Businessman will join Forest Grove City Council

Tom BeLusko, Jr. is picked to fill the vacant council seat Monday

By John Schrag

The Forest Grove News-Times, Oct 12, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

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“I want to make sure our city’s interests are protected,” he said, “not just for three years, but for 20 and beyond.”

BeLusko, who stressed his business background during his presentation earlier in the evening, was selected by the councilors who ranked their top three choices from among the pool of applicants. Tom Beck, the who chairs the city’s planning commission, received the second-highest vote, followed by Jonathan Kipp, the marketing director for a Portland medical clinic.

“I’m glad we had as many candidates as we did step forward,” said Councilor Victoria Lowe said just before the vote on Truax’s successor. “It made it a very difficult decision.”

Lowe and other councilors said they hoped that the other applicants would find other ways to participate in city matters. “We look forward to hearing from you again,” said Councilor Camille Miller.

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Reader comments

Re: Businessman will join Forest Grove City Council

I want to congratulate Tom. As I said to him in person tonight (and said to myself from the beginning) --- IF NOT ME....YOU!

Tom is going to bring a new voice, a new perspective and a new life experience that can only enhance the council.

From the beginning my goal was to promote the idea that the council needed to be more representative of the people in Forest Grove. And tonight the council took a giant step forward to that end. Tom has two young kids, a challenging job and (presumably) a mortage, AND he's involved in his community -- trying to make it a better place.

That's my kind of city councilor!

Of course, I hoped to win the seat tonight. I am encouraged to finish 3rd though. I think it subtly sends a message that things are about to change in Forest Grove. Business-as-usual is likely to come to an end soon.

I'm enthusiastic about Tom's tenure as councilor. I think he'll be a fantastic voice for our community.

Congratulations Councilor Belusko!

Jonathan Kipp