Ruth Doumit announces write-in council bid

October 25 , 2007

Cathlamet businesswoman and artist Ruth Doumit announced late last week that she is running as a write-in candidate for Position 3 on the Cathlamet Town Council.

Incumbent David Goodroe is running for re-election to the position.

Councilmember Wally Wright announced last Wednesday that he was looking for a write-in candidate to compete against Goodroe.

The two have been at odds since Goodroe and Councilmembers Danielle Erickson and Bill Talbott in September voted, in response to a petition, to silence the town's emergency siren while a committee looks at the feasibility of replacing it. Wright and Councilmember John Hannah, both volunteer firemen, opposed the motion. In October, Wright presented petitions signed by over 600 people seeking use of the siren while the committee did its work. That motion failed in a 3-2 vote with only Wright and Hannah voting in favor.

In a Tuesday interview, Doumit said that the siren issue is only part of the reason she decided to run for council.

She said she has always had a great love for the town, where she's operated businesses for over 30 years.

"I now have time I haven't had before," she said.

She said her main concerns for the town now are 1. the siren, which is needed for public safety; 2. preservation of the city's timberland, and 3. preservation of the town's waterfront.

Doumit said she signed the original petition asking for the siren to be silenced, but she feels the council majority should have compromised and reactivated it while the committee researched alternatives.

"I've talked to a lot of people who, like me, signed the original petition and have changed their minds," she said.

Besides running her businesses, Doumit has been a board member for the Wahkiakum Historical Society, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and Wahkiakum County Fair Board.

The Eagle was unable to contact Goodroe in time for his comments; we hope to have those next week.