Home rule charter — Freeholder candidates [Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.]
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0><tr><td align=right>Source: </td><td>McClatchy-Tribune Information Services</td></tr><tr><td align=right>Wordcount: </td><td>3717</td></tr></table><!-- start_body --><br><p><chron>Oct. 09</chron>--EDITOR'S NOTE: Candidates are listed by position, and then in the order in which they filed.</p><p>COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1:</p><p>Position 1</p><p><person>NICK HUGHES</person>:</p><p>Age: 69</p><p>Occupation: Retired <org>Coors Brewery</org> hops manager</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I have lived and worked here my entire life. I am a fiscal conservative independent, with strong support for law enforcement at all levels. I want to be part of any changes that may, or may not, take place with our county charter. Primarily, I want the ultimate charter commission to stay focused on the context of "home rule." I want the county to take back control over our local juvenile crime (especially gangs), child labor issues (focused toward gang prevention and local poverty) and school bond-fund management, all of which were taken from us by the state some years back.</p><p><person>GARY PETERSON</person>:</p><p>Age: Did not provide</p><p>Occupation: Fruit grower</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <location>Yakima County Fire District 10</location> board of commissioners.</p><p>Reason for seeking the position: To make a difference in the way things have been done; to help drive that new change. It ultimately will be up to the voters to decide if they want a new form of governing structure.</p><p><person>RONALD PATNODE</person>:</p><p>Age: 76</p><p>Occupation: Retired Catholic priest and educator</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: To offer my time, knowledge and experience to evaluate the effectiveness of our county government. I want to listen to the citizens of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> and help design a better, more efficient, economical and representative county government.</p><p>Position 2</p><p><person>DON HINMAN</person>:</p><p>Age: 69</p><p>Occupation: President, <org>Mid-Valley Insurance Inc.</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Yakima City Council</org> from 1976 to 1980.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: There is a need to modernize county government to have it governed more like a same-sized corporation with a chief executive officer and a much larger and diverse board of directors. There are no checks and balances when three commissioners act as the executive and legislative branches of county government; decision-making lacks the needed insight to avoid expensive mistakes. <location value="LU/us.wa.home" idsrc="xmltag.org">Home</location> rule allows <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> to control the entire process from beginning to end.</p><p><person>EARL LEE</person>:</p><p>Age: 57</p><p>Occupation: Education administrator and certified teacher</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Twice ran for county commissioner</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I know how to make the new jail profitable. I can get the county out of the red. I can provide job security for employees. I can eradicate the gang problem in our communities. I can develop programs that will allow our youth to learn morals, ethics and respect for people property and self, but I can do nothing without your involvement, collaboration as a team and your vote.</p><p>Position 3</p><p><person>NEIL MCCLURE</person>:</p><p>Age: 56</p><p>Occupation: Co-owner and general manager of <org>Firman Pollen Co.</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Yakima City Council</org> from 2003 to 2009.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I think it is important to review government. This is a great opportunity to look at government, see if we can make it better and get citizen input on it. I do believe I have a good understanding of government, the need for it and how it works.</p><p><person>MIKE EVANS</person>:</p><p>Did not respond</p><p><person>DANIEL CAPITILLO</person>:</p><p>Did not respond</p><p>Position 4</p><p><person>MARK DELAGASSE</person>:</p><p>Age: 65</p><p>Occupation: Retired from the <org>Navy</org>, disabled due to combat injuries in <location value="LC/vn" idsrc="xmltag.org">Vietnam</location></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I would like to serve as a freeholder in order to help structure the home rule charter to emphasize a libertarian/conservative philosophy. I feel that we do not need to have a county council that sits year-round, we would be better served by emulating <org>the Legislature's</org> alternating short annual sessions. I would like to see the council members paid a per diem versus having five to seven new county employees.</p><p><person>LYNN CARMICHAEL</person>:</p><p>Age: 66</p><p>Occupation: Attorney</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Yakima City Council</org> for 10 years, including two years as mayor from 1982-84.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: In addition to my elected and appointed government service experiences, I am a practicing attorney with experience as a prosecutor for the city of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location>. In private practice, I have gained knowledge of some of the challenges faced by <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> in the provision of mandated judicial services. These responsibilities encompass a huge share of the resources that are available to <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location>. I see the challenge of creating a proposed document to residence current and future responsibilities of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> as a vital and unusual opportunity in which to lend my expertise and knowledge.