Why are you running for city councilor, and what do you bring to the table that your opponents do not?
I am running for Tigard City Council to make Tigard a great place to run your business, walk your dog, and raise your kids. Tigard needs practical, inclusive leaders who are dedicated to the hard work of public service and tackling community challenges. We need public officials who are committed to ensuring safe streets, secure neighborhoods, and affordable housing options. I respectfully suggest that I can meet these needs and ask for your support to serve as your City Councilor.
What I bring to the table is a record of building consensus and delivering value. My career as a senior product analyst in the tech industry has taught me how to engage stakeholders, make smart business decisions, and achieve results for customers.
During my two terms as Chair of the Tigard Budget Committee, I brought together diverse perspectives to create strong, cost-effective policies. My proudest achievement as Budget Committee Chair was reforming the City’s grant program so your taxpayer dollars go toward efforts that best serve the community.
Since my appointment to the City Council on July 1st, 2024, I have collaborated with my fellow council members and the community to make a difference. I voted to strengthen time, place, and manner restrictions; advanced redevelopment efforts for Downtown Tigard; and worked to modernize our municipal code. These actions required teamwork, patience, and empathy in order to find common ground and pursue practical solutions.
As your City Councilor, I will continue to build consensus and deliver value so that Tigard is a safe, affordable community where everyone can put down roots.
What is your #1 priority, and what are you proposing we do about it?
My top priority is addressing housing needs in Tigard. I understand this challenge from firsthand experience. My partner, Erik, and I have called Tigard home since 2020. We were longtime renters and worked hard to become first-time homeowners, despite rising living costs and depressed housing supply. This experience taught me how important affordable housing is for creating stable households, starting families, and building wealth.
Affordable housing is a regional problem with local impacts. Tigard’s “Community Survey 2023” reported that only 26% of residents found the availability of affordable quality housing to be “good” or “excellent”. Tigard’s own website acknowledges that Tigard is a “severely rent burdened” city because 28% of renter households spend more than 50% of their income on rent. This problem affects young people who are trying to get their start in life, families raising kids, seniors on fixed incomes, and many others.
As your City Councilor, I will advocate for diverse housing options across all income levels. Tigard needs to partner with businesses, governments, and nonprofits to develop affordable housing, build supporting infrastructure, and prevent displacement. There needs to be proactive planning to ensure sufficient parking capacity and safe, multimodal transportation options for Tigard residents. I will also seek to expand accessible parks and trails so there are neighborhood green spaces that enhance livability. These measures will help create a more affordable, connected, and sustainable community that meets current needs and supports future growth.
You can learn more about Jake Schlack’s campaign at www.votejakeschlack.com, or contact Councilor Schlack directly at 503-406-8015 or jake@votejakeschlack.com
