Olympia Candidates Discuss Sea Level Rise Plan

Candidates Fishburn, Zita, Miller, Gilman and Rollins comment about sea level rise 

Above: Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita meets with Rueben Males after a community meeting regarding the City of Olympia's sea level rise plan on Tuesday night. Males wants the Port of Olympia to be part of the climate solution, and not the problem, by initiating job creation to renewable energy and promoting the local sale of locally produced electricity. 

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Several elected officials and candidates for public office were present at the City of Olympia's community meeting on sea level rise issues Tuesday night. 

The city revealed a schedule of activities to be spearheaded by the city, the Port of Olympia, and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance. 

The process is expected to take 18 months.

This past week, Little Hollywood asked each candidate who was in attendance what they thought about the sea level rise planning meeting, the concerns expressed by community members, the concept of a strategic retreat, and what, if any, questions they had about the process.

Bill Fishburn is running for Port of Olympia commission, District 2, currently held by Bill McGregor.

“….What I see is a plan for a plan….Through a project management lens, I see that the engagement with the public seems late in the process. The first workshop comes three fourths of the way through what appears to be the third phase,” said Fishburn.

“The Squaxin Island Tribe, Washington State, and environmental groups appear to be absent from the early discussions and planning. And much of what I can see of the 'plan for a plan' appears to be focused on downtown. Such a narrow scope has the risk of leading to narrow solutions.

“That said, I was impressed by the number in attendance and the willingness of the city to engage with the public outside the milestone dates in their schedule. Since the city signed an interlocal agreement with LOTT and the Port, it was also good to see at least one port commissioner in attendance.

“My question would be: Given some of the pollution present in the impacted areas, what are we doing proactively to deal with that pollution? Between now and 2050, are there other phenomena such as king tides and heavy rains that need to be considered in our interim solutions?

“The strategic retreat discussion is interesting to me for a couple of reasons. I think it's worth exploring, but I think there needs to be a concerted effort to involve the public in how such a retreat would be planned.

“I also find it interesting that at the same time we are talking about sea level rise and how to perform a strategic retreat, the city appears to be still considering permit issuance in places that will be clearly impacted by sea level rise. I wonder if that will make the city and taxpayers responsible for costs associated with sea level rise impacts to buildings resulting from those permits?”

Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita was in attendance at the meeting. She is running for reelection to her seat in District 3, and has a challenger.

“The City of Olympia has a great start on evaluating risks to our area due to sea level rise,” said Zita.

“Andy Haub and colleagues have shared scientific knowledge so we can understand the impacts to Olympia. When seas rise two feet, we can expect flooding downtown every other day.  This is likely to happen in our lifetime, since climate scientists expect seas to rise by two meters, over six feet, by 2100.  King tides already flood downtown more often, so LOTT has already lifted and waterproofed some of its critical equipment.” 

“Do Olympia, LOTT and the Port need to consider moving or retreating from some infrastructure and operations? Other cities at sea level or built on fill show that we will have no choice but to consider these options. Many in Northern Europe have developed floating buildings. Does it make sense for Olympia to approve traditional construction where flooding is likely, in the lifetime of proposed buildings? We started some important conversations that will be continued. 

“It was disappointing to see no material from the Port of Olympia…. Should the Port increase global warming and sea level rise with fracking sands, or decrease warming by supporting renewable energy infrastructure and job creation? Voters will have a clear choice in the fall port commissioner election,” said Zita.

Above: Allen Miller contributed his opinion on a yellow sticky note at the City of Olympia's community meeting on sea level rise planning Tuesday night. It reads: “Dredging Capitol Lake every decade for flood control is much less expensive than removing the tide lock and returning to mud flats.”

Allen Miller is a candidate for Olympia city council position #5, an open seat. Two other candidates are also in this race.

