Who is Kate Schwarzler beyond the title of Mayor? In this episode of Indy Central, I sit down with Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler to talk about the path that took her from growing up in tiny Alsea, Oregon, to landscape architecture, work around the country and overseas, entrepreneurship, economic development, and eventually the mayor's office in Independence. Kate talks about growing up in a graduating class of just 18 students, watching the economic challenges facing Oregon's timber communities, building businesses, teaching entrepreneurship at Western Oregon University, and the unlikely series of volunteer positions that eventually pulled her into local politics. We also talk about the future of Independence, growth and development, rural economic opportunity, the role of libraries and parks in a community, and what Kate hopes the city will look like 15 years from now. And, with Independence in the middle of an unusually contentious debate over parks, the library, museum, city finances and the community services fee, we spend part of the conversation discussing those issues as well—including the referendum, park closures, city debt, utility funds, deferred maintenance, SDCs, and why Kate believes the city is making the decisions it is making. Indy Central is a long-form interview podcast focused on the people who help shape Independence, Oregon—their lives, experiences, ideas and the paths that brought them here. Make sure to like and subscribe to support the channel!
