Invested in Cottage Grove
I grew up as a Harrison Bobcat, a Lincoln Tiger and a Cottage Grove Lion. We shopped at the Little Red store and ate Pizza at Pinocchio’s after football games. I am passionate about this City. I want to keep Cottage Grove safe for our kids and a place our grandparents would recognize.
FIGHT BACK AGAINST DRUGS: When I was young, there were strong campaigns against drugs. The fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and alcohol problem doubled Cottage Grove’s overdose rate from 2021 to 2022. That statistic is heartbreaking and unacceptable. I believe, if we work together as a community, we can create campaigns for our youth to stay off drugs. We must also encourage and make treatment accessible.
LAW AND ORDER: Oregon has been too lenient on drugs, theft and violent crime. I will work to form a rural, small town mayor’s coalition. What works for Portland/Eugene does not always work for us. We can bring safety back to our neighborhoods and schools through collaboration.
COMPASSION WITH ACCOUNTABILITY: A low-barrier homeless shelter is not the answer and I voted against it. The shelter in Cottage Grove will have no criminal background checks, no drug testing and people may enter under the influence. Residents will not be required to participate in programs of any kind. “Everything this shelter is offering was already available to homeless people in Cottage Grove,” said a two-year unhoused Cottage Grove resident.
Instead, I advocate for a treatment first/ Community first model. I know it’s hard to believe but we do not have drug or alcohol treatment available in Cottage Grove. Our mental health clinics are under-staffed and patients sometimes wait months for appointments. I have been vocal about my fear of growing our unhoused problem from the surrounding areas, with the addition of a shelter. I was told that the “build it, they will come” statement is a fallacy. We now have so many coming from Eugene, that our local homeless are fighting with them … saying, “the new shelter belongs to us” and “we’ve earned it.”
TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT: Many citizens of Cottage Grove have lost trust in THEIR city government. Transparency can restore faith. I will advocate for old-fashioned quarterly town halls. It is our civic duty, as elected officials, to be YOUR voice and vote accordingly.
Candace Lamb Solesbee
Age: What? Who asks that? OK, shhh … 53
Hometown: Cottage Grove girl through and through.
Marital Status: Married
Partner occupation: Division chief/fire Marshal Danny.
Children: Two adult sons and an adult daughter, went to public school. We have two granddaughters, 13 and 7, enrolled at Harrison Elementary and Lincoln Middle school.
Neighborhood: We made our home, upstairs in the old 1911 First National Bank building downtown.
Facebook: Candace Solesbee for City Mayor
Party: Republican; however, this is a nonpartisan municipal government. I would represent all citizens.
Education: Kindergarten at the Cottage Grove Armory; Harrison Elementary; Lincoln Middle; Cottage Grove High; Cosmetology Creative Institute of Design
Occupation: Owner of Five Flying Monkeys Antiques and Shampoo Dolls Salon
Public sector work: City councilor Ward 3 2018-22; CG Chamber board, 2014- 20 – vice president in 2016; president in 2017; Current Chamber advisor; Past advisor EBID; advisor, Downtown Cottage Grove; past member of Mural Committee; past vice president Budget Committee; past president, budget Committee; past ArtWalk Committee member; Animal House parade coordinator; Animal House 40-year anniversary Toga Party Committee member.
Private sector work: I opened my first business at the age of 21. Since then, I have owned seven more businesses. I originally wanted to be on City council to give the business community more of a voice and make sure the city had good fiscal oversight … event coordinator with Scaeva Technologies.
Elected offices: Councilor Ward 3 2018-22
