Pam Treece seeks Washington County chair seat

Washington County Commissioner Pam Treece is running for the at-large county chair seat in the Nov. 3 general election. The chair oversees county services that affect Hillsboro and communities across Washington County.

The nonpartisan race also includes Nafisa Fai.

Asked why she is running, Treece said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm running because I want to serve the people of Washington County - this includes you and our neighbors who make up our community. … As Chair, I'll focus on creating more housing people can afford, growing good-paying jobs, keeping taxes and fees in check, and protecting the essential services we all rely on."

Candidate information

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, according to Treece.

Family: Asked about her family in our questionnaire, Treece said: "Nearly 30 years ago, I chose to make Washington County my home and raise my family here. I love this community for many of the same reasons so many others do: our vibrant parks, accessible libraries, safe roads, strong communities, and valuable opportunities."

Education: Treece said in our questionnaire: "I am … a proud graduate of Parkrose High School. I earned my bachelor's degree from Portland State University and my Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis & Clark College."

Party: Treece said in our questionnaire: "I am a proud Democrat running for this nonpartisan office. My values shape who I am, but I believe good local government requires us to work beyond party labels to solve problems and deliver results."

Experience and public service

Treece won her District 2 seat on the Washington County Commission in 2018, becoming the first candidate to unseat an incumbent commissioner in 31 years, according to The Oregonian.

Asked about her work history, Treece said in our questionnaire: "My career has spanned education, small business, workforce, human resources, economic development, and public service. … For the past eight years, I have served as a Washington County Commissioner, helping oversee a complex organization with thousands of employees and a budget of more than $2 billion."

According to BallotReady, Treece's roles include vice president of Oregon external affairs at PacifiCorp, executive director at Portland Regional Partners for Economic Development and executive director at the Westside Economic Alliance.

On the issues

Housing: Treece said on her campaign website that she "supports a range of housing opportunities for all ages and income levels, and efforts to increase housing diversity and affordability" and "is leading efforts to preserve existing affordable homes."

Economy: Treece said on her campaign website that she "will work to protect Washington County from the impacts of this large-scale economic turmoil by prioritizing the strength of our local businesses."

Public safety: Treece said she "supports stable funding and resources for our first responders" and will "further efforts to ensure collaboration between our mental health team and public safety providers, including effective integration with the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT)," according to her campaign website.

Immigration: Treece called federal immigration enforcement activity in Washington County "horrific" and said the county's declaration of a state of emergency made her proud, according to OPB.

Key differences with opponent: Asked what sets her apart, Treece said in our questionnaire: "The clearest difference is experience. I am the only candidate who has served on the County Commission and understands how to lead an organization with thousands of employees and a budget of more than $2 billion. I have put in the work to understand County operations and am prepared to lead on day one."

Endorsements

Treece has received endorsements from elected officials, labor organizations and public safety groups, according to The Oregonian, OPB, her campaign website and BallotReady: