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Six District 4 candidates debate mental health, data centers and child care in Hillsboro forum
Summary
Six candidates for Washington County Commission District 4 gave openings and answered questions about mental and behavioral health services, support for undocumented residents, data centers, childcare and jail capacity; positions ranged from advocating expanded county services to prioritizing fiscal constraints and rural representation.
Six candidates vying for Washington County Commission District 4 used a League of Women Voters forum to lay out divergent priorities on mental health, land use, childcare and fiscal stewardship.
Paul Schafer, who opened the forum, emphasized his 30 years in land-use planning and pledged to bring listening and fiscal responsibility to the role.
Kimberly Culbertson described long-term grassroots involvement and her work with Habitat for Humanity and downtown revitalization. Ayla Hoffler, a fourth-generation rural resident and former nurse, stressed rural representation and transparency. Steve Callaway pointed to his mayoral and education experience and emphasized economic growth balanced with livability. Anthony Martin highlighted affordability, workforce development and infrastructure; Kipperlin Sinclair focused on transparency, protecting rural interests and opposing tax abatements for data centers.
On mental and behavioral health, candidates mostly agreed the county plays a fundamental role but said services are not yet adequate. Several called for stronger metrics, wraparound supports, fully funding CAT and expanding mental-health response teams.
When asked about undocumented residents, candidates offered a range of positions from support and pathway-oriented approaches to emphasizing rule-of-law constraints; some mentioned sanctuary policies or local tracking of ICE activity as oversight tools.
Data centers again were contentious. Candidates broadly opposed siting large facilities on prime farmland and urged careful study of water, energy and job impacts; some proposed locating data centers on brownfields or rejecting tax abatements if they do not align with community values.
On childcare, most candidates supported a county role but asked for clearer definitions of scope and funding sources; some pointed to existing programs (WCCLS, after-school activities) as examples.
Closing statements emphasized listening, fiscal stewardship and balancing urban and rural needs. The forum provided voters comparative statements on local services and land-use tensions ahead of the election.
