Candidate Links

Haylee Cole is the youngest candidate running for Florence City Council. At 21, she is nearly a decade younger than the next youngest of the 11 candidates. She sees her age as an asset. She can be a role model to other young residents. “I think being able to run as a 21-year-old can be an example for other people my age and younger,” she said. 

Cole was born in Florence. Her parents moved to the city in 2005, when Haylee was born, to take over the family business, BJ’s Ice Cream Parlor. Growing up in a family-owned business taught her the lesson that you show up even when it’s hard, she said. And it instilled in her the importance of service. “I want to volunteer. I want to help out as much as I can. And throughout the years of school and even after school, I just continued to volunteer,” Cole said. 

In 2024, she was crowned Miss Oregon Teen Volunteer. She is a board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County, and, according to her website, “a cheerleading coach, a Siuslaw WyldLife leader, and is an active member of Cross Road Assembly of God.”

After graduating from Siuslaw High School, Cole decided to stay in Florence. “I didn’t go to college, but I decided to get my real estate license. And so I’m working as a real estate agent now,” she said. And just last year Cole bought a house, which she called one of her biggest accomplishments.

Running for the city council is a way for her to begin to get involved in government and be a voice for her generation.  “I wanted to start inching my way into government stuff. I think it’s a great way to learn.” 

Cole thinks the city can do a better job of communicating what it does. And improve the permitting process. “I think the permit process as well needs some help. Just because a lot of people are confused about applying for permits,” she said. “I believe we can also try and figure out ways to lower the fees, lower the restrictions depending on what the restriction is.” She looks forward, if elected, to studying the codes, she said. 

The city needs more workforce housing. “A lot of younger families don’t qualify for low-income housing because they have jobs. They work,” Cole said. Grants could be used to help keep costs down. “I think that there’s grants for almost everything,” she said.  “And I think it would be great for the city to look into that.”

And more better-paying jobs are needed, Cole said. “Long-term jobs for families to be able to stay in town.”

Cole thinks the city is doing a great job with sidewalks and roads, though there is always room for improvement. She wants the city to keep moving forward while also maintaining its small-town charm. “I don’t personally want to see us turn into Eugene, where you see five-story buildings around.”

“Florence is a great, great town,” Cole said.  I think we can just try and maintain that and also grow the places where it needs to grow.”