Cothren, Flohr square off

Is it a time for a change in leadership on the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners, or should voters give Dan Cothren a third term in office?

This is the question in the race for the commission seat representing District 2, which includes the Elochoman Valley, Rosedale, part of Cathlamet, and areas east to the Cowlitz County line.

Cothren, who is running as an independent, is seeking a third term. Challenger Wayne Flohr, running as a Democrat, is looking to unseat him. Neither has opposition in this month's primary election, so their race will be decided in the November general election.

The primary ballots are due August 19 this year. The state has changed to a top-two primary in which the two candidates with the highest vote tallies in the primary advance to the general election.

The Eagle talked with the candidates this week; following is a recap of what the candidates had to say.

Background

Cothren graduated from Wahkiakum High School in 1971 and embarked on a career in the timber industry. He is now security and safety supervisor for Hancock Forest Products. He is a member of the Grange, Wahkiakum High School FFA advisory board and the District 4 Fire Department, and he has volunteered in the county fair and other community activities.

Flohr served in the US Army and went to college, earning a masters degree in psychology. He began working in public mental health agencies and ended up working three years for Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services. He resigned that job when he decided to run for commissioner to avoid a conflict of interest. "Working in mental health and having to deal at times with making involuntary commitments has taught me a lot about decision making; taking away someone's rights is very serious." Flohr is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Grange, county Democrat party, and county fair board and now runs his own business in Cathlamet.

Why seek election?

Cothren: Cothren has been leading an effort to change state law and revise and expand the county's trust timberland base. The issue will likely be addressed in the 2009 legislative session. "The timber issue is huge for Wahkiakum County," he said. "I have been waiting for this to come to a head. With my knowledge and ability, I can get this done. The momentum is going, and we have got to keep it going."

Flohr: "I really strongly believe that over the past four years, there has been a lack of leadership to guide the community and the county in the direction in which the citizens want the county to go."

What are your three main issues?

Cothren: 1, County finances--the county is facing a $1 million revenue shortfall this year and inadequate revenues for 2009. "We're going to have a decline in services; we're going to have to scale back. Our timber reserves were never intended to finance county government, but that's what it has come to be." 2. Cothren is working with DNR staff, officials from Skamania and Pacific counties, and from the Washington Association of Counties to create a program that would allow small counties with trust timberlands to exchange lands wanted for wildlife habitat for lands that can be logged, and also create a fund that could purchase more timberlands. "We're going to get there. This will be a pilot program, so we have to make sure it's done right. 3. The county owned Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic needs to be on stable financial footing. Clinic managers are on the right path to restructure. People should respond to the clinic advisory board's recommendation that people pay a subscription fee so that they have funds for the rest of the year.

Flohr: 1. The county needs to support the development of small businesses to expand its economic base. "I do not subscribe to the sky is falling mentality for county finances. We have money in reserves; it would behoove us to look at that option. I believe in proactvity. We can use reserves to borrow funds to bring us through the 18 months of the timber market low. We need to bring all options to the table. As Commissioner Blair Brady has indicated, we can make it up in little bits and pieces. 2. "The Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant proposal is a big issue with me," he said. The discussions and decisions on the plant need to be made in public, not behind closed doors. An accident at the plant could have huge and severe impacts on county residents. "I don't get where the economic benefit is. Not one individual is an acceptable risk. I don't believe it is proactive economic development. I am willing to talk to their folk, but in the public eye." 3. The clinic status needs to be resolved. We've spent $1 million getting it to the point where it's breaking even. The clinic advisory board and the clinic staff have done a great job, this after four years of letting it bleed money. Leadership has been reactive, not proactive. What I see happening is that we get it up to par so we can sell it off for a quick buck without thinking of the ramifications or implications for the future of the community. That clinic supports 100 jobs. Are we willing to lose those again?"

What is your vision for the future of the county?

Cothren: "We need to sustain what we have, trying to live within our means. To that it all revolves around the timber issue. We have a resource here; when we get restricted, it makes it very hard for us to function. We can support ourselves."

Flohr: "Timber is the reason we're sitting here; we have a long deep tradition in our county. My goal is to go for a multifaceted economic development but not at the loss of our communities. Small businesses are invaluable to our county."