Commissioner Craig Pope

Commissioner Craig A. Pope

 

Short Bio for Polk County Commissioner Craig A. Pope

  • Born and raised in the Willamette Valley and grew up on the family grass seed farm.
  • Married to Dina 40 years and have 4 children and 11 grands.
  • Started a small manufacturing business in 1988 known as Agriweld Inc. Over the 22 plus years the business grew to supply agricultural solutions across the US and overseas.
  • Volunteered with the local Fire district as volunteer firefighter and Station Captain more than 25 years. Chaired the district volunteer firefighter association for 8 years and was directly responsible for fundraising and association management. Was awarded “Firefighter of the Year” in 1998.
  • Elected to the Fire District (PCFD#1) Board of Directors in 2003-2007. Served as Chair 2005-2006. Assisted in developing and passing a tax levy for upgrades to fire and ambulance apparatus and services.
  • Elected to Director of Oregon Volunteer Fire Fighters Association in 2000. Served 2 years as Vice President.
  • Became a Reserve police officer for the City of Philomath, Oregon after finishing top in my class in the Polk County Sheriffs Reserve Academy 1983. Served two years as a reserve police officer.
  • Elected to the Board of Directors of Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative 2005. Served as the Coop Vice-President until 2011.
  • Elected to Polk County Commissioner in 2010 and started service on January 3, 2011.
  • Elected by fellow Oregon Commissioners to serve as Treasurer and Executive Board member for Association of Oregon Counties in 2012 through 2016. Elected to First Vice President in 2017 and served as President in 2018.
  • Elected by fellow Oregon Commissioners to serve on the O&C (timber) Association in 2011 to present and hold office of Treasurer.
  • Active member of National Association of Counties (NACo) and serve on two significant committees there to represent Polk County and all of Oregon.  
  • Serve on many Boards and Commissions as Polk County Commissioner. Two of those Commissions appointed by Oregon Governors.
  • Very active at state legislature and trips to DC to advocate for Polk County and Oregon.

 

Commissioner Pope can be reached at the Board of Commissioners office at (503) 623-8173, or by email at pope.craig@co.polk.or.us.

Commissioner Pope is currently a member of the following boards and committees:

 

Regional, State, National

Association of Oregon Counties (AOC):

  • Past President November 2017-2018
  • Board member
  • Legislative Committee
  • Co-Chair Natural Resources

 

Association of O&C Counties Board (Federal Forest issues) Sec/Tres 2016-current
Council of Forest Trust Lands Counties (State Forests)
National Association of Counties (NACo):

  • Ag and Rural Affairs Steering Committee
  • Rural Action Caucus

 

Regional Solutions Mid-Willamette Advisory Committee (Governor appointment)
Oregon State Weed Board (Chair 2020-current)
North Willamette Research and Extension Center Advisory Council                        

OSU Extension Citizens Advisory Network (ECAN) representing Western Oregon Counties
Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) Board of Directors
Willamette Workforce Partners (Linn, Marion, Polk, Yamhill Counties Workforce Board)

NorthWest Senior and Disability Service (NWSDS) Board of Directors 

West Valley Hospital Foundation Board           
Polk County Ambulance Service Area Committee liaison

Dallas Economic Development Commission

 

Joint Committees

Polk County Board of Commissioners (Chair 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021)

Polk County Budget Committee

Mid-Willamette Jobs Council (Chair 2015-17 and 2019-current)

Polk County Extension Service Tax District Board (Chair 2011-current)
Grand Ronde Sanitary District Board (Chair 2011-current)

 

Civic Organizations

Dallas Chamber of Commerce
Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
West Salem Business Association
West Salem Little League sponsor