“This is certainly the most important environmental issue the city faces.  I remember learning about the greenhouse effect in 5^th grade….One of the reasons I led the effort to get the Olympia Metropolitan Park District established was to raise the revenue to buy LBA Woods, the Capitol Center Building and the 'Big W' trail,” said Miller.

“The 'Big W' trail from West Bay marina to Percival Landing, along the Port Peninsula, and up to East Bay will give us the opportunity for public access to the shoreline while protecting downtown from sea level rise by building the trail at elevation.

“The best available science from Evergreen State College professors Oscar Soule, David Milne, and the late Kaye V. Ladd shows that retaining the tide lock and dredging Capitol Lake will be best for water quality, sediment management, and wildlife, while also providing flood control in downtown and the North Capitol Campus. 

“I foresee a Capitol Lake management committee forming with the State, Port, Squaxin Tribe, Thurston County, Olympia, and Tumwater as members which will work together to manage the Lake and Deschutes watershed into the future.

“The State Environmental Policy Act will require us to consider the alternatives including a retreat from downtown.  The preliminary information shows that the environmental and economic costs of retreat will be much greater than providing downtown with more flood control, but a cost/benefit analysis will need to be part of the process under SEPA,” said Miller.

City of Olympia councilmember Clark Gilman is running to retain the seat to which he was appointed in 2016, Position 4, and has a challenger.

Soon after Gilman was appointed, he famously "threw the skunk on the table" at the council’s dramatic study session on sea level rise in February 2016 by questioning the assumption that downtown should be saved.

Little Hollywood asked Gilman after the meeting if he still felt that a strategic retreat should be on the table and explored.

“There were several important questions raised this evening. Most valuable to me were the comments about who should be considered a stakeholder or a recognized organization. I appreciated Judy Bardin's suggestions that we should broaden our outreach and consult with groups who represent social equity, environmental, and community economic development concerns,” said Gilman.

“Seeking reelection has not changed my deeply held understanding that the forces of the river and the ocean are mighty and that our best approach to sea level rise is to harmonize waterfront development with those powerful forces.

“I intend to listen and actively participate as a member of Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee throughout the sea level rise planning process. My position at this point is that it makes practical sense to protect buildings currently in use through their likely useful lives.

“I don't see the community value in advocating for additional residential or commercial development on the port peninsula. I think it makes sense to apply our policy and incentive influence to encourage investment and revitalization on higher ground,” said Gilman.

Above: Renata Rollins, right, visits one of the storyboard stations explaining the City of Olympia's sea level rise plans at a community meeting on Tuesday night.

Renata Rollins is a candidate for City of Olympia council Position 6, currently held by Jeannine Roe. There is one other candidate in this race.

“We need to have all options on the table. By limiting the scope of the discussion, we can’t be sure we’re going to make the right plan, in terms of the environment and the financial/economic costs to the community,” said Rollins.

“I also think it would behoove us to plan further than 20 years. We have 100-year sea level projections already, and we know sea level will continue to rise for centuries even if we make drastic CO2 reductions today. The question of whether a particular action is cost-effective depends on the time scale we’re looking at. Defense might seem to pay off in the short term when compared against costs such as relocating LOTT and other downtown development. But over 100 years? 500 years? Besides, hopefully by then we’re using composting toilets and other sustainable wastewater filtering/treatment methods, making LOTT at its current scale obsolete.

“The fact is, our downtown has been fighting the wisdom of a natural system since the settlers first began to fill the Salish Sea. We take the first step to addressing sea level rise in a realistic way by acknowledging this fact. Doing so doesn’t negate the real sentimental value downtown has for many of us, nor the significant financial investments made there by public and private entities, including our friends and neighbors. It costs nothing to acknowledge the wisdom of natural systems. And it opens the door in the present vantage point to understanding our past and envisioning our future in alignment with this wisdom.

“Rather than fighting sea level rise, we can take it as an opportunity to build a resilient community in the face of climate chaos. Perhaps instead of one town “center” we need the neighborhoods to have their own central social and economic hubs, residential options for all incomes and families, and urban farms to guard against food system instability - a development that will be needed as Washington’s fastest-growing city. 

