Meet BERNARD SEEGER
Candidate for HD52 in 2026
Early Years
I was born a first generation American in East Texas to loving immigrant parents from France and Prussia. My parents raised me to be a strong athlete and a good student but I couldn’t help but to be a class clown for much of my years in school. I spent many days of simple play in the woods of East Texas. I wrestled for 11.5 years from kindergarten to 11th grade in high school. It was a formative experience that instilled me with grit, resiliency, and a fighting spirit. It also taught me fairness, humility, and responsibility whether you win or lose.
West Point and US Army
After graduating in the top 5% of my class in high school, I entered the US Military Academy at West Point, NY and survived four of the toughest years of my life. After West Point, I entered the US Army as an infantry officer and completed training in Airborne, Ranger, and Infantry officer school. During this career I served in posts in South Korea, WA state, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Turkey. I was blessed to see and meet some incredible people and places around the world and create friendships from many of the men and woman I served with.
Graduate School and Local Government
After 8 years of service, I decided on a career change and went back to school earn a Master’s of Public Administration at the University of Kansas completing it Summa Cum Laude. I worked in local government management in four cities and one county which included nearly four years as the City Administrator for Cascade Locks and over eight years as the Finance and Management Services Director for the City of Gresham for a total of 18 years. Six of those years were in rural communities.
Current Activities
Beyond this work, I’ve been a resident in small town rural Oregon for now over 18 years. Now I’m currently a senior studying Forestry Management at Oregon State University. I was appointed to serve on City Council in Cascade Locks in August 2024 but then elected to a four year term on the Council in November 2024. I’ve been a curious traveler and explorer since high school having visited 68 countries around the world, mostly sleeping in hostels or under the stars. These experiences have instilled deep gratitude for my life here in the US as I’ve seen incredible suffering and poverty. I absolutely love living in the Gorge and my personal interests include windsurfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Being outdoors enriches my soul. I also like to read, watch funny series, personal finance, volunteer, and cook.