Housing people can actually afford
Working families, seniors, and young people should be able to live in the community they grew up in or chose. That means honest conversations about supply, zoning, and stability — not slogans.
Hazel Dell neighbor · systems builder · civic participant
Practical systems. Local service. Clear thinking.
I’m Justin Oberg, a Hazel Dell / Vancouver resident focused on building better systems — in software, logistics, small business operations, and local civic life.
About
A neighbor who works on systems for a living.
I live in the Vancouver / Hazel Dell area with my family. Most of my career has been spent working on practical systems — the kind of unglamorous tools and processes that quietly determine whether things actually work for people.
By trade, I’m a software developer and systems builder with a background in logistics, data, IT, and operations. I’m interested in how local institutions can be more practical, responsive, and transparent — and how everyday neighbors can have a clearer voice in the decisions that affect their streets, schools, and small businesses.
I believe good civic work starts with the simple things: listening, showing up, reading the actual documents, and helping people find honest, workable next steps.
A few quick facts
- Hazel Dell / Vancouver, WA resident
- Software developer and systems architect
- Background in logistics, IT, data, and operations
- Independent-minded, locally focused
- Believes in showing up and doing the homework
Local Priorities
What I pay attention to in our community.
These are the everyday issues I think most about as a neighbor and a builder of systems.
Safe streets, roads, and public spaces
Safe sidewalks, well-maintained roads, and parks people actually want to use are the foundation of a healthy neighborhood. Public safety should feel calm, consistent, and accountable.
Small business and local economic resilience
Local shops, trades, and small employers are what make a place feel like itself. They deserve a regulatory environment that is fair, predictable, and not quietly hostile to people who actually do the work.
Practical, transparent local government
Most residents don’t want drama from city hall — they want clear information, real responsiveness, and decisions that can be explained in plain English. That bar is achievable.
Work
What I actually do during the day.
The short version: I help people make messy operations easier to understand and run.
River Mountain Systems
River Mountain Systems is my independent practice for internal tools, workflow software, and practical automation — the kind of work that helps organizations move from spreadsheets and tribal knowledge into something more durable.
My background spans IT, transportation, event logistics, data systems, and software engineering. The throughline is the same in each: take a messy, human process, understand it honestly, and design a system that respects how the work actually happens.
Precinct 427
Hazel Dell Precinct 427 notes.
Most problems people feel every day are local before they are national: housing, traffic, public safety, small business pressure, schools, parks, and trust in institutions. My approach in Precinct 427 is the same one I use everywhere else — listen carefully, understand the system, and help people find practical next steps.
Local issues that matter here
- NE 99th Street / Highway 99 Traffic, crossings, small business pressure, and transit changes.
- Housing and renters Rent pressure, apartment maintenance, parking, and clear lines of communication with property owners.
- Tenny Creek / Swan Pond area Open space, drainage, maintenance, and walkability.
- Transparent local government Helping residents understand county decisions before they’re already decided.
What I’m paying attention to
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Sidewalk continuity, curb cuts, and lighting along NE 99th — uneven block-to-block in a way that doesn’t show up on a county map.
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Road conditions, crosswalk timing, and the storefront mix along NE 99th and Highway 99 between Hazel Dell Ave and the Salmon Creek interchange.
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Drainage, trail surface, and signage on the public path along Tenny Creek — small maintenance items that quietly determine whether a green space gets used.
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The small commercial corners — neighborhood markets, salons, repair shops — that quietly anchor blocks of Hazel Dell.
I’m focused on my precinct and the things that affect daily life here. My goal is simple: listen to neighbors, understand what is actually happening locally, and help make local government easier to understand.
Live in Precinct 427 and want to share a concern? Email hello@justinoberg.com.
Contact
Get in touch.
The best way to reach me is by email. I read what neighbors send.