Working Lands Policy Director
Jim has a long and distinguished career as land use planner in Oregon and Washington State. His professional career has bridged local, state, and regional perspectives, including 28 years as the Land Use and Water Planning Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Agriculture. He has also held positions with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, the Columbia River Gorge Commission, Wasco County, and Klickitat County (in Washington). Jim is widely recognized as an expert in issues related to the protection of working lands. Since his early days as a local government planner, Jim’s focus has been on land use issues relating to agriculture and forest lands.
Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, Jim grew up in and around agriculture. Jim earned a MA in geography from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a BS from Western Oregon University. Jim enjoys gardening, as directed by his wife, Cheryl, spending time with his two granddaughters, and continuing his quest to break 80 on the golf course. He is also an elected board member of the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District and the Rivergrove Water District.