Takko: A proactive approach to lawmaking

State Representative Dean Takko represents the 19th district position 1 which includes Wahkiakum, Pacific and parts of Grays Harbor and Cowlitz counties.

During a forum last Friday in Long Beach, he told the audience he is a lifelong citizen of southwest Washington and knows the area’s priorities.

“I have worked and raised a family; I know joys and the difficulties that each of us face," he said. "I will work diligently to restore trust in government and try to make our values a priority.

“One thing that’s important, when you’re in the legislature, you have to deal with a lot of issues.”

Takko said that as the area’s legislator, a part of his job is to keep the citizens of the 19th District informed about what he believes are the key issues which include rural economic development and diversification.

He said another of the priorities he’s working on is producing a state budget that invests in the community’s future, that protects the vulnerable, and that is sustainable.

He said he would also like to protect local governments from unfunded mandates, support the timber and fishing industries, and putting “common sense” back into the state’s environmental laws.

Takko was born in Ilwaco and moved to Cathlamet with his parents when he was 14. He graduated from Wahkiakum High School and went to Lower Columbia Community College. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Washington University.

“After a time in the army,” said Takko, “I spent one term as the Wahkiakum County Assessor and then went on to be chief deputy in the Cowlitz County Assessor’s office.”

Takko said he’s spent 30 years as a volunteer firefighter, and developed land and built houses.

“I’ve been on both sides,” said Takko. “I’ve tried to get a permit and I’ve had to hand them out.”

Takko said he sits on three committees in the State Legislature, including Transportation, Tech Energy and Communications. He is also Vice-Chair of Government Appropriations.

“That pretty much establishes the state’s budget outside of Health Care and Education,” said Takko.

Takko said because he has such a connection with the local governments in his region, he has sponsored many bills that deal with local government. Takko said he’s tried to do things that help the local districts.

“That’s probably one of my number one things--What can I do to help the district?” said Takko.

For example, Takko said, when Cowlitz County PUD joined with other PUDs to build a wind-farm, it cost them millions of dollars in legal fees just to establish the public/private partnership to build the facility.

“I sponsored a bill that clarified all that and it has saved them millions of dollars in legal fees since then,” he said.

Takko told the audience that small pieces of legislation add up. As an example, he said last year he sponsored a bill that re-set an exemption that covered a chemical plant in Longview which was about to expire.

“I went to bat for the exemption, and we were able to keep the plant going. If I’d let it expire, we would have lost 50-60 high paying jobs,” said Takko.

He also helped the Ocean Spray Company in Long Beach get their permits to build a new plant on the coast that added jobs.

“I did a timber bill last year that allowed the timber industry to log in a manner they probably couldn’t in the past," he said, "providing they did a good job for the environment.”

Takko said he has taken a proactive approach to lawmaking that has had a positive impact in southwest Washington.

“Take Naselle Youth Camp. I can tell you that without us (19th District Legislators) playing hard ball with our other legislators, that youth camp would be closed," he said.

“I’ve lived my whole life in SW Washington. That’s were my heart is and that’s what I work for.”

Takko’s wife Debra works for the Longview School District. He has one son, Nathan, age 25, who is a local contractor.

He sits on the Washington Association of Counties board of trustees, Beacon Hill Sewer District, and the Board of Directors of the Washington State Association of Sewer and Water Districts.

He has been a volunteer firefighter for 24 years and is currently on the Cowlitz Fire District No. 2 roster.