A Little About Barbara Howard

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I was raised in Selma, Oregon, and my family’s roots in the Illinois Valley go back generations on both sides. I attended Selma Elementary School and Lorna Byrne Middle School through the seventh grade before continuing my education in Grants Pass. I later completed high school through Willamette High School in Eugene and attended Lane Community College, where I studied criminal justice.

I raised my children in Veneta, Oregon, where I became deeply involved in the community. I volunteered as a basketball coach every season, working with young athletes from their early years through high school. That experience strengthened my belief in service, teamwork, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

While living in Veneta, I became one of the highest-producing mortgage brokers in Oregon. I specialized in VA and FHA loans, helping veterans, first-time homebuyers, and working families overcome obstacles and achieve the dream of homeownership. I also helped homeowners complete streamlined refinances that significantly lowered their interest rates and monthly payments.

Helping people purchase their first home or reduce their financial burden was incredibly rewarding. It also gave me valuable experience in housing, finance, problem-solving, and understanding the real-life challenges families face when trying to build a secure future.

I later moved to Maui, where I spent 10 years building and operating a successful business serving Maui and Oahu. At its height, the company employed as many as 60 people. After selling the business and returning to the mainland, the first subdivision I purchased was Pomeroy River Estates in Cave Junction.

Since returning to the Illinois Valley, I have worked to bring quality homes and thoughtfully planned neighborhoods to the community. I am proud of what we have created at Pomeroy River Estates and believe it is a neighborhood our entire community can take pride in. I have also continued developing subdivisions in other parts of Oregon, gaining valuable experience in business, housing, infrastructure, budgeting, and responsible growth.

Of all the places I have lived and worked, I chose to make the Illinois Valley my home. Returning here as an adult gave me a renewed appreciation for Cave Junction, its people, and the special character of our valley. I am proud of my hometown, grateful to be home, and committed to helping preserve what makes our community special while building a stronger future.

To me, Cave Junction represents small-town living at its finest—a place where neighbors know one another, people step up to help, and community still matters.