NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: December 8, 2000
Contact: Randy Tucker, (503) 497-1000

1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS

Salem Developer Tony Nielsen, Columbia County Activist Mike Sheehan, Bend Councilor John Schubert Lead List

Salem developer Tony Nielsen, citizen activist Michael Sheehan of Columbia County, and Bend City Councilor John Schubert are the winners of 1000 Friends of Oregon’s 2000 Citizens Awards. The annual awards honor elected officials, developers, and citizens who have worked—in the words of 1000 Friends founder, the late Governor Tom McCall—to keep Oregon "livable and lovable."

"The success of Oregon’s pioneering land use planning program depends on the commitment of Oregonians to protecting our farm and forest land and building communities that we are proud to call home," said Evan Manvel, director of education and research for 1000 Friends. "These awards honor citizens who have distinguished themselves through their dedication to making Oregon a better place to live, both today and in the future."

2000 award winners include:

Developer of the Year: Tony Nielsen of Salem. Nielsen, owner of A.C. Land Use and Development Services, is noted for his efforts both as a developer and as a citizen activist. The award recognizes his work as project consultant for a row home infill project being planned in Salem. The development, within walking distance of downtown, takes advantage of nearby transit and parks, and each home has only a single-car garage. Nielsen was applauded for bringing "a dedicated, thoughtful activism to his everyday life."

Also nominated for Developer of the Year were Siuslaw Valley Bank for the redesign of their Florence facility and Lucy Lambkin and Tom Bowerman for Heron Place in Eugene.

Citizen Activist of the Year: Mike Sheehan, Columbia County. Sheehan was applauded for his efforts to protect citizen involvement, limit rural residential development and aggregate mining, and develop a good sign ordinance for the county. 1000 Friends’ Sid Friedman said he could be found "in the vanguard of any effort in Columbia County." Ironically, Sheehan was unable to accept the award in person, as he was busy working on the sign ordinance and preparing for Measure 7 hearings.

Also nominated were Debby Todd and Kathleen Sullivan of Florence, David Dowrie of Corvallis; Gene Martin of Jackson County; and Bob Bates of Bend.

Local Official of the Year: John Schubert. Bend City Councilor John Schubert has long been a voice for transportation choice, environmental protection, and well-designed development, and Bend is better for his efforts. The recent election of three more pro-planning city councilors gives Schubert some new allies in his work to reshape the future of the city. 1000 Friends’ Becky Steckler noted that after the election, "Councilor Schubert immediately set to work, calling on a wide spectrum of people for ideas and advice. That’s the sort of dedication and character that makes John an especially impressive representative of the people."

Other nominees for Local Official of the Year included Lindsay Berryman of Medford and Eileen McGregor of Florence.

1000 Friends honored all the nominees at the organization’s annual citizens’ conference on December 2nd. In announcing the awards, Manvel recalled the words of Governor Tom McCall: "Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are citizens who say, ‘This is my community, and it’s my responsibility to make it better.’"

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