For Immediate Release: September 21, 2004
Contact: Daniel Eisenbeis, Staff Planner, (503)497-1000

1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS

Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan, Activist Shelley Wetherell Honored

Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan and Douglas County citizen activist Shelley Wetherell are the winners of 1000 Friends of Oregon's 2004 Annual Citizens Awards. The annual awards honor elected officials and citizens who have worked-in the words of 1000 Friends founder, the late Governor Tom McCall-to keep Oregon "livable and lovable."

"The awards honor citizens who have distinguished themselves through their dedication to making Oregon a better place to live, both today and in the future." said Bob Stacey, Executive Director of 1000 Friends.

The 2004 awards both honor Oregonians who have worked to provide vision in land use planning issues.

Local Official of the Year: Charlotte Lehan, Mayor of Wilsonville. Since joining the Wilsonville City Council in 1991, Charlotte has provided leadership on a number issues. Most recently, Charlotte was instrumental in the effort to prevent expansion of the Metro Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) south of the Willamette River. According to Charlotte, it is important that the UGB recognize the natural boundary and she continues to work for establishment of permanent parameters to the UGB. Mayor since 1996, Charlotte also helped develop Wilsonville's original Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, she is founder of Friends of Goal Five, a Wilsonville environmental group.

"Mayor Lehan has consistently asked for good planning not only to protect Wilsonville but to protect the entire Willamette Valley and all its communities and farms," said Bob Stacey. "We are pleased to have the chance to present someone of Mayor Lehan's skills and commitment with our Local Official of the Year Award."

Other nominees for Local Official of the Year included Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, Albany City Councilor Sharon Konopa, and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson.

Citizen Activist of the Year: Shelley Wetherell. Shelley Wetherell is a founding member and current board member of Friends of Douglas County. She has been a regular visitor to the County Planning department, monitoring development applications that affect farm and forest lands. Shelley has often stood alone testifying before the County Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners either opposing or proposing changes to proposed developments, and has successfully appealed numerous county decisions to LUBA. During the past year she has won successful LUBA remands that forced significant changes to a proposed destination resort. As one of one of Friends of Douglas County's members noted, Shelley is a born leader with a deep dedication to protecting her community both in terms of livability and economic sustainability. Shelley and her husband have a vineyard and a farm on which they raise sheep and trees.

"Like our land use planning process, Shelley has stood the test of time by regularly attending planning meetings, often as the lone voice for citizens," noted Bob Stacey, "Her perseverance has helped keep Douglas County a desirable place to live and has kept our forests productive. "

Also nominated were Manton Carl and family of Woodburn/Marion County, Nancy Knoche of Powell Butte, Nena Lovinger of Lane County, and Ken Maddox and the Hood River Valley Residents' Committee.

1000 Friends honored all the nominees at the organization's annual citizens' conference on September 11th in Corvallis.

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