I am running to retain my position as a Gearhart city councilor. I would like to let citizens know my background of volunteering for the city.

One month after moving here in 2015, I began attending City Council meetings, most of which I have observed since then. As a result of that first meeting, I started working on the north Ridge Path creation, and trained at Camp Rilea to become a Community Emergency Response Team member.

Concurrently, I volunteered with North Coast Land Conservancy, and am now a land steward for two of their properties in Gearhart. With the help of fellow CERT members, we placed emergency supplies and medicines in three Gearhart high ground locations. I also organized the Gearhart Emergency Preparedness Town Hall in 2018.

Because of my concern about cars driving on our pedestrian beach, I and a few others met with Oregon State Parks officials, which resulted in two more signs being placed on the beach at the 10th Street access.

I participated on the Dune Advisory Committee over six meetings led by the Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce. In 2021, I became a planning commissioner, where I learned the importance of looking at an issue from all sides. I have been on the budget committee for three years, and as of May 2023, moved from the Planning Commission to City Council.

More recently, I worked on the Bench Committee, continued on CERT, and arranged for the elk public meeting with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

SHARON KLOEPFER

Gearhart