Utility Tax: Mike strongly opposes the utility tax bill recently imposed on Oregon residents and pledges to remand this act within his first year in office by way of fiscal responsibility.
Real Estate Sales: Mike understands that real estate sales of both homes, and business properties have been a vital foundation of Oregon’s economy. His vision is to create incentives to both real estate buyers and sales agents within the city limits by offering buyers discounted and/or deferred monthly city utility payments for the first three months after the closing of any property sold within the city limits.
Business opportunities: As Mayor, Mike will work hand in hand with the Oregon Chamber of Commerce, the real estate sales community and Forward Oregon by appointing a member of each, if so willing, to work as a liaison committee with the Mayor and City Council to determine the needs of existing businesses and ways to attract new businesses so that they may thrive together. We desperately need their existence to strengthen our sales tax base and check any future increase of our taxes.
Senior Citizens: Mike believes that applications should be made available for senior citizens on fixed incomes and cases of hardship to apply for discounted city services similar to AARP.
The Coliseum Building: As many of you may know the Coliseum building was under threat of being sold or torn down just prior to Mike’s 1999 election as Mayor. Mike chose not to go that route, however to make the historic old building a pet-project for the city to save, for generations to come.
Just prior to his narrow defeat for Mayor in 2003, Mike had been in communications with the agents of the “Statler Brothers” and “Jeff Foxworthy” to perform on stage within the building for a general admission fee.
Mike believes that history can repeat itself and the coliseum should be used as it once was in its “hay day”.
He welcomes the recent support of the Oregon Park District and hopes that they alone or along with some other worthy entity may somehow partner with the City to continue down the path to support the arts.
Mike has always believed making the Coliseum a hub of activity to support itself, the community, and downtown businesses of Oregon is a very worthwhile cause.
Remember when R.E.O. Speed Wagon performed at the Coliseum in the early 1970’s? Now we are dating ourselves!
