Hi, I’m Micki Varney
I’ve always been a very analytical and pragmatic person, driven by a passion for fairness and community connection and a love for the outdoors. As a math and science teacher in my early career, I taught in a small town in Idaho that had a tight-knit community and a beautiful rural area to explore. In 1992, I was hired as a research biologist for a 2-year project investigating Chinook Salmon passage through the four Lower Snake River dams. I discovered that conducting research and collecting and analyzing the technical data to inform decisions was deeply gratifying.
I continued my fish passage research and went on to work as a researcher and hatchery evaluations biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Passionate about public service and participating in the community I live in, I became involved in the American Association of University Women (a national nonprofit that advocates for education and equity for women and girls in math and science) and have been an active member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 503) since 2010. I’ve always believed that membership in a community comes with a responsibility to advocate and to provide for the people around you.
I built a life with my family in Oregon, where I continued to pursue my passions at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, represented Oregon on a standing committee of the Pacific U.S.- Canada Salmon Commission, and served in leadership roles with AAUW and SEIU 503.
As a steward with SEIU, I stood up for others, called out injustice where I saw it, and elevated the voices of those too afraid to speak up. I've held people accountable to agreements they signed and negotiated settlements to ensure both sides came out ahead.
Leadership, to me, is about listening to and standing up for others. I’m not one to sit around and complain about issues. I’m always looking for solutions and am ready to jump in wherever I’m needed.I’m deeply committed to West Salem and have loved every opportunity I’ve had to contribute to the future of our community. In addition to countless volunteer hours on various community projects, I’ve served as Chair and Vice Chair of the West Salem Neighborhood Association and Chair of the Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. As the Parks Committee Chair for the Neighborhood Association, I secured over $40,000 in grant funding for direct improvements to numerous West Salem parks.
My mind has always been drawn to math and science because of the way I see data. I follow an analytical approach when interpreting and understanding data and evidence. That’s why my recommendations and solutions are based on data and methods that have been proven to work. I bring this same mindset with me to the City Council, where I prioritize solutions rooted in data. We all know the City has limited resources, so it's imperative those resources work for us in the most efficient way possible. I’ve spent my life exploring the natural beauty of our world, fishing and hiking and learning and exploring. I see the adventure in a spreadsheet, the opportunity in data, and the possibilities in aspirations.
Throughout my career and life, I’ve approached challenges with creativity and hard work. I raised a family as the sole breadwinner, working multiple jobs, and when that wasn’t enough, I put food on the table by growing it in our garden and hunting or fishing for it. I’m proud to have raised two wonderful children who have also carried forward what I taught them about community. My daughter is married to a hazelnut farmer and is a nutritional consultant for families enrolled in Portland Public Schools’ Head Start program. My son is a police officer in a large city in Washington state. My three grandchildren are what drive me to work towards a better future for the next generations.
I’ve spent most of my life in rural communities, so community and family are one and the same for me. I’ve forged connections to my communities so that the work I do makes a difference for them. That’s what I’ve done in these past four years as your city councilor - work for you.