Political candidates speak at forum

Over 60 voters gathered at the Johnson Park Community Center last Thursday to meet the new candidates and hear again from the incumbents.

Krist Noveselic lowered the gavel to begin the forum, which was sponsored by the Grays River Grange.

County commission

Lori Scott, running for the District # 3 County commissioner’s seat was unprepared but told the audience she was running because she felt that selling real-estate, managing the Grays River Hardware store, and being a good listener had prepared her for the job. “I don’t have a political background – at all!” said Scott. But she said as a business woman she’d bring honesty and integrity to the job.

Scott found it hard to answer questions from the audience about what she would do to improve Wahkiakum’s economic climate. She said, “For me to come up with ideas about that I’m not sure,” said Scott. “I think we need to support the people and do what we can to create a healthy atmosphere.”

Incumbent Blair Brady listed his achievements. Saying during his first year in office he helped the county make up a million dollar deficit. “Due to the hard choices we had to make, I’d be comfortable saying our county is doing better than most of the counties in the state.” said Brady.

Brady’s public service record includes restoring the fairgrounds after the 2008 snow collapsed the horse arena. He has worked extensively to settle a dispute between Grays River citizens and the non-governmental organization-Columbia Land Trust. “Another thing was the assault on our fishing industry,” said Brady. “We’ve formed a coalition with other counties and tribes to try and protect our interests.”

Brady sits on the Washington State Counties Legislative Steering Commission and has worked to get the county compensated for the 3000 acres of land the state placed off limits because of the Marbled Murrelet. “The loss of that timberland has cost us $1,000,000 in revenue for the past 15 years,” said Brady, “and I’d like to be compensated for it.” He also said “What the county needs more than anything is intelligent jobs and intelligent growth.”

County assessor

Real estate agent and property appraiser Bill Coons is running against incumbent Sulema Zerr.

During last Tuesday’s forum Coons produced several small charts and a plan he thought would lower property taxes throughout the county. He said, “Between 2006-09 our county’s property values shot up and the ratio-to-value of properties in Wahkiakum are out of balance based on the sales of properties in the area.”

If elected Coons said the first thing he would do is move the county to annual reassessments. “This would allow us to adjust property values on a yearly basis to reflect real world values,” said Coons.

Coons said the current assessor’s office is behind on registering the sales of properties in the county (segregation). He would improve the timeliness of property evaluations. “The tax rolls should have been finalized and passed to the Board of Equalization in June, they’re still not out,” said Coons.

Coons said he sits on the Wahkiakum Board of Equalization. He is an accredited appraiser by the state Department of Revenue. He said he would be an advocate for the tax payer and if need be, argue with the Department of Revenue for appropriate valuation.

Sulema Zerr said, “You know I could make up all kinds of excuses, but it comes down to this I don’t know the market like Bill does but I try to catch up on it.”

Zerr said she was elected on a platform of “lower taxes” but found working with the State Department of Revenue daunting. “Bill is also right,” said Zerr, “I am behind on evaluations but it’s because my appraiser retired.”

Zerr said another reason she’s behind is she purchased software for her office that doesn’t work. “I think in the long-run it will work, but I don’t know.”

“Bill is absolutely correct also when he talks about segregation too,” said Zerr, “but I’m short handed and I have so much to do so if you don’t keep at me I lose track.”

She said she is regularly on the phone with the Dept. of Revenue asking for advice.

Zerr said after three years in office she recently learned, “There is a gray area within the law I might be able to use, based on foreclosures.” She indicated the county’s high foreclosure rates might let her argue with the State Department of Revenue to lower the county’s tax bill.

In a moment of strange logic Zerr said, “You know high (property) values give us lower taxes. If our taxes shrink, we still have to pay the bills.”

County sheriff

Troy Norris has been an EMT volunteer for 12 years. He was seriously injured in a car accident and recovered. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to go from a wheel chair to running around the track,” said Norris. He said he will apply the same motivation and drive if elected sheriff. He offered his analytical skills and his community and organizational skills as reasons to elect him sheriff.

Write-in candidate Josh Grasseth said he’s already worked for different departments in the Sheriff’s office. Besides drug interdiction, “I was a certified marijuana leaf technician,” said Grasseth. He said he is a trained grant writer.

Grasseth also addressed an audience question about the assault and DUI convictions he received last year while employed by the Sheriff’s Department. “I made a mistake,” said Grasseth. “I paid for it and learned my lesson.”

Under Sheriff Jon Dearmore said he has 16 years with the Wahkiakum Sheriff’s office. Dearmore said he is running as an independent. He believes the office should be nonpartisan.

Dearmore said his campaign has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with community, safety and security. “You have to have common sense to be the Sheriff,” said Dearmore. He said when he’s elected he will make the office more user friendly and community oriented. He believes The Citizen’s Police Academy has had a positive community impact and would like to continue the program. “Another goal would be a town hall meeting program,” said Dearmore. He also said he’d like to see accountability and yearly personnel evaluations in the sheriff’s office.

Wahkiakum PUD

Three candidates are in the race for the county’s Public Utilities District 3 seat currently held by Esther Gregg.

Pam Anderson is running for the PUD seat and was another candidate unable to clarify why she should be elected. She said she thought Gregg was doing a fine job but thought she could do it better. “I would like to complete the current project Esther is working on, "said Anderson. Anderson said she is dedicated, honest and fair. “I’m against rate increases but I don’t know what the answer is. I just hope you vote for me and I’ll do the best I can, "she said.

Dennis Reed said he was there so the audience could look at him and see who he is. “I would like to serve you because I have the time,” said Reed.

Reed said he worked for the government as an agriculture loan officer for many years. He later worked in banks as a loan officer. “I think my qualifications would bring something new to the PUD board for decisions that need to be made,” said Reed.

Ester Gregg was asked why she and fellow board members had increased the wages of an already highly paid PUD crew during a recession. “It took three months of arm twisting but I finally gave in and voted for the pay increase,” said Esther, “but they work hard and deserved it.”

Gregg said since she’s been PUD commissioner she’s worked to establish the Salmon Creek water expansion program, adding 50 new customers. Any further expansion would cost about $600,000, “...and that’s cost prohibitive,” said Gregg.

She also said by planning and budgeting, the electric department could afford to pay $750,000 for a transformer for the Cathlamet expansion. She said once the PUD paid for the transformer they found it wouldn’t work without the purchase of additional land. Additionally, she said the PUD paid $650,000 for a standby transformer for Grays River.” The good thing is we were able to do all that without having to raise rates,” said Gregg.

She also warned the PUD would probably raise rates to users of the Western Wahkiakum Water system, due to leakage. “The system is old and losing about 28 percent of its water due to leakage,” said Gregg, “and the state Health Department is mandating by 2015 we be under 10 percent leakage.”