, a tool library will be available. By year’s end, there will be co-working and workshop spaces for individuals and groups to develop their skills and businesses.
This makerspace, alongside organizations like RAIN, UBRA, and the CFA all share in this vison of growth.
Within 25 years, I expect Oakridge’s beauty and vibrant festival culture will be common knowledge across the PNW.
3. Are there any council members, past or present, who you think stand out as excellent role models for service to the city
I prefer not to focus on individuals — I admire council members who listen to the community and educate themselves. Those who bring information to the council, thoroughly review their materials, prepare questions, and grasp their responsibilities stand out.
These are values I will uphold as a councilor, and which I expect from my fellow councilors, I will speak my mind, defend my position, and remain open to new evidence and perspectives. It is through this impartiality and transparency that I intend to make Oakridge better for everyone.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.