About Michael

Michael Hammons, a proud 64-year resident of Oregon, is stepping forward to serve as a new voice for the people. Having spent decades as a trusted realtor and a 25-year veteran of city design and planning advocacy, I have built a life rooted in Oregon’s communities. His candidacy is based on practical experience, community dedication, and the vision to create lasting change.

I believe it is time to prioritize the everyday needs of Oregonians, not special interests. He is not a career politician. I am a neighbor, a planner, and a fighter for common-sense solutions. As a retired realtor, I know how important housing stability and community development are. As an advocate for city design, I understand what it takes to create vibrant, thriving communities.

Key Campaign Focus Areas:

1. Education:
I have a bold plan to improve Oregon’s public education system by significantly raising teacher salaries and updating school facilities statewide. - Salary Increases: A proposed 20% increase in teacher salaries, from an average of $65,000 to $78,000 annually, benefiting approximately 31,000 teachers. This move would cost around $544 million annually but would dramatically improve teacher retention, recruitment, and student outcomes.
- Facility Repairs and Updates: Investing $625 million annually to address a $5.5 billion backlog in school repairs and modernization. This includes improved HVAC systems, seismic retrofitting, and up-to-date learning technologies.
- Combined, these investments in education total about $1.17 billion annually—an ambitious, but necessary move to elevate Oregon’s future.

2. Funding Transparency and Smart Budgeting:
- I propose leveraging Oregon’s robust economy to fund education through smart reallocation of the existing $10.2 billion biennial education budget.
- Pursue federal education grants and partnerships to support infrastructure upgrades without overburdening taxpayers.
- Support responsible revenue enhancements, like targeted corporate tax reforms, to ensure major corporations invest in Oregon’s children and communities.

3. Housing Affordability and Development:
- Streamlining city zoning and permitting to encourage affordable housing development.
- Incentivizing mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods that strengthen communities and reduce environmental impact.
- Supporting first-time homebuyers through state-level assistance programs.

4. Infrastructure Modernization:
- Championing smart investments in roads, bridges, and public transportation—essential for connecting Oregon’s rural and urban areas.
- Promoting green energy projects and infrastructure upgrades to move Oregon toward a more sustainable, economically thriving future.

5. Rural and Small Town Revitalization:
- I am committed to policies that empower rural Oregon, supporting broadband access, rural healthcare, and agricultural sustainability.
- Closing the urban-rural divide by ensuring that state policies fairly serve all communities, not just urban centers.

Impact on Oregonians:

- Higher teacher pay = better education = stronger economy in the long term.
- Safer, updated school facilities = healthier learning environments.
- Affordable housing policies = stronger, more stable families.
- Modernized infrastructure = better business climate and daily life improvements.
- Rural revitalization = ensuring every Oregonian shares in prosperity.
Michael Hammons’ campaign is built on real-world solutions, driven by a passion for making Oregon the best place to live, learn, work, and thrive. With your support, we can bring this vision to reality.