ANDY KIPP AND THE ASTORIA HOUSING ALLIANCE (Candidate for Astoria City Council)
Andy Kipp is president of the Astoria Housing Alliance, chief petitioner for the Vacancy Tax and the central financial supporter of Astoria Housing for All.
AHA describes itself as an Oregon nonprofit operating under Section 501(c)(4)—a form of organization permitted to engage substantially in lobbying and political advocacy.
Newly obtained records from the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting (ORESTAR) show that Kipp personally supplied at least:
• $4,441 in cash contributions
• $397.07 in reported in-kind support
• $4,838.07 altogether
That is approximately 69% of all cash and in-kind support itemized in the current export.
The records also reveal this sequence:
• June 30: The committee reported a $3,431 debt to Willamette Law Group.
• July 13: Kipp contributed exactly $3,431.
• July 15: The committee paid Willamette Law Group exactly $3,431 for “legal fees to resolve ballot title.”
In plain English: Andy Kipp personally supplied the money used to pay the campaign’s $3,431 ballot-title legal bill.
THE 180-DAY STATEMENT
On June 3, 2025, Kipp submitted legislative testimony on behalf of the Astoria Housing Alliance concerning SB 1095—a proposed Oregon law that would have authorized cities and counties to impose vacancy fees, potentially secured by liens against the affected homes. The bill did not pass. The complete AHA letter is linked in the Sources below.
The letter asserted that “many of the vacant properties in Astoria are only occupied for a weekend or two per year” and called an amendment classifying those properties as not vacant “surprising.”
AHA then urged lawmakers to return to a 180-day occupancy threshold, claiming that was:
“more consistent with our on-the-ground experience regarding the empty homes that proliferate our neighborhoods.”
The letter provided no physical property count, no address-level inventory, no survey methodology and no documentation establishing how many Astoria homes were actually occupied for only “a weekend or two per year.”
But it did reveal the policy position clearly: lawful personal use of a privately owned home for fewer than roughly six months per year should expose that property to government punishment.
DAN HUBNER
Astoria Housing for All identifies Dan Hubner as an organizer and treasurer of the Vacancy Tax campaign.
Hubner has publicly presented and defended the proposal, including declaring:
“Vacant homes are not neutral in our community.”
His role is also confirmed by the campaign-finance records. Every one of the 70 transactions in the current ORESTAR export identifies Daniel Hubner as the person who both filed and attested to the report.
That makes Hubner more than a vocal supporter of the measure. He is a formally identified campaign organizer and the treasurer responsible for reporting the political committee’s finances.
VANCE LUMP AND ANDREA MAZZARELLA
The June 3, 2025 AHA letterhead identified:
• Andy Kipp — President
• Vance Lump — Treasurer
• Andrea Mazzarella — Board Member
At that time, Lump and Mazzarella were also sitting members of the Astoria City Council.
That does not prove either personally wrote or approved every sentence in Kipp’s letter. It does establish that two sitting councilors were publicly identified in leadership positions with the organization advocating the 180-day policy.
When the initiative later qualified for the ballot, the City Council declined to adopt it outright and referred it to voters. But those overlapping political and organizational roles remain relevant information for the public.
Astorians are entitled to know when an advocacy organization advancing a major tax proposal includes sitting city officials among its leadership.
Thomas Jenkins August 23, 2026, addressing the Astoria City Council
At the August 3 Astoria City Council meeting, Thomas “Tom” Jenkins appeared to speak in favor of the Vacancy Tax.He provided his address and openly acknowledged:
“Postally, I’m in Astoria. Geographically, I am outside of the city limits.” Homes Task Force “Postally, I’m in Astoria. Geographically, I am outside of the city limits.” Jenkins addressing the Astoria City Council August 3, 2026. Jenkins cannot vote in Astoria elections.
He then announced:
“I address the City Council and the residents in the room tonight as a member of the Oregon WorkingFamilies Party here in Clatsop County.” Jenkins confirmed publicly and on the record:
“We have endorsed this petition…” He also promised: educate voters…”
“Should it go to the ballot this fall, the Working Families Party stands in support and will be out there to show support.
Let’s be perfectly clear:
The Working Families Party has formally endorsed Astoria’s Vacancy Tax and intends to campaign for its passage.
That is a member of the Oregon Working Families Party speaking directly to the Astoria City Council aboutthe party’s involvement.
Jenkins has also been one of the tax’s most persistent advocates online.
His position toward owners who may be unable to absorb another $3,000 or $6,000 annual tax is blunt.
“If you can’t afford taxes on your vacation home or your investment property, you can’t afford to have a 2nd home. The community cannot afford it, either.”
Jenkins does not live within Astoria city limits. He cannot vote on this tax.He will not be deciding whether Astoria property owners must file annual declarations with the City. Yet he and the Working Families Party intend to persuade Astoria voters that owners should rent theirhomes, sell them, restructure their lives—or pay thousands of dollars every year.
Lily Grace, Facebook August 27, 2026
“Hoarding resources is immoral and that’s exactly what people who have vacant houses are doing.
If they can afford two homes, they can afford to pay a tax”.
Jacqueline Hansen, Facebook August 28, 2026
“Cry the world a river! It’s privilege and now you’re being taxed as such. The greed”.
Serene Jaguar7950, Facebook August 29 2026
“Oh, so you’re such a lazy landlord you can’t find tenants? Sounds like a you problem.”
VOTE NO VACANT HOME TAX 