Steve Hammerson & Zack Weiss | The Outlet Podcast

We're sitting down with Steve Hammerson candidate for Douglas County Commissioner, and Zackary Weiss, Roseburg City Council Ward 4. We get into why so many young people leave Douglas County and don’t come back, homelessness and the factors behind it, the long-standing gap between city and county government, trade and medical pathways that could keep more skilled workers local, the future of downtown, and how ordinary people can get a seat at the table. Both Steve and Zack found their way into local government in ways they probably didn’t expect. Zack talks about leaving a council meeting feeling unheard, then remembering something he tells his own child: if something matters enough to be upset about, it matters enough to try to change it. Steve shares how wanting a greater voice in the direction of his kids’ school district eventually led him to run for the school board. The conversation also gets personal. Zack talks about years spent hitchhiking and living out of a backpack, and how those experiences influence the way he looks at homelessness today. They talk about the volunteers behind projects many people assume are funded by government, including Roseburg’s downtown Christmas lights. And they talk about how surprisingly accessible local government can be, including what it means when a city council race can be decided by roughly a thousand votes. Whether you agree, disagree, or simply want to better understand the people involved in shaping our community, this is the kind of conversation The Outlet was made for.