Elect Experience
Melody Thompson
for
Canby City Council
The Right Time. The Right Choice.
Solving Problems Together!
LEARN MORE:
Facebook.com/MelodyThompsonforCanby
Hello, and welcome to my website!
I’m running for Canby City Council because I believe I can bring a fresh perspective and experience to the challenges ahead.
Here is what I value as a Canby resident, and what I offer as a City Councilor:
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Transparency - Building trust with clear, honest communication, even when the issues are difficult.
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Fiscal accountability - Managing your tax dollars responsibly, to protect services our community depends upon and deserves.
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Commitment - Serving as a Councilor means more than attending meetings. I promise to show up, listen, learn, and work hard on behalf of Canby.
I am committed to ensuring good decisions on your behalf to keep our quality of life and prepare for the future. These priorities are key:
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Safe streets
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Great parks and open spaces
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Sensible development
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A strong Canby
Values & Vision
Safe Streets
Canby is one of Oregon’s safest cities, thanks in part to strong community policing and engaged residents. Safety also means improving conditions for walking, biking, e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, etc. Electric options have grown in popularity among our youth. So we must work quickly and effectively - city government, community and schools - to raise awareness about "road rules". This is vital to continuing safe and enjoyable use of our roads and parks for everyone.
Great Parks & Green Spaces
In city surveys, people consistently weigh in with support for Canby's parks, walking paths and open spaces. It's time to invest in the Canby Park & Recreation Committee recommendations and upgrade aging Maple, Wait and Community parks.
Let's work together, consider the options, and find solutions to park maintenance challenges for our kids futures.
Sensible Development
Our popular and successful town will continue to grow because of the quality of life we all enjoy. With 400 acres available to annex into Canby in the next 10 years, homes and businesses will join our wonderful town.
Growth will strengthen our tax base and support essential services, but it also needs to support the community's vision. We must work to plan carefully so we get this right - sensible development that aligns with Canby's vision.
A Strong Canby
A vibrant library and community pool, well-maintained streets, and management of city finances contribute to a strong Canby. As leaders, our primary job is to ensure it stays that way.
Like household and business budgets, the city’s costs—including personnel, equipment, and goods—increase each year. Careful oversight and accurate forecasting of future revenue and expenses will help Canby prepare for change and remain financially strong.
About Melody
I grew up in a close-knit small town in the Columbia Gorge. As a teenager, I worked in my family’s restaurant, where I learned the value of hard work and serving others. As one of eight children, teamwork, compromise and family became values that have guided me throughout my career and years of public service.Today, I am a lucky wife, proud mother of two sons and a grandson.
While raising my family, I began building a career working in areas of finance and administration, municipal court, and police records in small and large Oregon communities. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in public administration and prepared me for elected office.
In 2002, I was privileged to be elected Mayor of Canby and over the next 8 years, worked with community leaders and citizens to attract prospective businesses and employers. We successfully attracted a theater to town, improved downtown's main street beautification and parking, and established the first Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. Legacy Park was built, and Canby Area Transit services expanded. Regionally, I served as co-chair of Clackamas County’s C-4 and as small cities representative for Metro’s Urban and Rural Reserves Task Force. I am proud to be a part of Canby's success.
I continue to volunteer with several years on the Canby Budget Committee, and six years as Chair of the Canby Utility Board. This has kept me up to speed on the city's financial picture, and the challenges and plans of the utility's power and water for future decades of growth.
I enjoy being a part of a team, to lead by example, set clear goals, and deliver results. I would be honored to serve you as part of Canby's City Council, and hope you will consider me when voting for City Council this November!