Mayor – Paul Blackburn
Bio: Mayor Blackburn has lived in Hood River since 2000. Since his job as at-home Dad for the daughters “sunsetted,” he drives medical transport for Klickitat Senior Services. When not in meetings or a wheelchair van, he can often be found enjoying our spectacular Gorge or behind his banjo.
Blackburn is familiar with City of Hood River government. He originally joined Council in 2004 with an appointment to fill Paul Thompson’s position. He was later elected to this position in 2004, resigning this term at the end of 2008. He was later elected Mayor in November 2014 and relected. He resigned as mayor in August 2019, when his family moved from the community for two years. He was elected again in November 2022 and begins his current term on January 1, 2023.
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Message Line: set up in progress
p.blackburn@cityofhoodriver.gov
Council Member – Tim Counihan
Bio: I am honored to be able to serve our community. I will work hard to improve the quality of life for all Hood River residents while promoting inclusive social and sound environmental policies. I am committed to supporting our local businesses and understand that the health of our local economy helps make Hood River the safe, family-friendly town we have all come to love.
I am a father of a high school aged son and a husband. My wife of 22 years, Jen Bayer, supports the Hood River Library by volunteering for the Library Foundation and also volunteers for other causes in our community. Jen and I have lived in the Columbia River Gorge since 1993. My son was born in Hood River and is a three-time Oregon State spelling champion.
Professionally, I am a research biologist, focusing on interdisciplinary research in aquatic ecosystems. I have worked extensively on the Columbia River and also work with scientists across the US and internationally. I like to backpack, hike, ski, and fish. I also enjoy playing and listening to music and am thankful that we live in a community with so many talented artists.
I am a firm believer in learning from the diverse opinions of others. Please contact me with any ideas or concerns you may have.
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
Message Line: (541) 436-0654
t.counihan@cityofhoodriver.gov
Council Member – Gladys Rivera
Bio: Hola! Mi nombre es Gladys Rivera. I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in Hood River.
I serve as a board member of Gorge Grown Food Network, a council member of United Way of the Columbia Gorge, an emergency preparedness manager for Hood River County, a member of Latinos en Acción and created the first bilingual CPR/BLS Program. I’ve also served in Guatemala, Mexico, and responded to the humanitarian crisis at the U.S/ Mexico border.
I work at One Community Health as a Preventative Health Manger, supporting vulnerable community members who face injustices, focusing on addressing all Social Determinants of Health. It is because of my experience in healthcare that I have a passion for policy. I love the outdoors and all the activities the beautiful Columbia Gorge has to offer.
I hope my presence on Council will continue to bring Latinx leaders with diverse backgrounds forward. We must diversify all decision making boards in order to have equitable access.
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Message Line: (541) 436-0654
g.rivera@cityofhoodriver.gov
Council Member – Megan Saunders
Bio: I’ve served on City Council since 2017. I’ve worked and continue to work to improve housing accessibility and availability, green spaces, future development planning, and public communication and input. Please contact me with any questions or comments.
I moved to Hood River in 2010 for a job with the local watershed council. Prior to moving west, I grew up near Boston and attended college in Maine. In Hood River, I work for a local irrigation district on watershed monitoring, project management, education, and water rights. Outside of work, I spend my time hiking, reading, and traveling.
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Message Line: (541) 436-0654
m.saunders@cityofhoodriver.gov
Council Member – Mark Zanmiller
Bio: I believe that Hood River is truly a special place and as City leaders and proponents, we have the responsibility to encourage and build on what we have, without screwing it up. A short biography:
We moved to Hood River in 1991 and into our current home in 1992. Kym and I have two wonderful daughters. I enjoy coffee, hiking, skiing, jogging, and garden puttering. As a pedestrian commuter, I have walked/jogged over 12,000 miles in Hood River!
- I have served 15 years as elected board member of the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District. I was co-chair of the City Waterfront Park Development Committee, and have stayed involved in a range of volunteer activities.
- 21 years working in our local high-tech industry as engineer, BD executive, and entrepreneur.
I like to ask the following when examining any issue:
- Are we sure we can continue to meet previous commitments before we agree to new ones? We have to stay within our budget and have available bandwidth. The fun part is finding ways to achieve the new without adding risk.
- How can we do things better and more efficiently? Strive for continuous improvement.
- Are we letting ourselves think outside the box and allow ourselves to discuss bold solutions and opportunities? If we just stay with the safe choices, we are less for it.
- How will our decision affect the things we love about our town – human/pedestrian scale, recreational opportunities, close connections to the environment, good jobs, a close knit community, etc.?
Like my fellow councilors, I think our goals are best reached with full community involvement and I encourage both formal and informal feedback and inputs. Please feel free to contact me.
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Message Line: (541) 436-0654
m.zanmiller@cityofhoodriver.gov
http://www.facebook.com/Zanmillercitycouncil
Council Member – Grant Polson
Bio:I moved to Hood River in 2009, and shortly after Hood River became home for me. I own the Westcliff Lodge, a small family-run business here in town. Over the last several years I have also served on our local Chamber of Commerce board, the City Budget Committee, and organize the local 4th of July run. For fun I’m often outdoors running “absurd” distances at a trail ultramarathon.
I am always willing to listen to an idea on how we keep creating a better Hood River; please do get in touch if there is anything on your mind.
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
Message Line: set up in progress
g.polson@cityofhoodriver.gov
Council Member – Douglas Stepina
Bio:My wife Angela and I moved to Hood River from Portland in September of 2014 with our one-year-old daughter. We were both born and raised in Illinois. Our son was born in Hood River in 2018. We spent a couple of years away from Hood River to work and live abroad in the Netherlands from 2019-2021.
My career is in presales solution consulting (which is a remote/work-from-home career) while Angela has worked for various local businesses over the years. I also am very active in the local music community as a member of Antonyms and The Greenneck Daredevils.
Hood River is a special place for many reasons, but while away, we missed our diverse and eclectic community most of all. Since we arrived in 2014, we have seen many members of the community struggle to obtain affordable housing or be forced to leave. It was because of this issue that I became engaged in community advocacy in 2016 during the Short-Term Rental regulation debate in the City. At this time, I joined Livable Hood River and ultimately was elected to the board of directors. Throughout this legislative process, I grew to deeply respect the Hood River City Council and ultimately began to volunteer for City advisory committees. I served on the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee and the Children’s Park Committee. I was appointed to the City Planning Commission in 2021 and served until I was elected to City Council.
Though my main area of focus has been community advocacy for access to affordable housing, I also greatly value the other goals outlined by the City Council: an Equitable and Inclusive/Informed Community, an Efficient and Safe Transportation System, a Well Maintained Community, an Environmentally Sustainable and Resilient Community and Adequate Parks and Open Space. There has been continuity in the yearly work plans over the past few years and these goals will continue in 2023.
My educational background is in Political Science and I hold a B.A. from Roosevelt University, so I have developed a deep sense of civic duty. My goal as a City Councilor is to ensure that we have more members of our community actively participating in the public process at the end of my first term than we did at the beginning of my first term. I know that my fellow Councilors agree that we can accomplish so much in local government if we are able to work together efficiently and effectively with the community. I will always make myself available for a conversation over a coffee or a beer and am committed to being an active listener.
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
Message Line: set up in progress
d.stepina@cityofhoodriver.gov