Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES)

Craig Pope

Inducted in
2024

Polk County Oregon

County Commissioner

https://www.co.polk.or.us/

Photo of Craig Pope

Biographical Abstracts

  • Born and raised in the Willamette Valley and grew up on the family grass seed farm.
  • Married to Dina 41 years and have 4 children and 12 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.
  • 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. Re-elected 2014, 2018 and 2022.
  • 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.
  • Active member of National Association of Counties (NACo) and serve on two significant committees there to represent Polk County and all of Oregon.
  • Active member of a 4-county workforce development board and serve as the Chief Elected Official on that board.
  • Appointed to the state Workforce and Talent Development Board to represent workforce pipeline and resource needs for 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.

Areas of Expertise

  • Local government finance and management
  • Economic Development
  • Workforce and talent development
  • Legislative policy
  • Natural resource policy