“We need a plan for emergency services to reach all parts of the city even if downtown streets are flooded. We need to move toward a more ecological plan for our wastewater, including significantly reducing wastewater, rather than depending on an Old World solution like LOTT.

“The creative and practical possibilities for responding to sea level rise are exciting. And I say this as someone who loves downtown and has been emotionally invested in it for years. As someone who loves downtown Olympia, I really feel the folks who have made significant investments here. I think it’s only right to reframe the discussion and center the need for a longer-range sea level rise plan, over 100 years, and to choose the best and most cost-effective course of action from that data,” said Rollins.

Little Hollywood has written extensively on downtown Olympia sea level rise issues, flooding incidents, the management of Capitol Lake, current sea level rise projections for Olympia with maps and photos. Go to Little Hollywood, http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.

“We Don’t Win What We Don’t Fight For” Say Three City Council Candidates

Above: Olympia City Council Candidates Marco Rosaire Rossi, Ray Guerra, Rafael Ruiz and their campaign manager Rob Richards, far right, this morning in front of Olympia City Hall.

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Three candidates for Olympia City Council held a rally this morning outside Olympia City Hall to highlight their campaigns and progressive issues.

Although the candidates are united, and emphasize that they are not running against particular incumbents or individuals, Marco Rosaire Rossi, Raymond Guerra, and Rafael Ruiz are indeed running separate, active campaigns.

“We don’t win for what we don’t fight for,” is their slogan. While all are articulate and educated, each has their own individual strengths, stories and perspectives.

Above: Rossi listens to a potential supporter this morning. Port Commissioner candidate E.J. Zita, left, also attended this morning's rally.

Marco Rosaire Rossi, 33, is in the race for Mayor, along with incumbent Cheryl Selby and candidate Prophet Atlantis. A medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, Rossi graduated in 2004 from The Evergreen State College, has earned two master’s degrees, and has lived in Olympia off and on for 15 years.  

“I think Olympia is a good city, but good isn’t good enough – we want to make Olympia a great city!” Rossi said. He listed his priorities: create a day shelter, create a tenant Bill of Rights for both residents and small businesses, encourage up not out urban density and investment in urban planning, make the city budget process more inclusive and create new forms of government and participation.

“We want you to be the city! We’re building a social movement – it’s about the issues! We’re going to make you a priority!” he exclaimed.

Ray Guerra, 38, is running for Position 2, along with candidates Judy Bardin and Jessica Bateman. Guerra said he grew up in Florida in severe poverty. His single mother regularly worked two service level jobs, and died at the age of 38 of high blood pressure brought on by stress.

A bartender at Fish Brewing Company, Guerra has lived in Olympia for 15 years, and is a homeowner in the Carlyon neighborhood area. His goal if elected is to raise the standard of living for Olympians, noting that service sector jobs have replaced manufacturing jobs.

“We want to promote local businesses that support their workers….Our city council can do more than reactively respond to local issues...we can be innovative, creative, and exceptional in our policy and our budgeting. Many of our citizens live in the harsh realities imposed by systemic poverty. We can and should address the challenges impacting the poor! People like to fear monger about a $15 minimum wage, but I like to think about the possibilities of what this new wage will achieve! If the three of us are elected, and we have one more progressive vote on the council, we can get a lot of shit done!” exclaimed Guerra.

Above: Olympia City Council Candidate Rafael Ruiz

Rafael Ruiz, 32, is running for Position 3, along with incumbent Nathaniel Jones. He has lived in Olympia for 10 years and works at the Olympia Food Coop. He is a former volunteer for the Emma Goldman Youth and Homeless Outreach Project (EGYHOP) that provides emergency supplies, services, and resources to the homeless and low-income populations living on the streets. Through that experience, he said he learned how to listen.

