Meet Dick Schouten

At the age of four, my family migrated from the Netherlands to California. Growing up in Fresno, on the outskirts of farm country, my father moonlighted as a gardener and I worked with him from 4th grade through my college years. This experience taught what it means to run a small family business and the importance of good customer relations.

After graduating from Santa Clara University and UCLA Law School I worked in a number of smaller law firms, primarily representing local governments.

In 1992, my wife Karen, our two daughters and I moved to Washington County Oregon. Throughout the 90's I practiced law and lead several efforts to improve my West Beaverton neighborhood. My work included successfully representing a group known as "Make Our Park Whole" in obtaining in 2000 a 22-acre addition to the Tualatin Hills Nature Park (now known as South Woods).

In June of 2000, I was elected to the Washington County Board of Commissioners, representing the Aloha, Beaverton and Cooper Mountain area.

In this role I have:

• Been primarily responsible for creating a 30-acre wooded, hilltop-park linked to the Regional Westside Trail;
• Drafted and secured passage of an ordinance reducing youth access to tobacco
• Helped fund numerous road, bike and sidewalk projects including a third lane on parts of Highway 26; and
• Lead in Washington County's recent pioneering efforts to end family homelessness in 10 Years.

I am running for re-election for Washington County Commissioner District 1 because I have the experience, skills, disposition, flexibility and passion to best represent the District as we grapple with the extraordinary challenges we face.

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