Mike Benefield

Candidate for Cannon Beach City Council.

Retired consulting engineer. Rocket engine development engineer, engineering projects manager, corporate planning and development executive.

Education: Bachelor of Science, mechanical engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology. Master of Business Administration and Finance, University of Chicago.

President of the Cannon Beach City Council. Four years on the Cannon Beach Planning Commission.

I am running for council to help preserve the character and quality that makes Cannon Beach such a desirable place to live.

Tourism is important to Cannon Beach, but we must nurture a healthy relationship between community and tourism. As visitors continue to arrive in ever-greater numbers, they place a strain on residents and infrastructure. Neither our visitors nor our residents will be able to enjoy the beauty and serenity Cannon Beach offers if this growth continues unabated.

Transient rental tax funds should be used less for tourism promotion and more for enhancing the quality of visitors’ experiences through public art, trails and bike paths, improved beach access, public restrooms, and other tourism-related facilities. I support development of the former school site as an art, environmental and cultural center for public education, recreation, and events.

Cannon Beach needs affordable rental properties for people who live and work here supporting our economy. The council needs to stimulate availability of affordable long-term rentals.

Cannon Beach is consistently listed in the top 10 best places to visit. I will work to keep that recognition, but also work to see that Cannon Beach continues to be the best place to live.

During the past nine years that I have been in public service for Cannon Beach, there have been three city managers, two interim city managers, three city planning directors, four public works directors, two police chiefs and three finance directors. By running for a second term I hope to provide some continuity in the management of city affairs. I will strive to provide wise and thoughtful direction and support for our excellent, dedicated administration and staff.

There are many great ideas for what the city should do and how it should be done. It is paramount that the City Council, with input from the citizens, establish priorities and consensus for prudent, cost-effective management of the city’s assets and operations. My background and experience in corporate business and public service qualifies me for this task.

I will continue to promote policies that nurture a healthy balance between the needs of a vibrant community and a healthy tourism economy. I will encourage better cooperation and communication between the city and the Chamber of Commerce. This will require a clear definition of the role and responsibilities of the city and the Chamber of Commerce for budgeting and promotion.

I believe the city should be more proactive with how transient rental tax funds are used. I will push for greater flexibility in their applications. I would like to see a lesser percentage required for tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities (currently 70 percent) and a greater percentage for use by the city (currently 30 percent) to supplement the general fund.

A more balanced approach would enable the city to provide public improvements that would benefit visitors and residents alike. Everyone would benefit from public art, trails and bike paths, improved beach access, public restrooms, and a community and events center.

I support the affordable housing goal. I favor allowing park model homes in the RV Park, permitting multi-family housing at Southwind, limiting the number of short-term rental permits, and eliminating the nightly rental permit lottery in order to provide long-term housing for people who live and work here supporting our economy.