A single parent of two children, Ruiz grew up in Southern California, and told the crowd personal stories of how he did not feel safe. For Ruiz, this also means feeling the lack of food security. He now has a refrigerator full of food, but he has difficult childhood memories of opening the refrigerator and having it reveal only tortillas, milk, eggs, and beans.

He stressed that if elected, he will have the opportunity to fight for paid sick leave for low wage workers, policies that guarantee shelter, fight for people who rent, police accountability, and create disciplinary policies that reform, such as transformative justice models.

“Safety is really my priority,” said Ruiz.

“Trabajo duro para que mis niños tengan la comida más sana, y Mexicana.Trabajo duro para pagar la renta y las cuentas. En cada elección nunca veo candidata/os trabajadores. Yo soy tu candidato en solidaridad con todos trabajadores. Voy luchar para subir el salario mínimo por hora hasta $15. Voy luchar para mejorar los derechos en la ley para todos arrendataria/os en Olympia. Voy luchar para mejorar la vida para los pobres y sin casa propia. Voy luchar para establecer y facilitar la democracia directa. Vota Rafael Ruiz para un futuro brillante en Olympia. Rafa trabaja para ustedes!” dicho Ruiz.

“I work hard so that my kids can eat healthy and pass down my Mexican culture. I work hard to pay my bills and rent. In every election I hardly ever see working class candidates. I am your working class candidate in solidarity with all workers. I will fight for a $15 minimum wage. I will fight for tenants’ rights. I will fight against poverty and homelessness in Olympia. I will fight to establish direct and participatory democracy in Olympia. Vote Rafael Ruiz for a brighter future in Olympia. Rafa will work for you!” says Ruiz.

Rob Richards Finds A New Voice

The candidates’ campaign manager is Rob Richards, who spearheaded the Downtown Ambassador Program through the Capital Recovery Center for the past three years.

Richards says he was asked by many to run for city council, and he thought about it, but had to admit to himself that three solid years at the Ambassador Program, and three years serving on the city Planning Commission, working on the Shoreline Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan burnt him out on process issues.

Richards was abruptly let go recently from his position with the program but is proud of his accomplishments and is only looking forward. Richards said he has created his own closure.

“I feel passionate about our community….It took baby steps to make the welcome center what it is now and it looks fantastic. Partnerships were formed with the business community, the Olympia Downtown Association, the Parking and Business Improvement Area, and the community. Although we’re not quite ready for a drop-in center, we’ve now created a model that works. This is just the beginning for a larger three to five year vision,” he said.

When asked by Rossi and Guerra to run their campaigns, he jumped at the opportunity.

“If creating a platform of progressive issues will engage and inspire more candidates who don’t have access to the process, then that’s great. We want to create a real voter’s guide, scorecards, and develop campaign services and do voter outreach and education,” said Richards.

Richards is looking for supporters for sign waving, house parties, and donations for yard signs. Richards and the candidates can be reached at www.olympiaforall.org. For the candidates, Richards can be reached at (360) 292-0565.

An opportunity to meet many candidates for city council and the Port of Olympia is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 7:00 p.m., at Garfield Elementary School. The event is co-sponsored by the Northwest Neighborhood Association and the Southwest Neighborhood Association. According to Northwest Neighborhood Association president Rip Hemingway, all but one have agreed to participate.

For information about local individual campaigns, go to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission at www.pds.wa.gov.

Above: Liz Atkins Pattenson and Madeline Weltchek support a $15 minimum wage in Olympia.

 

Port of Olympia and ThurstonTalk: When “Journalism” Isn’t What It Seems

Little Hollywood Investigation Reveals Paid Contract

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

When the Port of Olympia put out an article on May 5 by Kate Scriven for ThurstonTalk called, “Port of Olympia: Snapshot of Current Projects, Recent Changes, Plans for Future,” via the Port’s list serv, I read it. The public and the media are invited to subscribe to this list serv in order to keep up on Port activities.