</p><p>Position 5</p><p><person>ANITA MONOIAN</person>:</p><p>Age: 68</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: Looking to the future and considering the current economy, I think it is reasonable to have a group of elected volunteers evaluate and suggest possible revisions to a system that has been in effect for more than 100 years and then take those revisions to the people for an up or down vote.</p><p><person>DANA GABBARD</person>:</p><p>Age: 71</p><p>Occupation: Retired after 42 years with Boise Cascade</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.naches" idsrc="xmltag.org">Naches</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: There are so many things I haven't liked and been frustrated about. The jail and that parks are cut to pay for the mistakes. If you want to talk to the commissioners, they aren't open. They are all in a little group. I decided instead of letting other people fix things, I want to be part of the solution. I believe we need a county that is for the good of the citizens and not for the good of the bureaucracy.</p><p><person>BILL RAZEY</person>:</p><p>Age: 55</p><p>Occupation: Farmer, teacher, and volunteer firefighter</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.naches" idsrc="xmltag.org">Naches</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Director of the <org>Wapatox Ditch Co.</org> board</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I am running to look after the interests of small business, and small farms, and, ultimately, all citizens. We can write the charter to encourage maximum freedom of exchange for all locally grown foods, reducing imports of questionable food from far away, and keeping money in the Valley.</p><p>We can guarantee minimum regulations on small business, making <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> an incubator for small business, creating new business on every street corner and in every neighborhood that will ripple out through our economy. We can make all aspects of food, shelter, farming and business more free, creating a shining example of freedom and enterprise.</p><p>COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2:</p><p>Position 1</p><p><person>PAUL GEORGE</person>:</p><p>Age: 81</p><p>Occupation: Retired; current chairman of the <org>Washington State Horse Racing Commission</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: <org>Yakima City Council</org> member, 2001-2005; mayor in 2004 and 2005</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I have always been interested in the subject. This is not a new subject for <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location>. It's time the citizens examine county government. I believe there needs to be a separation between the legislative and executive branches that are currently in the hands of three people. Like the city, there should be a professional executive branch controlled by a branch of county council members.</p><p><person>MATEO ARTEAGA</person>:</p><p>Age: 57</p><p>Occupation: Director of educational outreach services for <org>Central Washington University</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served as student body president at <org>Yakima Valley Community College</org></p><p>Reason for seeking position: I'd like to be part of a group to review the county government structure. The current system was put in place many years ago and the county's demographics and growth of the population are quite different than when we first started. I have lived here all my life and I want to make it a better place for all of us.</p><p><person>HIRAM WHITE</person>:</p><p>Age: 67</p><p>Occupation: Retired rancher</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Nine-year member of the <org>Washington State Oil and Gas Conservation Committee</org></p><p>Reason for seeking position: I would like to help make <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> into a more prosperous, safer and efficiently governed county.</p><p><person>CHERYL BRZOSKA</person>:</p><p>Age: 58</p><p>Occupation: Property management</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: There are many reasons why I chose to run for the freeholder position. I believe that the greatest impact that I can offer to <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> residents is my research on <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County's</location> government, and how leadership and the role it plays affect communication and problem-solving. I also can contribute and show how leadership and its decision-making can affect corporate culture.</p><p>Position 2</p><p><person>DOUG JENKINS</person>:</p><p>Age: 64</p><p>Occupation: Visitor services and education specialist for the <location>Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest</location> of the <org>U.S. Forest Service</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.harrah" idsrc="xmltag.org">Harrah</location></p><p>Prior political experience: A public utilities commissioner in southwest <location value="LS/us.wa" idsrc="xmltag.org">Washington</location></p><p>Reason for seeking position: I see a need for strengthening the checks and balances for each of the agencies of the county government to prevent any single branch from abusing its powers. One result of this process is creating a mechanism whereby the citizens of the county have an avenue to communicate and participate in the county processes. The second and probably most important aspect of this position is it opens an opportunity to create provisions so county officials are required to report to the citizens what they are doing to carry out their duties. This county has for too long lacked accountability for its decisions and by setting provisions in the form of a charter we can ensure the citizens that county officials are responsive to the public.