A childless candidate

I am running for Tillamook School Board.

I also happen to not have any children.

To a handful of vocal people in the Tillamook community this is, apparently, a huge issue.

While my dear, incredible, wife Katie and I have not yet been able to have children of our own – I won’t bore you with the details – it dazzles me that this fact of my personal life is a rallying cry for some and a disqualifier to serve on school board. Those who are casting judgement and concern do not know my story – and haven’t bothered to ask.

My father has four sons and I wouldn’t vote for him to be on school board.

He abandoned us, he abandoned me. I was raised by a single mother and I helped fill the weird, dual role of brother and faux-father-figure to my little brother who is nine-and-a-half years younger than me. I think he turned out pretty alright. I also have the distinct honor of being godfather to three incredible girls ages 7 to 13 across two families. And to those who are unaware, I have been the childless father-figure/big-brother and role model while at Tillamook County Outdoor School to every single sixth grader that has gone through East Elementary during my years at camp from 2006 – 2018, then from 2022 – 2023. For six months last year, I was a substitute teacher creating kind, safe spaces for all students and would be active and engaged during class and recess. I now serve as a leader mentoring high school leaders across the state at Oregon Association of Student Councils summer leadership camp. And not a single one of those kids ever left the classroom or camp knowing my political beliefs.

I have done nothing in my life except be of service to our community’s youth and how dare anybody attempt to use the fact I have been unable to have children to diminish me as a person or as the most qualified candidate in my school board race.

I am a firm believer that you do not have to have children in order to care about them and their wellbeing. I understand I don’t have the empathy of a parent, but I have empathy for humanity. This dangerous mindset that only those with biological children of their own can actually be of service and care for children may be a contributing factor to why many of our students are suffering. We are living in a fractured community and I believe we need to heal ourselves to be a Tillamook that supports and cares for all of our students, regardless of how many children we have, if any.