The article was an interview with Port of Olympia executive director Ed Galligan and read like a one-sided industry puff piece, so I discredited it, but then, I became curious.

The next day, I wrote an email to Port staff and commissioners:

“I think it is very strange that the Port of Olympia would select this story written by a blog called ThurstonTalk to send out to those who have signed up to receive Port related information. My blog, Little Hollywood, has written many timely, well researched Port related stories worthy of sending out via this list. I am wondering how you determined that this story was more worthy for broader public dissemination than any of mine. What is your policy for selecting articles?”

Kathleen White, communications director for the Port, was prompted to respond to my inquiry on May 15 when Port Commissioner Bill McGregor sent me an email on May 14 wondering if I had received a response and what the answer was to my inquiry.

White’s answer revealed that the ThurstonTalk article was not just one-sided journalism, but was, in fact, a paid piece of marketing disguised as journalism, the product of a Port-ThurstonTalk contract signed on March 5.

“….In an effort to reach a broad local audience, the Port at its discretion chose to contract with ThurstonTalk for the writing and publishing of a select number of articles about the Port which can then be forwarded to the Port's email list,” White wrote Little Hollywood in an email May 15.

I immediately expressed confusion and responded that I was not aware of ThurstonTalk’s business model:

“…I heard that they pay their writers. That's all I know…. It sounds like they are a public relations firm that the Port contracted with to promote the Port, but it's made to look like independent journalism.  So, how much is the Port paying ThurstonTalk for this contract and what are the terms of that contract? I would also like to know what articles the Port is paying to be produced. Was the one sent out by Ed Galligan the first one? As you can imagine, I am very alarmed and disappointed that the Port wasn't more transparent about this when it sent out the article. Future articles from ThurstonTalk should contain a clear disclaimer, something like, “The following message from the Port of Olympia is a paid advertisement,” I wrote.

White responded that ThurstonTalk was hired by the Port of Olympia to produce four such “articles.” The article sent out May 5 as a “Message from Executive Director Ed Galligan” was the first article.

“Thank you for drawing the Port's attention to the need for a disclaimer on the article written and published by ThurstonTalk. Should the Port send out any future such articles, the Port will indicate that the article was paid for by the Port of Olympia,” wrote White.

White said that in 2015, the Port will pay $1200 per year for publication of all its news releases and $600 for the writing and publication of four articles about the Port, for a total of $1800. White said that the topics for the other three have not yet been determined. 

The Port's contract was signed on March 5 by White and Martin McElliott of ThurstonTalk.

According to its website, ThurstonTalk calls itself an “information source” serving the Thurston County community and was launched on January 1, 2011.

It says, “A vibrant community needs an information source that has the ability to interact with community members through multiple tools, while adding a meaningful advertising platform for local businesses.”

Asked to comment on its business model and how a discerning reader could know which articles are paid for, McElliott responded, “All of our writers are contractors.  Not all of our content is paid for by our sponsors.  Generally the articles that have a business logo attached are sponsored.  We write positive feel good stories and showcase why we all live work and play where we do,” said McElliott in an email today.

Generally?

The Port-ThurstonTalk contract says that their package includes all news releases by the Port, but when asked today after the Port’s work session, White said she wrote the May 20 press release about Olympia Beekeepers Association members installing hives in an Olympia Airport field that will be full of flowering blackberries this summer, and was not related to the ThurstonTalk contract.

According to the contract, ThurstonTalk features a variety of marketing and content packages ranging in monthly prices for articles from $150 to $3,100. For example, customer driven articles cost $500 per article, or $900 for six short posts. An event focused article is $450 per article.

Eight Port of Olympia Candidates To Be Interviewed For Commissioner Position

At today’s work session, Commissioners Barner and McGregor agreed to interview all eight candidates for the open commissioner position on June 1 and June 2 between 1 – 5 p.m. at Tumwater Town Center, 7241 Cleanwater Drive SW, Tumwater.  Each interview will last about 40 minutes.