</p><p>MATTHEW TOMASKIN:</p><p>Age: 48</p><p>Occupation: Legislative liaison for the <org value="ACORN:3884040048" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakama Nation</org></p><p>Residence: Parker</p><p>Prior political experience: <org>Yakama Nation Tribal Council</org> member from 2001 to 2004</p><p>Reason for seeking position: The structure as it is does not meet the needs of the <location>Lower Yakima Valley</location>. An example is the jail fiasco. The three commissioners took it on themselves to buy a jail from the westside. They decided to make a deal with <location value="LU/us.wa.topish" idsrc="xmltag.org">Toppenish</location> and put it on the reservation without consulting the <org value="ACORN:3884040048" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakama Nation</org>. I would like to see broader representation and transparency.</p><p><person>LINDA SCHMIDT</person>:</p><p>Age: 60</p><p>Occupation: <org>Central Washington University</org> mathematics lecturer</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I believe it is important to review the current government structure and suggest improvements in the form of a home rule charter. Several other counties have adopted home rule charters, which have brought government closer to the people and created better checks and balances such as countywide ballot measures, more districts with representatives elected by the district, and more.</p><p>Position 3</p><p><person>DANY ADOLF</person>:</p><p>Age: 69</p><p>Occupation: Retired from <org>GE Aviation</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: If elected as a freeholder, I would work toward the goal of revising the structure of county government to give the voting public a voice in the decision-making of the council. I would support changing the number of commissioners and the way they are elected. I feel that under the current system, there are large groups of voters who are not adequately represented and there is no method of holding the current commissioners accountable for the decisions they make. Some of these decisions can have profound financial and social implications for many years to come.</p><p><person>LARRY SANCHEZ</person>:</p><p>Age: 55</p><p>Occupation: Agriculture clearance order specialist for the <org>Washington State Employment Security Department</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Toppenish City Council</org> from 1984-1986</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I believe the current <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> government system hasn't been inclusive and responsive to its voters' interests and needs. In past years, there have been many poor budget and policy decisions made with limited accountability. We need a change and, if elected, I will fight for the system changes needed for our communities.</p><p><person>ROGELIO MONTES</person>:</p><p>Age: 36</p><p>Occupation: <org>Yakima Valley Community College</org> student</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.tieton" idsrc="xmltag.org">Tieton</location></p><p>Prior political experience: <org>Yakima City Council</org> candidate</p><p>Reason for seeking position: Life in our county is changing rapidly, and it's time to look at how decisions are made to ensure county residents have the best governmental administrative structure in place to manage the complex issues facing us today and into the future. <location value="LU/us.wa.home" idsrc="xmltag.org">Home</location> rule allows residents throughout the Valley to really become part of a decision-making process. Give freeholders a chance to look at the issues and represent your interests. As a freeholder, I will represent your voice.</p><p>Position 4</p><p><person>PATRICIA WHITEFOOT</person>:</p><p>Age: Not given</p><p>Occupation: Indian Education Director for the <org>Toppenish School District</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.whiwan" idsrc="xmltag.org">White Swan</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Elected to the <org>Yakama Nation Tribal Council</org>. Elected to tribal Code of Ethics Committee</p><p>Reason for seeking position: When you take a look at it, it was a default government created more than 100 years ago. When you think of that period of time, there weren't any women there. Tribal people were not acknowledged. For me, it is to make certain we have a greater inclusion of citizen participation in that process and to make sure we have engagement from the community.</p><p><person>LARRY MATTSON</person>:</p><p>Age: 42</p><p>Occupation: Environmental manager, state <org>Department of Transportation</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Yakima City Council</org> from 2000 to 2003</p><p>Reason for seeking position: This election represents an opportunity to examine how we govern ourselves and to determine if our current system is the best model for the 21st century. Since this will be a two-step process (first voting to determine if we want to draft a home rule charter, and if that's approved, subsequently voting on the charter itself), with a lot of citizen input throughout, the vote on home rule represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to reshape local government.