June 03, 2021
On Tuesday, June 1, with the help of Tillamook County Republicans, our Tillamook County Commissioners, Oregon State Parks Beach Ranger Simon Freeman, and approximately 20 volunteers, we were able to clean up about three miles of our beautiful coastline and about a two mile stretch of Sandlake Road, while we showed that, despite all the news to the contrary, we Dems and Republicans could pull together for the common good.
Besides being a totally unique effort statewide, the Bridge the Gap Beach Cleanup in Tierra Del Mar was, by all measures, a success. An equal number of gloved Dems and Republicans showed up, as did County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell and David Yamamoto. The weather was spectacular and the only big surprise was the relatively small amount of litter we found following the busy Memorial Day Weekend.
Volunteers walked and visited the length of beach from the north side of Cape Kiwanda to the mouth of the Sandlake estuary. Two volunteers, seeing we had the beach pretty well covered, took to Sandlake Road, cleaning both sides of this highway for the entire length of the Tiera Del Mar community, as well.
If you are wondering why it’s important for us, as Tillamook County Democrats to reach out to our Republican counterparts in a cooperative effort such as this, check out the comments on Facebook’s What’s Up Pacific City group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/483819849022590/permalink/1012271009510802).
Obviously, this bridging of the gap, this attempt to show that, despite our divergent political views, we can come together for the good of our county, strikes a chord with our community.
Thank you to Mike Sears and the Republican Central Committee, and to County Commissioners Bell and Yamamoto for their support. Thank you to the Pacific City Sun, Oregon Coast Today and the Tillamook County Pioneer for letting people know about the event ahead of time. And, thank you, TillCoDems, for the support and recognition that this kind of outreach across the “great divide” will make us a stronger, more productive, and more cohesive community.
Fred Bassett,
Chair, Tillamook County Democrats