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Greg Malinowski in the News
The Malinowski Double-Decker Bus
Have you spotted the British double-decker bus around town pomoting Greg's election? You can't miss it!
Greg Malinowski endorsed by the Oregonian
Greg has received the endorsement from the Oregonian
"...we were most impressed with Greg Malinowski, who finished about 11 points behind Niehuser in the four-way race. Malinowski, who operates an organic farm at the Multnomah County line, has an impressive grasp of Washington County's history and operations. He is knowledgeable about many subjects, especially those relating to the county's signature issue -- the pressures and conflicts arising from population growth."
All members of the Beaverton School District Board Endorse Greg
Oct 2, 2010
All members of the Beaverton School District Board have independantly endorsed Greg Malinowski for District 2 Commissioner.
WE DID IT!
May 19, 9 am
Here are the results as of 5 am today -- there's not been another update since then so I think this is final -- we will go on to the November election against Niehuser!
Well done everyone! When you think of the money that we were up against, our results are really impressive and show us that there are plenty of folks out there who are ready for change. The next few months will give us the chance to really tell our story and point out the differences between our candidate and the opponent.
The team is meeting this morning to start working on the plan for the months ahead. Stay tuned, and keep talking to ALL your friends and neighbors about how we can preserve our beautiful county and still make it work for everyone.
County Commissioner District 2
| Mike Niehuser | 7,416 |
44.32% |
| Jason Yurgel | 1,745 |
10.43% |
| Greg Malinowski | 5,383 |
32.17% |
| Michael Matousek | 2,128 |
12.72% |
| WRITE-IN | 59 |
35% |
The Oregonian endorses Malinowski for District 2 in the primary!
April 15, 2010
“The other race, for the District 2 seat being vacated by Desari Strader, is wide open, with four relative newcomers vying to win the 50 percent-plus-one needed to win in May. None is particularly well-known, so voters would benefit from a runoff that would pit organic farmer Greg Malinowski against legal investigator and longtime public defender Jason Yurgel. They have the most well-rounded experience and skills to serve the district... And Malinowski deserves the edge.”
Read the article: PDF link
Students at Terra Nova grow a farm and a unique produce business
It's late October, the last day of the first season. Farmer Greg Malinowski, who farms nearby and who helped plow up the sod last year, is back. He tills under any plants still left standing. Instead of pottery pieces, the ground looks sifted. The till moves it like an electric mixer stirring dry chocolate cake mix. It's a testament to Hudak and the students -- and to the power of chicken manure, donated by Stutzman Environmental Products in Canby and the ZooDoo fertilizer from the Oregon Zoo -- to amend and fertilize.
The fall farm crew stops to watch Malinowski churn their year's work back into the ground. Student Mike Morton -- the once reluctant farmer -- stands there longest -- and says he's not sad to see the farm go because he knows its soul is still there. Then he holds out his digital camera to snap a picture of himself with the farm in the backdrop. PDF link
Renting helps new farmers grow their business
And last year Friends of Family Farmers started ifarmoregon.org, a Web site that links landowners with farmers. Knaus said the organization has far more people looking for land in the metro area than landowners hoping to rent, but the site has helped people such as Greg Malinowski, who runs Malinowski Farm near Portland's West Hills with his brothers.
Their father bought the land in the 1940s, Malinowski said, and for decades, his sons have worked on the farm. Eventually, they grew tired or too busy, he said, to tend the entire farm. But they want to keep their organic farm active and profitable, so they lease land to new farmers. The Malinowski rental agreement is unique: Instead of a flat fee, farmers pay a percent of their earnings to the Malinowskis. Infrastructure upgrades are done together. "If they have a bad year, we suffer.
If they have a good year, we do, too," he said. "It makes sure we keep an eye on things. It makes sure they have the things they need like irrigation or field help."
That setup could work for other farmers, who, like Malinowski, are inching toward retirement. The average age of an Oregon farmer is 57, Friends of Family Farmers says, and renting could maintain their land. PDF link
Beaverton Valley Times puts Greg on the front page!
click the image to read it (PDF file)
This is the speech that Greg delivered at the Washington County Public Affairs Forum on March 8, 2010.
My name is Greg Malinowski. I have lived, worked, and farmed in and around Washington County most of my life. I was raised on, and now co-manage a 60 acre organic farm that straddles the Washington/Multnomah county line.
My government activity includes over 25 years of involvement in the Citizen Participation Organization, the county’s outreach program. I also worked on the formation of the Bethany Urban Plan, and participated when possible in the North Bethany Plan.
We have 3 key issues that I think will be of the utmost importance to the citizens of Washington County in the next few years. And they’re all about using our resources wisely, for people.
1. Growth Management
We have around 100,000 new neighbors coming to Wash Co in the next few decades. We can close our eyes and wish it wasn’t happening… or we can work to protect our property values and enhance our quality of life.
Either we manage the growth or the growth manages us.
We need walking/biking systems that are as interconnected as our road systems and they do not always have to be right where our roads are. They can be shorter and more direct, and safe. We need to connect each neighborhood, commercial area and school, and with strands that reach into industrial areas. They need to lead to transit hubs as well as small pocket parks and natural areas that provide places neighbors can meet. This would be more respectful of our resources than building new and bigger roads. We need to start now including this connectivity with each new housing, commercial and industrial area that is built.
2. Jobs
How good can your quality of life be if you don’t have a job?
80% of all jobs are coming from small business. They are the economic engine that makes everything we do possible. We need Washington County to be more helpful to small business success by creating an atmosphere that allows them to thrive. For example, when it comes to permitting requirements, why can’t more of the filing and submitting copies and drawings be done electronically?
The county should not be harder to work with for a small business person than any other supplier of services they need. If the business person is not sure what he or she needs, then county clerks should be advocates to help them walk through the system.
There will be thousands of new opportunities when our new neighbors get here. Malinowski Farms is growing very well. We supply organic grass-fed beef, and organic land and services for market farmers. Growing food and protecting food security for all the folks who will live in Washington County will be just one of the many new opportunities that will spring up in the coming years.
We need to look at future opportunities for job creation and business growth with fresh eyes and encourage businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.
3. Healthy Neighborhoods
Washington County needs healthy neighborhoods. Clean air, safe water, and connectivity not just for autos, but for bikes, and walkers must be required. Our large 50s and 60s-era subdivisions were built when nobody was thinking that we would need to save oil and provide alternative transit options. We must find creative ways to connect our neighborhoods for pedestrians and cyclists, whether they're getting fresh air and exercise, or going to work or shopping.
We need to build sidewalks around our schools for safe access. An example: There are children who live less than 1200 feet from schools in this county who have to be transported to school by bus, because the County did not require a path. Is it using our resources wisely to hire a bus and driver to make that trip 2-3 times a day?
We need more parks and libraries, places for people to gather in our town centers, paths along protected streams and natural areas and small parks for families to play with their kids.
The true measure of a healthy neighborhood is value. Are property values stable and increasing because your neighborhood is a pleasant and safe place to live? Are we adding value to both our lives and our bottom line?
We need to pay attention to the use of our resources. We can not cure housing and job issues by throwing more vacant land at them, and hoping things just work out. We must allocate our taxes in ways that get more value for each dollar.
Blight in our existing urban areas must be upgraded before we add new areas and reduce the land resources we will need for food, fuel, and fiber in the coming years.
I would appreciate your vote and support between now and May 18. Thank you for your time.