One candidate, Bill Wells, asked the Port to withdraw his name from consideration.

Port commissioners George Barner and Bill McGregor are expected to reach a decision by June 10, but have until June 30 to do so.

Full Disclosure: Janine Unsoeld does not write any article for her blog, Little Hollywood, in exchange for payment. A small sidebar on her blog asks for donations if folks appreciate independent journalism and like what they are reading. Janine works fulltime as a caregiver for seniors and while she appreciates the donations she receives, it is safe to say that she writes what she is able to as a community service.

Janine is also under contract to write a book, “Legendary Locals of Olympia and South Puget Sound,” through Arcadia Publishing/History Press. The publishing company found her through her blog and felt she was qualified. No money will be exchanged as a result of this contract until actual books are sold. Due to the ridiculously low royalties one receives from writing, unless you are someone like a certain Ms. Rowling, it can safely be said that both this blog and the book project are labors of love.

County Commissioner Candidates Speak About Issues

Thurston County Commissioner candidates Karen Rogers, left, and Cathy Wolfe receive their instructions from George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian, at a candidate forum held today, sponsored by the Olympia Downtown Rotary.

 

County Commissioner Candidates Speak About Issues

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Two current Thurston County Commissioners wanting to retain their positions and their respective challengers met today for a fast-paced, speed-dating style question and answer period at an Olympia Downtown Rotary meeting held today at the Red Lion Inn in Olympia. The event was moderated by George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian.

Commission position #1 candidate Karen Rogers (D) and incumbent Cathy Wolfe (D) sat next to each other, and Commission position #2 candidate Andrew Barkis (R) sat next to incumbent Sandra Romero (D) on the other side of the table.

After initial introductions, Le Masurier posed several questions to all candidates relating to the unopened county jail, population growth, environmental issues, the public power initiative, and more.

Each candidate had one minute to respond to each question, resulting in snappy sound bites that at times amused and frustrated the candidates. The answers here are snippets of slightly longer answers.  Although many answers lacked detail, the event provided the audience an opportunity to hear the candidates in person and gain some insight on their thoughts about the issues.  Le Masurier regularly alternated the order in which candidates answered questions, which are paraphrased.

What should be done about the Thurston County fairgrounds?

Rogers:  Rogers said the fairgrounds should stay open if the money can be found, and that the agriculture attractions should be beefed up.  She said the Agri-tourism Overlay District is not working and that she is proud of her endorsement by the Washington State Farm Bureau.

Wolfe:  Wolfe said she attended a visioning process about the future of the fairgrounds last week that generated hundreds of creative ideas.  “The fair is not mandated as a county requirement, but it is a priority to keep it open.”

Barkis:  Barkis agreed that the fair should stay open if alternative revenue sources can be found. He also said the weather is a big factor with attendance.

Romero:  Romero agreed that the fairgrounds should stay open, and said the key is to keep it open and have meetings there to generate revenue.  “The younger crowd would change the fair with updated music, and activities to become more diverse. Fish Tale Ale suggested a beer garden.”

What about the ARC? (The Accountability and Restitution Center, the formal name for the new jail that has been sitting empty for two years)

Wolfe:  “It should be open right after the first of the year.  The old jail was built in the 80’s and is draining so much money in repairs to keep it running, it’s like a rat hole - you have no idea….”

Barkis:  “It’s costing $400,000 a year in operations to operate the ARC as it sits empty.  It needs a sustainable plan - not just to open it, but years down the road….”

Romero:  “We have a plan to open it. We are not rushing it to be open just because it’s an election year….(alluded to by a candidate earlier in the conversation)….”

Rogers:  “Sheriff John Snaza told me he can’t afford to move in until two more buildings are built to house women, and the mentally ill and work release. The existing plumbing system needs repairs. He doesn’t have enough money to operate two separate jails….”

What’s the plan for a local economic recovery?

