The Oregon Transportation Commission, an influential group appointed by the Governor to establish state transportation policy, will welcome two new members at the end of this month.
Legislators in Salem voted yesterday to approve the nominations of Mark Frohnmayer and Tammy Baney.
Frohnmayer is the son of former University of Oregon President David Frohnmayer. The younger Frohnmayer is a former video game programmer and entrepreneur who is now the president of Eugene-based electric vehicle (EV) company Arcimoto. Frohnmayer is also on the board of Drive Oregon, an EV initiative that is partially funded by the State of Oregon.
During confirmation hearings in the Senate Rules Committee on June 2nd, Frohnmayer faced questions from lawmakers about how his ties to Arcimoto, and his position as a Drive Oregon board member, might be a conflict of interest as an OTC member.
When asked by Senator Lee Beyer about that conflict, Frohnmayer said he’d already notified Drive Oregon that he would step down from his board position if he became appointed to the OTC.
During his testimony to the Senate Rules Committee, Frohnmayer said he’ll use his transportation experience at Arcimoto to “build efficiency not just in getting people from A to B, but in looking at the system on the whole.” Learn more about Frohnmayer in this Oregon Business magazine profile.
Tammy Baney has a background in health and human services, is a Deschutes County Commissioner and was recently named Vice President of the Oregon Association of Counties. Sources in Salem tell us her understanding of how transportation choices impact public health will be a huge asset to the OTC.
In her testimony in front of the Senate Rules Committee, Baney stressed her experience working with rural communities. “I’m hoping to provide a blending of urban and rural issues,” she told lawmakers. Learn more about Baney here.
Frohnmayer and Baney will replace OTC members Michael Nelson and Alan Brown.
I decided I don’t like electric cars. They are fish grinders that belch coal exhaust. And they perpetuate the biggest problem – car MENTALITY.
Not to mention everlasting nuclear waste & probable meltdowns.