Pam Treece believes Washington County needs experienced, practical leadership focused on the things that affect people every day.
As County Chair, Pam will prioritize affordability, safe communities, a strong local economy, responsible county government, effective solutions to homelessness and behavioral health, and thoughtful growth that protects our farmland, natural resources, and neighborhoods.
As County Chair, Pam will bring a proven record of results across the public and private sectors to prioritize affordability, economic vitality, and public safety. She will protect our access to critical community services and programs.
Making Washington County More Affordable
The rising cost of living is one of the biggest challenges facing Washington County families. Housing, utilities, transportation, childcare, groceries, taxes and fees — it all adds up. Too many people are working hard and still finding it more difficult to afford the community they call home.
Pam believes affordability has to be at the center of the decisions Washington County makes.
County government can’t control every cost families face, but it can be thoughtful about the costs it does control — and about whether its decisions make it easier or harder to live, work, raise a family, retire, or run a business here.
Read More about Pam's Record of Results
Housing is a critical part of that challenge. Pam supports expanding housing choices, preserving existing affordable housing, and finding practical ways to get more housing built. She also has a record of delivering results. When barriers threatened The Opal, an affordable housing development in Cedar Mill, Pam helped bring together a local church, Washington County, and a housing developer to move the project forward. Today, The Opal provides 54 affordable homes for older adults. As Chair, Pam will bring an affordability lens to decisions about housing, taxes and fees, transportation, infrastructure, land use, economic development, and essential county services. People who work here should be able to afford to live here. Older adults should be able to stay in the communities they helped build. And the next generation should be able to see a future for themselves in Washington County.Responsible & Accountable Government
Washington County residents should know where their money is going, what they are getting for it, and whether programs are actually working.
Pam believes county government must set priorities, live within its means, protect essential services, and be willing to evaluate programs based on results — not simply continue spending because that is how things have always been done.
Read More About Pam's Approach to Accountable Government
As Chair, she will bring her experience and disciplined approach to the county budget, insist on transparency and accountability, and make sure limited resources are focused first on the services residents rely on most.
Good government isn’t measured by how much it spends. It’s measured by whether it delivers.
Stability and a Culture of Respect & Professionalism
Pam believes the Chair has a responsibility to set the tone for county government and foster a culture of respect, professionalism, and collaboration.
Respect doesn’t mean avoiding difficult conversations or expecting everyone to agree. It means listening, communicating professionally, treating people with dignity, and making sure different perspectives can be heard.
Read More About Pam's Standards for County Government
As Chair, Pam will set clear expectations for how elected leaders and county employees work together. She will work to create a culture where people feel valued, disagreements are handled constructively, and everyone can stay focused on what matters most: serving the people of Washington County.
Addressing Homelessness, Addiction & Behavioral Health
Pam believes we can have compassion for people experiencing homelessness while also expecting urgency, accountability, and results from the systems designed to help them.
That means connecting people with shelter and housing, but also addressing the behavioral health challenges, addiction, and other barriers that can keep people from achieving long-term stability.
Washington County has invested significant resources in these challenges. As Chair, Pam will focus on howHow those investments are producing measurable results for both the people receiving services and the communities funding them.
Pam championed the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT), bringing together local, regional, and state partners to expand access to addiction and behavioral health treatment.
Safe & Healthy Communities
Washington County’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, neighborhood, workplace, and community. It is unacceptable that hundreds of Washington County residents have been snatched off our streets without warning or due process. Pam strongly opposes ICE’s illegal actions, and as Chair, she will fight to protect all our neighbors.
Read More About Pam's View on Public Safety
Pam has earned the endorsements of our first responders because of the strong partnerships she has built with them over the years. She will work to ensure Washington County has the people, facilities, and resources necessary to provide effective public safety services as our population grows.
That includes confronting long-term needs facing the county’s jail, courthouse, behavioral health system, and public safety workforce — while maintaining transparency and accountability to taxpayers.
Pam also knows public safety is about more than responding after something goes wrong. Strong communities invest in prevention, treatment, safe roads, emergency preparedness, and the services that help keep problems from becoming crises.
Good Jobs & a Strong Local Economy
Pam has spent much of her career working in economic development and understands that a strong local economy is the foundation for a strong community. It creates good-paying jobs and opportunities for families while generating the resources we need to invest in the services that directly affect our quality of life—from public safety, parks, libraries, and safe roads to behavioral and mental health services, homelessness response, housing, and support for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Read More About Pam's Plan to Boost the Local Economy
For Pam, economic development isn’t an end in itself. It’s how we build a community where families can get ahead, people can access help when they need it, and Washington County has the resources to provide strong, reliable services today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.
Data Centers & Responsible Decision-Making
Washington County has been an important part of Oregon’s technology economy for decades, and data centers already have a significant presence here. Pam understands the concerns about continued expansion, and believes they deserve to be taken seriously.
Read More About Pam's Take on Data Centers
I do not believe Washington County needs to continue adding more data centers without carefully considering the impacts on our residents, resources, and future. These facilities can place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and infrastructure, and we need to understand their cumulative impact—not simply evaluate each proposal in isolation.
We also need to be clear about what County government can and cannot control. Where the County does have authority—including land use, planning, and infrastructure decisions—we should use it thoughtfully and put the interests of Washington County residents and businesses first.
Our technology sector is an important part of our economy, but future growth should not come at the expense of affordability, our resources, or the quality of life of the people who live and work here.
Protecting What Makes Washington County Special
Growth is inevitable. Losing what makes Washington County special is not.
Pam believes we can create housing, support good jobs, and maintain a strong economy while protecting farmland and natural areas, preserving livable neighborhoods, and planning responsibly for transportation and infrastructure.
Read More About Pam's Approach to Protecting Washington County
That requires thoughtful decisions about where and how we grow — and recognizing that every development decision has consequences for roads, water, utilities, schools, public safety, taxpayers, and neighboring communities.
Pam’s approach is simple: listen first, bring people together, understand the consequences, and make the right decisions based on what will serve Washington County over the long term.
As County Chair, Pam will work to make sure Washington County remains a place where people can afford to live, businesses can thrive, communities are safe, and future generations have the same opportunity to call this place home.
“Pam is a proven leader, prioritizing collaboration across communities and across governments to get results for residents. As Chair, she will lead us into a bright future for Washington County.”
“Pam is a proven leader, prioritizing collaboration across communities and across governments to get results for residents. As Chair, she will lead us into a bright future for Washington County.”