Your name as listed on the ballot: Sally Cook

Age: 36

(If your age will change before May 31, please indicate your birthday. We want to ensure we use accurate ages in pre- and post-election editorials and news coverage.)

City/town of residence: Salem, Oregon

Political party, if this is a partisan office: N/A

Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): City Councilor, Ward 7

Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific area (ward, district, county, etc.) that you seek to represent? Yes

Number of current, consecutive years living within the district you seek to represent: 8 years

Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home or number of grown children): Jason Cook, Spouse. Two daughters; Indira, 6, and Kalila, 3.  

Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate any degrees you earned): Portland State University, B.S. Health Education and Health Services (2001); Sprague High School (1997); Judson Middle School; Liberty Elementary School.  

If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties: Health Educator, Marion County Health Department. At the Health Department, I am responsible for addressing chronic disease in youth. My specific goal is to address obesity in youth in Marion County. I work with businesses, community members, and regional partners to design policies that will promote health for the children of Marion County.

Previous employers and when: LifeSource Natural Foods, Clerk, May 2008 to October 2015; Social Security Administration, Service Representative, September 2004 to September 2008.

Military service and when: N/A

Volunteer/civic/religious service and when: I serve as Chair of the Citizens’ Police Review Board, and as Vice Chair of the Sunnyslope Neighborhood Association. I am a board member of the Salem Public Library Advisory Board. I have served as a deacon since 2015 and Sunday school teacher since 2013 at my church, Westminster Presbyterian.

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when: None

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: N/A

Other prior political and government experience: None.

If you are running for a position that involves a governing board in Oregon – such as city council, county board of commissioners, Legislature or State Land Board – how many meetings of that board have you attended in person during 2015 and 2016? How many have you watched online or on TV, if applicable?

I have attended two city council meetings in person to advocate for library services in the budget. I served as a guest councilor for Ward 7 during the Fairview hearings and have watched online all of the council sessions posted on the city’s website since August 2015.

How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):

 Mail address:4676 Commercial St SE #176 Salem OR 97302

 E-mail address: sally @sallyforsalem.org

 Web site URL: sallyforsalem.org

 Phone: 503-385-5300

 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SallyforSalem/  Other social media: None

Please limit your response to each of the following questions to about 75 words.

1. To an outsider, how would you describe the region you wish to represent -- geographically, economically, politically and socially?  

Ward 7 is a large, diverse, mostly residential area south of town, and I love it more every year I live there. The ward is mostly west of Liberty and includes Minto Brown Park. There is a wonderful mix of retired people, young families and people on assistance. Our shopping centers and beautiful houses provide dimension, our neighborhood parks and the Croisan Scenic trail really add charm. It’s a great place to live!

2. What are the positives and negatives of this region (ward, district, county or state) that you wish to represent?  

I love living in Ward 7; we have small businesses, a mix of homes and great schools. We have wonderful parks. I’m excited about challenges, too. With the many new developments being built, we need strategies to minimize strain on our roads and schools. There are many great features of Ward 7 and I look forward to making Ward 7 an even better place to live.

3. What specific skills and experiences do you bring to the position, especially ones that would help turn those negatives into positives?

I bring my experience serving on city boards and in my neighborhood association. I listen to all sides with respect and work to understand differences. I think the most helpful person on a board is the one who can ask the right question, not the person who thinks they already know the answer. In everything I’ve taken on, from the Library Board to the Community Garden, I get results because I work with people to reach a consensus.

4. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.

I bring my perspective as a mother with two young daughters. I believe that we have to work to improve the livability of Ward 7 for all of its residents. I know the vital role that city services play, and I have worked to find funding and build support for the issues residents care about.

5. Please list five specific accomplishments that you have achieved in politics or civic affairs:

-Founded Sunnyslope Community Garden-Established a best practice and worked to develop guidelines and limit risks for keeping bees within city limits-Graduated citizens police academy and non-violent communications training-Re-established neighborhood watch for my street - Worked as an advocate for the children’s storytime room remodel with the Salem Public Library

6. How much will your Primary Election campaign cost? (be specific)

I expect to spend about $7,000. The majority of my donations come from individuals who believe in me and want nothing at all in return. 

7. Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional licensing board/organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details.  

No.

8. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other major accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give the details.

No.

9. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words for each issue)

A. Strong Neighborhoods - We need strong communities with neighborhood parks, walkable streets or paths, connectivity, and places to go. We can plan, build, and maintain a network of sidewalks and street crossings that connect schools and parks. Our neighborhoods can adopt community policing strategies that improve safety and security of streets and parks. As a city councilor I will work with the neighborhood associations and residents to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

B. Safe Streets-Streets need to be safe for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. There are many families with young children and seniors in retirement communities in Ward 7. We need to ensure their safety. Bike paths and bike boulevards are essential for safety. C. Smart Growth-Salem doesn’t need unchecked growth, it needs smart growth, integrated neighborhoods that allow residents to walk or ride to neighborhood shops and parks. I want to look at updating zoning for mixed use developments and creating more livable neighborhoods. 

10. What do you see as other important issues?.

Livability is important to our community to ensure that we can attract outside businesses and new people who add to Salem’s diversity. The library is important to me and I believe that Salem residents deserve a library that is open 7 days a week.

11. What online and/or print publications do you regularly read to keep abreast of issues in the district you seek to represent?

Statesman Journal, Nextdoor app.

12. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? Anything (including health issues) that would affect your ability to serve your full term? Any changes in your life situation that are contemplated or expected before the election or before you would take office? None.

Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by April 20, 2016.