Who I Am

My name is Patrick Kirby, and I'm running for Washington County Commissioner because I believe we deserve leadership that treats causes, not symptoms.

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I work as a physical therapy technician, where I've learned that real healing doesn't come from managing pain—it comes from identifying and addressing what's actually broken. That same principle should guide county government.

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I've lived in Washington County for four years and married into a family with deep roots here. This isn't just where I live—it's my community, and I'm committed to making it better for everyone.

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I'm running because:

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• We keep applying band-aids to systemic problems. Homelessness, substance abuse, economic insecurity—these aren't problems we can shelter or arrest our way out of. We need to address root causes.

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• Working families are struggling. Nearly one in three families in Washington County are employed but can't afford basic necessities. That's not their failure—that's our county's failure to create economic opportunity.

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• Our mental health system is broken. We used to have 24/7 crisis response. Now it only operates Monday through Friday, 9-5. Mental health crises don't wait for business hours.

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• We need fresh leadership. I'm not a career politician. I'm a healthcare worker, a community member, and someone willing to ask hard questions about how we've been doing things.