Newberg Graphic Online

Kathy George will run for re-election

County government — Newberg resident announces she will run for a third term on commission

• By: David Sale  
• Published: 1/8/2010 2:05:35 PM

Kathy George

   Yamhill County Commissioner Kathy George announced Tuesday she will run for a third term in office.
   “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as county commissioner,” George said in a statement announcing her decision. “I have enjoyed the challenge of working to ensure a county government that is cost-effective and citizen-friendly, and I hope to continue this work for our community.”
   While in office, George has served as liaison to the county’s emergency management and sheriff’s office, and has overseen radio communications upgrades and interoperability efforts by these departments.
   Her work has also involved the county’s Health and Human Services Department, and the Commission on Children and Families, and she serves on the board of directors of the Yamhill Community Action Partnership.
   During her present term, she led the development of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in the county, in partnership with these agencies and other local nonprofits and faith-based groups.
   In private life, she and her husband Gary (a former state senator) are co-owners of a hazelnut farm outside Newberg, and a family-run hazelnut packing company. Their son, Larry George, presently represents the Newberg area in the Oregon Senate.
   “As a business owner, I understand the impacts of government regulations and requirements,” she said. “I want to ensure that our local government departments continue to be helpful and responsive to the needs of both businesses and individual citizens ... I will continue to be a strong advocate for the taxpayers (and) to work for efficient and responsive government.”
   George will run for re-election against chaplain and businesswoman Kris Bledsoe, who announced in early December she would again campaign for a seat on the county commission.

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