Advocacy

The Tigard Chamber Government & Public Policy (GAPP) Subcommittee supports the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce Mission of providing opportunities for consistent and sustainable long-term business growth by promoting public policy, rules and laws that support a healthy business and employment climate.  We advocate with government on behalf of business, leveraging the voice of our members.

We are guided by the following objectives:

  • Preserve  the competitive enterprise system of business by creating a better understanding and appreciation of the importance of a strong economy, promoting intelligent business and public opinion regarding local, state, and national legislative and political affairs.
  • Prevent  policies which are detrimental to business, creating a greater appreciation of the value of competitive business.
  • Promote  healthy communities by: promoting economic programs designed to strengthen and expand the income potential of all classes of business, and opportunities for employment.

Other Guidelines Include:

  • The use of taxes should be fair and equitable in providing services and programs that benefit the economic growth and the health and welfare of citizens.
  • Reasonable regulations are necessary to a growing economy, unreasonable ones stifle growth and opportunity.
  • Governmental policy needs to promote economic opportunity.
  • As a general rule, overall government expenditures should not grow at rates greater than populations and inflation, or rates exceeding growth in income.
  • Government must look for more efficient ways to provide services to maintain quality government within cost restraints.
  • Making efforts to educate and inform public officials and media about the impact potential decisions could have on the area economy.

GAPP Team Members

  • Ralph Hughes, Financial WealthCare, Committee Chair
  • Bob Oleson
  • Rebecca Carey-Smith, PGE
  • Tom Woodruff, United Healthcare
  • Debi Mollahan, Tigard Chamber CEO
  • John Goodhouse, Choices Insurance & Tigard City Council Member, Ex-Officio
  • John Cook, Mayor of Tigard, Ex-Officio
Interested in joining GAPP, email debi@tigardchamber.org Committee meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3:30pm – 4:30 pm at the Tigard Chamber.  Check our calendar of events for more details on these and other chamber events. IDEAS? CONCERNS? Here is a great site to do some of your own research, as a Chamber member, on bills and other information from Salem: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1 We want to hear from you the business community about city, county and state legislative issues.  Please be sure to call or email ralph@lifeswhatifs.com if you see anything you believe the Tigard Chamber GAPP should be aware of.