Surprised into service

Steve McIntosh had no idea why Portland Mayor John Boggs wanted to meet with him at a McDonald’s.

“I never thought it’d be about something that important,” said McIntosh, who was surprised when Boggs asked him if he would serve on Portland Board of Works.

McIntosh, 59, wanted to enter city government by way of city council when he ran for incumbent Michele Brewster’s seat last year, losing 46-42 in the Republican primary. He said he’s been thinking about running for years, and even though it wasn’t the outcome he desired, he still learned a lot from the campaign and was able to see the city he was born and lived in his whole life from a new perspective.

Like Boggs, McIntosh never ran for any political office prior to last year. He never thought his first title in politics would be as a board of works member, he said, but Boggs thought McIntosh was a right fit for the job.

“I was pleased (Boggs) saw something in me,” said McIntosh.

As a board member, McIntosh will vote alongside Boggs and Jerry Leonhard on day-to-day matters pertaining to city departments as well as many contracts and purchases made by the city.

He said he isn’t trying to do anything radical as a fresh board of works member, he just wants to soak up all he can from Leonhard, a longtime board member. In the future he’s looking forward to meeting with all of the city’s department heads, something he thinks will help him make the “right decisions” on board of works, he said.

McIntosh said his interest in local government increased after he began attending and engaging with city council meetings a few years ago. By attending meetings, he said he “got a feel for how the ball rolls” in Portland’s government and thought he could make a positive impact by running for a council seat.

“I noticed he was at every council meeting and asking good questions,” Boggs said as to why he appointed McIntosh.

McIntosh, a 1979 Jay County High School graduate, raised his son in Portland and was a scoutmaster at the local Scouts BSA troop. Like he did with his troop, McIntosh hopes to make a difference in the community by serving it through city government, he said.

He’ll continue to work on machines as a maintenance person at the Sonoco styrofoam packaging plant at 1619 N. Meridian St., Portland, while serving on board of works. In the past he also worked for Tyson and in heating and cooling.

“I’ve always had tools in my hands,” said McIntosh.

His newest tool is a vote on Portland’s Board of Works, whose next meeting is scheduled Thursday.