Voters look at local jobs, the economy
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Jobs and the economy were top on priority lists for many Klickitat County voters this week when asked about the approaching Aug. 19 primary election.
“I work a minimum wage, no benefits job,” said Goldendale resident Diane Wilson. “Anybody who is minimum wage or just above – we’re talking paycheck to paycheck – it’s not affordable.”
“I just wish they would get industries or businesses or something that would employ 400 to 500 people,” added Goldendale’s Sue Dolsen.
Voters from the west end of the county near Trout Lake offered similar sentiments:
“The job situation down there is pretty bad,” said Trout Lake resident James McCormick. “There are three dairy farms that are making money. There used to be forest service jobs…they were drastically reduced some years back…there just aren’t any jobs in Trout Lake.”
In addition to jobs, McCormick mentioned the strong need for mental health programs and other social services in Klickitat County.
Other issues Klickitat County voters said they are concerned about include healthcare, energy policies, and the war in Iraq.
Julie Larson, Klickitat County Democratic Party chair, said part of what appeals to many voters right now is a candidate who will focus on local issues like jobs, but in a way that considers long-term objectives and the “bigger picture.”
“We’re looking for someone who can connect the dots,” said Larson. “Something that really makes sense, something we can really build on into the future.”
David Sauter, co-vice chair of the county’s Republican Party said voters want several strong elements to combine in a candidate.
“Voters are looking for leadership — that’s critical,” said Sauter. “You need to pick someone who you have faith in their ability. People want someone they can trust, that seems truthful, particularly in local politics.”
Ballots went out on the first of this month and many residents have already begun sifting through Voter’s Pamphlets.
Wednesday, an evening was scheduled at the Goldendale Grange Hall to “Meet the Candidates,” in hopes of better educating voters on the choices.
Over the years, voting patterns and turnout have varied in the region, however, Klickitat County generally has a republican majority.
In the September 2006 primary election, where senators and state representatives were elected, 4579 people in Klickitat County voted, according to the Klickitat County Auditor’s office.
Of those, about 72 percent were registered republican and 28 percent were democrats.
This year, the primaries will use the Top Two system for the first time.
Like always, voters will select their choice for a particular office, but it will not necessarily be one candidate from each party who advances. According to the new rules, whichever two candidates receive the most votes move on to the November ballot, regardless of party affiliation.
It is unclear at this point how that will affect each party, although officials from both sides have expressed concern.
According to Brenda Sorenson, the Klickitat County auditor, her office sent a total of 11,794 ballots out earlier this month.
The primary ballots include U.S. Congressional District 4 representative, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, Legislative District 15 representatives (positions one and two), county commissioner, various state supreme court justice positions; various court of appeals judge positions, and various precinct committee officers.
Ballots must either be mailed and postmarked by August 19, or dropped off in person at the auditor’s Goldendale office (there is a drop box in White Salmon) by 8 p.m. that evening.
This week, The Sentinel got a hold of each of the local candidates to ask them what issues are most pressing.
Their responses are presented in full in the August 14 print edition of the newspaper.
Debate over events sparks petition
Community reacts strongly to comments made over events planning in Goldendale
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Controversy over comments made last week by the mayor of Goldendale about the future of local festivals has spawned a petition to “save” events in the town.
This week, the document circulated, with copies stationed at businesses including a local restaurant, variety store, bar, and auto parts shop.
Opinion letters on the subject were sent into The Sentinel newspaper and, according to radio host Julian Notestine, the local station KLCK received about “a half dozen” calls on the issue.
Signers said they wanted to be assured the city would continue supporting events planning.
“[We] see great benefit from the many events that take place in Goldendale, Washington,” reads the petition, which is addressed to the mayor and city council. “We want those events to continue and encourage you to make certain the funds are properly allotted to make this happen.”
Events of interest on the list included the Fiddlin’ Around the Stars Bluegrass Festival, Festival of Wheels, Festival of Speed, Ride Around Washington (RAW), Bike for the Health of It, and the Washington State Mounted Shooters.
The concern was in response to comments made in a Sentinel story, in which Mayor Arletta Parton indicated she’d like to see a shift away from larger, car and bike events, with more focus on things like music festivals and family-oriented affairs.
City events coordinator Lorraine Reynolds said in the story she was concerned not enough funding would be allotted to the festivals, although city administrator Larry Bellamy emphasized they had not discussed funding or the future of events detail.
This week, others in the community said they supported the mayor and the city council, despite the petition, noting problems like noise, safety, and illegal camping associated with some of the events.
One man praised Parton for “doing things correctly” and said he felt the money spent on an event coordinator should go to something like building a park for kids.
City administrator Larry Bellamy said there has long been a difference of opinion on the issue among citizens and the city council has been trying hard to find a compromise.
“There are two sides to every story,” said Bellamy. “We have to try to find that balance.”
“I think what [the Sentinel article] did was create a debate. I’d rather people look at it like that. That’s what America is all about – having a little debate every once and awhile about things.
The question now, he said, is “how can we come out of here and find a balance?”
The mayor chose not to comment but said she will be releasing an official statement in the coming weeks.
Farmland preservation moves forward
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
A White Salmon man is pushing for the creation of a Farmland Preservation Zone, aimed at slowing development and helping local farmers.
The measure would allow farmers to recoup land value while preserving prime farmland, according to Jacob Anderson, the farmer behind the push.
The zone would not be mandatory, applying only to land owners who opt into the program.
It allows for development of parcels as small as two acres, not to exceed 20 percent of the total acres. It also prevents future reclassification by city or county without the farmer’s cooperation.
According to Anderson, this allows farmers the ability to generate income that supports the farm, without selling productive land. Anderson, who is part of the Farmland Preservation Task Force, received support for the measure last week during a meeting on the subject at the Goldendale Grange.
County Commissioners will discuss the proposal in their Aug 14 workshop.
The proposal includes establishment of a grant fund to assist applicants with the cost associated with changing status of the land. While the funding aspect is a separate issue, Anderson believes many farmers would find it difficult to meet the expense involved for completing environmental checklist fees, comprehensive plan amendments, rezone request fees, and taxes and penalties that might be assessed for development of the allowed acres, without some financial support.
The task force discussed other tools that are aimed at preserving farm land, including the Open Spaces Taxation Act. The Act allows 10 year contracts that require land to be used for agriculture or timber, in exchange for tax assessment based on its use rather than market value. Concern about the legitimacy of some Open Spaces contracts was voiced by Task Force member, state representative, Joel Krets, of Omak, who said some of the land designated as open space was not truly being used for agriculture.
Currently there are 536,837 acres are in Klickitat County designated under this classification. The Open Spaces Taxation Act dates back to 1970.
In spite of the attempts to prevent continued loss of prime farmland, millions of acres continue to be developed. According to the National Resources Inventory, U.S. farmland was developed at the rate of 1,234,560 acres per year, during the study period of 1992-1997. That is an area approximately ten percent larger than Klickitat County, converted from agricultural use each year.
The Office of Farmland Preservation was created by the legislature in 2007 to promote the vitality of farming, farmers and ranchers and ensure the state would continue to have productive agricultural lands. An 18 member task force was appointed by Governor Gregoire to provide guidance to the Office of Farmland Preservation.
The task force is scheduled to complete its work by January 2011. The Office of Farmland Preservation is an office within the Washington State Conservation Commission. |
