Washington County Mayors Rally Support for Pam Treece in Key County Chair Race
Washington County’s future hangs in the balance as Pam Treece wins a rare and forceful endorsement from the mayors of its two largest cities. Lacey Beaty, mayor of Beaverton, and Beach Pace, mayor of Hillsboro, issued a joint appeal today urging residents to vote for Treece in the upcoming county chair election.
The mayors described Treece as the only leader equipped to tackle pressing challenges that transcend city borders, including affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, and job creation. They highlighted her proven track record of building regional partnerships and delivering concrete solutions that serve all Washington County residents.
Housing and Community Impact at the Forefront
Treece’s leadership on housing stands out as a cornerstone of her candidacy. She played a pivotal role in the creation of thousands of new affordable homes countywide, notably The Opal in Cedar Mill — a housing development specifically designed to be LGBTQIA+ friendly. Her work goes beyond new construction, focusing on preserving existing affordable homes to ensure long-term stability.
“Affordable housing demands partnership across sectors,” the mayors emphasized, noting how Treece bridged the county, local churches, and nonprofit affordable housing groups to bring these projects to life. The collaboration helped secure necessary resources and community trust, setting a strong example for future work.
Behavioral Health and Addiction Services Expanded Under Treece
Treece also championed the Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT), which opened last year to provide comprehensive services for behavioral health and substance use disorders. The center’s innovative wraparound care includes onsite housing and medical support focused on helping people regain stability and hope.
According to the endorsing mayors, Treece’s role in securing additional funding and statewide backing proved crucial to making CATT a success — a vital service in a county grappling with a growing need for behavioral health resources.
Economic Leadership for Working Families
With an economy facing uncertainty, Treece’s history as executive director of the Westside Economic Alliance underscores her ability to unify businesses, labor, and governments. During the pandemic, she spearheaded efforts to establish recovery centers that helped small businesses survive and workers get the assistance they need.
Local officials noted that Treece’s collaborative approach is essential as Washington County seeks to grow good-paying jobs and stabilize families struggling to meet basic needs.
Bridging City-County Divides for Results
While cities and the county often disagree, the mayors pointed out, the public demands leaders who deliver results rather than conflict. They assured voters that Treece is uniquely skilled in overcoming divisions to find common ground, a quality demonstrated repeatedly during her tenure as county commissioner.
This widespread support extends beyond Beaverton and Hillsboro. Treece is also endorsed by 11 Washington County mayors from cities including Sherwood, Tualatin, Forest Grove, and Cornelius — a rare coalition underscoring the high stakes of this May’s race.
Lacey Beaty and Beach Pace stated,
“Pam Treece is the leader Washington County needs to navigate this moment of tight budgets and growing community needs. We urge every resident to vote for her to secure a thriving future for our county.”
Why This Election Matters Now
As affordable housing shortages deepen, addiction and behavioral health crises escalate, and economic stability remains precarious, Washington County’s leadership choice couldn’t be more urgent. The May race for county chair will determine who steers critical policy and resources through these challenges.
For voters across Washington County and beyond, Sunday’s decision offers a clear choice: continue with proven collaboration and action through Pam Treece, or risk setbacks in tackling the county’s most complex problems.
Stay tuned to The Delaware Herald for full election coverage and updates as the race intensifies.