Barkis:  “We need to increase Thurston County’s tax base and be a business friendly environment. We have to take a look at road blocks to promoting that.... We have a budget surplus of $15 million but the reality is, by 2015, they are projecting a negative $6.74 million deficit…They are using their reserves…. ”

Romero:  “We are getting it up (our tax base) through rental properties. Richie Brothers left because they didn’t have enough space, but we have someone new now….” (Rogers alluded to the Richie Brothers leaving the county earlier in the conversation).

Rogers:  “We should have Great Wolf Lodge paying property taxes – there’s a million right there….”  Rogers  also said the newly adopted Critical Areas Ordinance is driving down the tax base in South County.

Wolfe:  “We need to do exactly what we have been doing – sticking to management and control in the budget to maintain financial solvency, to continue working with the EDC (Economic Development Council), to promote ag tourism and Thurston Energy retrofits and savings, and we need to continue improving the environment so businesses will want to locate here.”

The state required an updated Critical Areas Ordinance. Thurston County was the last in the state to do so. Please comment on the process.

Romero:   “It is mandated, and we were fortunate to see how we fit in with the others around us. We’re in the middle….”

Rogers:  “I have a master’s in environmental ecology. There is a tightrope that needs to be walked – the CAO has gone too far – it’s already breaking the law….”

Wolfe:  “We are protecting the environment. With the CAO, we have protected ourselves from regulations being dictated to us by federal regulations – you wait, in the next few years, you’ll see….”

Barkis:  “It didn’t need to be rewritten. The requirement is to review and revise, not to be re-written…it’s not in the middle with regard to buffer zones, we’re at the maximum.  A lawsuit by the Farm Bureau against Thurston County to the Growth Management Hearings Board is challenging its legality...it’s the beginning of many litigation.”

Should the County Commission be expanded to five members?

Rogers:   “Yes, it’s too big a county have just three. South County is crying out for representation….”

Wolfe:   “Yes, it would be more efficient and much easier. Right now, we can’t even have a conversation with each other. However, it would cost more to have more commissioners….”

Barkis: “Yes, this may be something we can all agree on. Representation is the key….”

Romero:  “Yes, at least five. Freeholders develop a county charter - and a home-rule charter would be difficult to pass...All three of us current commissioners have frozen our salaries to keep costs down….”

What is your opinion about the Thurston County PUD and Proposition #1, the power initiative?

Wolfe:   “I have no position about it. I am conflicted.  I love the idea of public power but I’m nervous – I don’t think we’re ready.  I’m worried about the lack of infrastructure, capacity and debt. I’m struggling with the issue.”

Barkis:   “I am not supportive of the public power initiative. I’m not keen on taking a private company out of business. I come from Chehalis, where we have the Chehalis PUD, and they’re great, but PSE has been doing a great job. We’d be losing a valuable corporate community partner if they went away.”

Romero:   “I have a couple of real concerns. I’m not opposed, but when I was in the Legislature, initiatives by Tim Eyman allowed us no opportunity to deliberate. We need more time to study it.”

Rogers:   “This is an issue I’ve been asked by both sides to support. I’ve stayed out of it because it’s up to the campaigns of both sides to sell their argument.  The issue is in front of the voters. From what I understand, the initiative was started because PSE wanted another rate increase and it was a way to put some market pressure on them.”

Thurston County is growing.  Please comment.

Barkis:  “Embrace it. Smart growth dictates where growth should occur – and it will occur here. It is a challenging topic….”

Romero:  “We’ve been working on this for years with Thurston County Regional Planning. We want to make sure it occurs where there is infrastructure….”

Rogers:   “Growth is going to happen, we need density. It’s how we get there. The regulatory arm needs to have farms stay in business so they won’t be tempted to sell off their property to developers.”

Wolfe:   “This is a tremendous challenge. We do not want to raise taxes to pay for growth. We have seven jurisdictions and three tribes in Thurston County. The more we can collaborate, the better.”