</p><p>Position 5</p><p><person>MARTHA RICE</person>:</p><p>Age: 59</p><p>Occupation: Activity manager, <org>Hanford Fire Department</org></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: <org>Yakima School Board</org> member for 13 years</p><p>Reason for seeking position: Our current form of county governance is a default model created by <org>the Legislature</org> in 1889 for all counties in <location value="LS/us.wa" idsrc="xmltag.org">Washington</location>. Our county has changed significantly over these 122 years. We now have half the population of the state of <location value="LS/us.wy" idsrc="xmltag.org">Wyoming</location>. I believe it's time for the voters of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> to have a discussion about the type of government they believe is most appropriate for a county as large and diverse as our county is. That discussion needs to include whether or not the current model is sufficient to residence today's and tomorrow's challenges.</p><p><person>TIMOTHY MILLER</person>:</p><p>Age: 53</p><p>Occupation: Licensed mental health counselor</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I believe we have a civic responsibility to contribute to our community in order to effect positive social change, which is the evolution of laws, policies and institutions to better reflect the values of inclusion, fairness and diversity for the improvement of our community, as well as to help assure an equitable, effective and efficient county government.</p><p>COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3:</p><p>Position 1</p><p><person>RON BONLENDER</person>:</p><p>Age: 68</p><p>Occupation: Owner of <org>Sub Shops</org> of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Served on the <org>Yakima City Council</org> for four years.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I want to be part of this historic opportunity to change county government and to help it become more transparent and truly representative of the people.</p><p><person>DAN OLSON</person>:</p><p>Age: 66</p><p>Occupation: Land developer, contractor</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.unigap" idsrc="xmltag.org">Union Gap</location></p><p>Prior political experience: <org>Current Union Gap City Council</org> member; also former mayor; twice ran for county commissioner.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I believe that we the people should have a government that is small, efficient, responsive, easily accessible and minimally intrusive to all. I have been directly involved in many facets of local government for more than 15 years. I do my own research on the issues and problems and involve others as I work to bring resolve. I want to be at the table to draft a charter if the voters wish to make a change in the existing county form of government.</p><p><person>CAROLE FOLSOM-HILL</person>:</p><p>Age: 64</p><p>Occupation: Executive director for <org>Yakima Interfaith Coalition</org>/ La Casa Hogar</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political office: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I am excited for the opportunity to explore the question: Is there a way to improve the current county form of government to ensure an increase in the quality of life in our county? I am particularly interested in developing the expectation and opportunity for enhanced civic engagement. I believe we all want to live and raise our families in a thriving, healthy and safe environment and we all have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of our community. The current governmental planning and decision-making process makes both engagement and citizen responsibility difficult to do.</p><p>Position 2</p><p><person>TED RAIHL</person>:</p><p>Age: 45</p><p>Occupation: Teacher</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.sunide" idsrc="xmltag.org">Sunnyside</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I teach middle-school social studies. One of the ideas I work to instill in my students is the importance of participation in our representative democracy. We all need to work together to make our county better for everyone who lives and works here. I want to help make the county government accountable to all the voters. Our county government was set up more than 140 years ago. <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> had far fewer residents and a far smaller budget. Nowadays, we have nearly a quarter million residents spread over 4,000 square miles. Our county budget runs over <money>$150 million</money>. And yet <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> in 2011 has the same form of government as in 1865.</p><p><person>BOB PLUMB</person>:</p><p>Age: 70</p><p>Occupation: Retired professor</p><p>Residence: <location>Terrace Heights</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I would like to help reform the county governing process by increasing citizen input to include freeholders from all geographic areas of the county.</p><p>Position 3</p><p><person>LOUETA JOHNSON</person>:</p><p>Age: Not given</p><p>Occupation: Director of the <org>University of Washington GEAR UP</org> chapter</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I believe that local government can only be made stronger by including more voices at the table. I bring a strong background in fiscal responsibility and problem-solving, which would be beneficial to this new endeavor. My proven ability to partner with others will help ensure open representation in the decision-making process and will work to strengthen a system of county government.