Local candidate says 150,000 signatures collected against proposed state transportation taxes
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Summary
John Swanson, a candidate for Polk County Commissioner position 2, told the board he had seen more than 150,000 signatures on a petition opposing recent Oregon transportation tax proposals and framed the petitions as providing household budget certainty going into the holidays.
John Swanson addressed the Polk County Board of Commissioners during public comment on Nov. 26 and said he is a candidate for Polk County Commissioner position 2. Swanson reported that, "over a 150,000 signatures have been signed," referring to petitions opposing a package of state transportation revenue proposals (including a gas tax, vehicle registration/title fees and changes to payroll taxes) that emerged from recent Oregon legislative sessions.
Swanson said he had personally seen many of the signatures and characterized the petition's success as an opportunity for Oregonians, including Polk County residents, to have greater budget certainty heading into the holiday season. He said the petition opens a door for further bipartisan negotiations on transportation funding in an upcoming short or long legislative session.
Swanson noted his work as chief of staff to Senator Bruce Star and said the petition outcome could inform future transportation negotiations at the state level. The transcript records these assertions as his remarks during the public comment segment; no county action or formal response from staff is recorded in the meeting minutes.