Candidate Statement: Dustin Nilsen (he/him/el)

What unique perspectives or strengths are you excited to bring to the board?
Working inside and outside of Oregon has broadened my perspective and given me experience to draw upon when facing complex issues. As a practicing planner in a small organization, my role grounds me and my team in the real lives of our community. That requires the ability to communicate and the ability to connect with people with diverse experiences, values, and expectations where they are.

Your aspiration for board membership
OAPA has the opportunity to support our state and profession as it navigates a changing and challenging environment. I aspire to serve on a board capable of providing wayfinding, representation, and leadership during this season.

Identify 1-2 topics you are most passionate about in the planning field.
Housing: Housing is the infrastructure of community.
Urban Design: Well-designed spaces promote safety, help shape or reflect our community identity, and are an external expression of our sense of place and belonging.

Your professional background-share how your experiences have shaped and guided your path in planning
With 25 years of Land Use experience at the local, county, and federal levels, I have served as Hood River’s Director of Planning and Zoning since 2017.

My professional planning work has focused on housing, regulatory and process improvements, downtown and mainstreet strategies, urban renewal, and urban design. Living and working in the Columbia River Gorge has given me a working knowledge of the Oregon Statewide Planning Program. I served as Vice President of the Oregon City Planning Directors Association.

I am an AICP-certified planner, have a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and a Bachelor’s degree in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences from the University of Iowa.

I have always been involved in art and music, and the power of creativity and story influences how I connect with community, how I evaluate my surroundings, and how I perceive and envision the spaces we live and visit.

Why do you love planning?
I have the opportunity to serve our community and be a champion for the places and people we love. I am tasked as a historian, steward, and visionary. If we are really successful, we can empower others to dream big and accomplish so much more. That is humbling.

What is the biggest challenge in the planning field right now?
Not unique to planning, the narrative and misconceptions around truth and trust are truly corrosive. Planning will be unable to retain its purpose as stewards of the public interest if it is not trusted to do so.

Share your favorite O/APA program(s) or resource(s)?
The efforts and investment in policy and advocacy are increasingly critical. As our state’s legislature continues to pursue regulatory reforms, sound recommendations based on experience and subject matter expertise serve as essential elements to good policy creation.

Your favorite book or podcast about planning?
I think “The 99% Invisible Breakdown: The Power Broker”, represents something rather special, as its producers were willing, and listeners required, to invest so much time and energy in the subject. This is a contrast to modern media trends often characterized by sound bites and snippets. I believe the willingness to build a relationship with the listener by sharing a complex and sometimes ugly story aligns with the virtues and challenges of planning.