</p><p><person>JOHN PICKENS</person>:</p><p>Age: 60</p><p>Occupation: Manufacturing engineer, <org>GE Aviation</org>, <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.zillah" idsrc="xmltag.org">Zillah</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I am running for commission <location>District 3</location>, Position 3 to offer the citizens of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> a conservative, pro-business voice on the freeholder board. I believe the focus of county government should be to promote growth of our agricultural economy and provide a business-friendly environment to assure growth of the tax base, to ensure public safety and less dependence on state and federal government programs.</p><p><person>LYNNE KITTELSON</person>:</p><p>Age: 75</p><p>Occupation: Retired teacher</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I have followed county government since I was involved with the <org>League of Women Voters</org> home rule study. I have long thought that this is the direction county government needed to look so that county citizens could have more involvement and representation in the business and decisions, especially local issues that comprise county governance.</p><p>Position 4</p><p><person>MICHAEL MURDOCK</person>:</p><p>Age: 44</p><p>Occupation: Marketing and media services consultant</p><p>Residence: <location>Terrace Heights</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I looked at the voting district lines for <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> and saw they all converge in the city of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location>. While our present county commissioners are all from different parts of the county, the current three-district system makes it possible to have a commission made up entirely of city of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima</location> residents. We need to take a new look at the way our district lines are drawn to make sure communities throughout <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> are always represented fairly.</p><p><person>TEODORA MARTINEZ-CHAVEZ</person>:</p><p>Age: 47</p><p>Occupation: Volunteer community advocate</p><p>Residence: Outlook</p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> demographics have changed over the past 100 years and has grown five times since then. However, our county government has not grown with the changes. We need a change in county government that reflects the county residents' concerns and interests.</p><p><person>CARL HURLBURT</person>:</p><p>Age: 59</p><p>Occupation: Owner-manager of <person>Granger Self Storage</person></p><p>Residence: Granger</p><p>Prior political experience: None. Has served as a volunteer in community positions.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: Every business needs to review its business structure, and it has been years since <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> has done so. After the elected freeholder committee reviews the pertinent information, the freeholder committee will make a recommendation to the citizens, who will have the final say. The voters might decide to stay with the current system or they may choose to make changes to how the county is operated. I am willing to help us have a fair and complete review of this option.</p><p>Position 5</p><p><person>CHARLES KLARICH</person>:</p><p>Age: 74</p><p>Occupation: Retired</p><p>Residence: Granger</p><p>Prior political experience: <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> commissioner for 16 years</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I have been a resident of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> for nearly 50 years. My experience as a county commissioner, educator and community volunteer would assist in the development of a charter for <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location>. The voters of <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> will have the opportunity to accept or reject the proposed charter. A charter would provide the opportunity for a more representative and efficient government.</p><p><person>DAVID WEYENETH SR.</person>:</p><p>Age: 63</p><p>Occupation: Building energy audit business owner</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.zillah" idsrc="xmltag.org">Zillah</location></p><p>Prior political experience: Precinct committee officer. Served on committees writing bylaws for the <location>Fourth Congressional District</location>.</p><p>Reason for seeking position: I want a clear and useful document to guide <location value="LU/us.wa.yakima" idsrc="xmltag.org">Yakima County</location> government under the new charter. I have writing skills and am good at listening to people and expressing our thoughts in appropriate language.</p><p><person>DOUG JOHNSON</person>:</p><p>Age: 46</p><p>Occupation: Teacher</p><p>Residence: <location value="LU/us.wa.moxee" idsrc="xmltag.org">Moxee</location></p><p>Prior political experience: None</p><p>Reason for seeking position: The freeholder council simply tries to improve the current government model by examining the current needs of people around the Valley. <person>Henry Ford</person> stepped off the farm, took all that ingenuity and created unparalleled prosperity. It happened because "peasants" were allowed to come to the table and improve the new-fangled "horseless carriage." The coming debate is simply a debate over who cares to keep buggy whips in use. They were still in demand in 1879 with the original state charter. If we think more is possible than buggy whips, everyone who cares to create messy progress will look to improve the <location>Yakima Valley</location>.</p><p class="shirttail">___</p><p class="shirttail">(c)2011 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)</p><p class="shirttail">Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com</p><p class="shirttail">Distributed by MCT Information Services</p>
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