Should Thurston County ban plastic bags?

Romero:   “Yes, I support a ban in a manner that doesn’t compromise food safety….”

Rogers:  “I can support it, with exceptions.  For example, the Tenino Food Bank – Tenino has a huge poverty rate – has a backpack program where they use bags for food and send the backpacks home with recipients – after three returns, the backpacks get unsanitary. I’m sure we can work it out.”

Wolfe:  “Plastics are a problem, but we’re in the middle of a conversation about it. I prefer not to rush to ban them, but to raise awareness to work closer with people to not use them.”

Barkis:   “No, I don’t like the word ban. Remember a time when we didn’t want to use paper bags because they used trees? Well, that led to plastic. We’re a smart group here in Thurston County. Let us individually make that choice. Yes, they’re bad, but we know how to decide what to use.”

Regarding the boundaries between agriculture and developed areas - there needs to be a balance between both interests. Please comment.

Rogers:  “We have a trend toward locally grown food and food security now – it’s not just your traditional farms anymore. It’s becoming a mixture….”

Wolfe:  “Agriculture is an important part of our economy – there needs to be a balance. We have the Agri-tourism initiative and a working farm plan, and a farm advisory committee working on a working lands report….”

Barkis:  “An example is the USDA Workable Lands Program – agriculture is an economic driver. There’s going to be a blending….”

Romero: “When I came into office, I said I would help farmers stay in business. Now we have the Agri-Tourism ordinance – 40 people worked on this. We could be like the Fruit Loop in Oregon….”

How should Thurston County support/work with the Puget Sound Partnership and improve water quality in the South Sound?

Wolfe:  “We play a huge role.  We’ve improved Henderson Inlet so much that we’ve been able to re-open shellfish beds, now we’re starting on the Nisqually watershed, and sewering the Woodland Creek area, and we’ve improved monitoring.”

Barkis: “The Lacey, Henderson watershed areas have been difficult projects and they need to be continued. Yes, we should work with the Partnership….”

Romero: “We’re on it. Puget Sound is a treasure, it’s our jewel. They need us to all pitch in. It’s a high priority….”

Rogers: “I helped write the bill creating the Puget Sound Partnership…we need to prioritize the issues: water quality and our drinking water supply. We need to play nicely with the agencies to get the grant monies.”

In closing remarks, Rogers said she will work hard and listen.  “I go door to door year ‘round.  I want to restore public engagement.”

Wolfe said she has a “proven track record as a team worker, and I’m proud to receive five out of seven endorsements from Olympia city council members."  In what would be the forum’s only evidence of what could be called a personal attack, Wolfe added, “I’m glad to hear Karen would play nicely with the agencies because she doesn’t play nicely with those from other jurisdictions.”

Barkis said he enjoys bi-partisan support and announced that he just received the endorsement of Sheriff John Snaza.

Romero said there are huge challenges facing Thurston County, and,  “if you want to keep Thurston County on the right track, please retain me.”

Little Hollywood encourages voters to contact candidates to receive the context of their full remarks and opinions on these issues. The following information is provided on their campaign literature distributed today:

Position #1:

Karen Rogers for Thurston County Commissioner #1, 1509 5^th Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501, (360) 628-7052; campaign@citizensforkarenrogers.org.

The Committee to Re-Elect Cathy Wolfe, PMB 124, 120 State Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98501-8212, www.ElectCathyWolfe.com.

Position #2:

Citizens for Sandra Romero, 2023 Westlake Drive SE, Lacey, WA 98503; (360) 357-8131; romeroforcommissioner@sandraromero.com; info@sandraromero.com; www.sandraromero.com.

Andrew Barkis for County Commissioner, PO Box 7298, Olympia, WA 98507, www.andrewbarkis.org; (360) 918-5256.

Thurston County Commissioner candidates Andrew Barkis, third from the left, and Sandra Romero, right, listen to forum instructions given by George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian.