Kelly Horsford announces run for Tualatin City Council

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Kelly Horsford
Kelly Horsford
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Tualatin Budget Committee member Kelly Horsford has thrown her name in the hat for the City Council currently occupied by outgoing Council President Nancy Grimes. Grimes is not seeking re-election in November.

“I hope to have the opportunity to promote and support our dynamic city while ensuring sound decisions are made regarding affordable housing availability, the preservation of areas to experience out-of-doors activities within our parks, as well as help cultivate a communal place for people to live, gather, shop, and enjoy community events,” she said in a statement announcing her candidacy.

The near-life-long Tualatin resident is a healthcare professional who worked as a nurse at OHSU, and a serial volunteer, who’s held multiple leadership positions on the Byrom Elementary PSO, where she spearheaded the effort to renovate the school’s aging playground and founded the non-profit Edward Byrom School Garden.

“I saw a need for the students and community at Byrom,” she said. “The other Tualatin elementary schools had school gardens, and Byrom needed one, too.”

Horsford, who characterizes herself as “a community builder by nature,” drew on her experience serving in AmeriCorps to create the outdoor learning area and remains active as the non-profit’s board president.

“My career in healthcare combined with personal experience has afforded a lot of advocacy work. In addition, I’m inclined to look at things through a holistic lens, recognizing that systems are integrated and connected,” she said.

For Tualatin, that means addressing challenges such as increasing traffic congestion that comes with rapid growth.

“Traffic has always been a hot button,” she said. “I’m interested in engaging with residents and business owners as active projects expand our city. The traffic light at the intersection of Martinazzi and Sagert was a welcomed addition.”

Horsford’s family moved to the city when she was three years old.

She and her husband are the parents of two Hazelbrook Middle School daughters, two cats and three dogs.

“I love raising our family where I grew up. Tualatin is a great place to live. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve the city that raised me,” she said.