Toledo City Councilor Betty Kamikawa has announced her candidacy for Lincoln County Commissioner Position 2. Betty, a Groundfish Ageing Specialist for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is well known in Lincoln County. Betty and her husband Dan have three children Hanna, Annabell and Tristin. Since becoming a parent Betty has been dedicated to helping families have access to affordable quality childcare. And is one of the reasons she and her husband became foster parents.
Betty took on the role of Chairperson for the Newport Childcare Committee in 2000 and served in that capacity until 2014. She also became a member of the Lincoln County Association for Family and Community Education (FCE) in 1999 serving as President from 2001-2014. Having worked with the Early Childhood Coordinating Council for many years, Betty and the FCE along with other community members opened the non-profit Central Coast Child Development Center in Toledo that operated from 2008-2014.
For her work Betty received The Lynne Angland Award: Honoring Contributions to Oregon’s Child Care & Early Education System. As a parent and foster parent Betty would like to see more support for parents and foster parents especially those with children with special needs.
Since 2003 Betty has been the leader of Girl Scout Troop 10099 in Toledo and has held the positions of Service Unit Manager, Registrar and Product Manager for Girl Scout Service Unit 27 that encompasses all of Lincoln County. In her 17 years as a leader Betty has touched the lives of over 300 girls many of whom are now wonderful adults in our community.
Since 2018 Betty has been working to educate the residents of Lincoln County on alternate disposal methods for biosolids other than land applications. Betty has also become an advocate for the homeless in Lincoln County becoming President of the Board of Directors for Grace Winds Haven, a Day Resource Center for the Homeless located on 1st street in Newport in April of 2019. Also in the winter of 2019-2020 Betty assisted in the day to day operations of the winter overnight shelter at the Lincoln County Commons.
Betty believes that by setting long term and annual goals the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners (LCBOC) can create a county wide strategic plan that will allow Lincoln County to grow and prosper into the future. The LCBOC needs to be forward thinking, transparent and inclusive of all points of view, because our citizens are our greatest assets.
If given the honor to be your next County Commissioner she will work hard to restore past programs, expand existing programs and find sources and funding for new programs that address children and families, mental health and homelessness in Lincoln County. She will collaborate with the cities, towns and unincorporated areas to create an environment that supports existing businesses as well as attract new businesses and jobs to Lincoln County. For Betty it is all about being proactive not reactive.
To learn more or to contribute to her campaign go to Betty Kamikawa for County Commissioner on Facebook, bettykamikawa.com, call 541-961-4482 or email blkamikawa@gmail.com