The Willapa Harbor Herald asked the two candidates running for Pacific County Commissioner No. 2 one question: Incorporating your agenda, why should voters vote for you instead of your opponent? Here are their responses.
Frank Wolfe
My agenda is to keep our county functioning well, to benefit all of us. Public safety, public health, roads, and all the other services we take for granted can only be provided if necessary funding continues to support them. A county commissioner's primary job is to develop a budget to spread what revenue is available, providing the biggest bang for your buck. Every dollar has been looked at carefully to avoid waste. It's like spreading the last dollop of peanut butter to cover the entire slice of bread.
We are in a period of slow recovery from the Great Recession, with county revenues sluggishly trending toward normal. Stretching the available funding to cover existing demands requires familiarity with both the variability of our revenue sources and the changing needs of county departments. Not all requests can be met, requiring judgment balancing competing needs. Anyone who has lived on a paycheck knows it will only stretch so far, and sometimes difficult choices must be made.
Many county departments rely heavily on state and federal grants, and other cost-sharing programs. These have become less available, and costlier to use, with higher "match" requirements, as these funders deal their own revenue shortfalls. Grant administration costs have also risen, with more meticulous documentation becoming the rule.
There are measures I feel need to continue to be addressed with the State Legislature. Some statutes unnecessarily increase costs and decrease revenue streams for counties, making our financial picture unsustainable. For example, our Department of Community Development (DCD) was supported mostly from building permit fees. A state ruling ended that, forcing the counties to support DCD from the General Fund, taking revenue away from other departments.
This let to substantially cutting the size of DCD staff. The Legislature could easily fix this, but has been reluctant so far, even though it would cost the state nothing, and would not increase taxes. I have been working, along with other county's officials, to enlist the help of our legislators, to make us more financially sustainable.
The Pacific County Fair, along with our county parks were neglected during the Great Recession. While no one wants to ignore these public assets, when funding falls off, something has to give. The present board has made several investments in these important areas. The fairgrounds got an upgrade to its electrical distribution system, and drainage infrastructure. Our parks received attention, with necessary repairs. While these sorts of improvements tend to be invisible, they are necessary first steps before more extensive work is considered. While the funding that can be diverted to these important assets remains modest, I am committed to not forgetting our fair and parks. These are centrally important to so many folks.
I have worked to improve our financial position, taking advantage of record-low interest rates during the recession to refinance the county's already low debt, saving the taxpayers over $400,000.
I am working to reduce unnecessary spending through the Stepping Up Initiative, a national program to divert individuals with Behavior Health and/or Substance Use Disorder heading to jail on minor offences into programs to give them appropriate treatment. These individuals cost the taxpayers a great deal to warehouse in our jails. Many are stuck in a revolving door, being released only to reoffend. Treating their underlying disorder is far more cost effective, making them less likely to offend and able to lead more productive lives.
I was introduced to the Stepping Up Initiative through my position on the Governing Board of the Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization (GRBHO), administering funding from State and Federal programs, supporting Service Providers in five counties, including Pacific.
I am financially conservative, have worked hard to benefit the citizens of Pacific County, and ask for your support.
Fred Hill
I feel that with my 20-plus years as an elected official in Pacific County, 19 years with Pacific County Fire District Number 1, and four years with Pacific County Hospital District, I will be able to understand the workings of all the other elected offices to help with long-range planning.
It is time to look at all the planning, building, zoning rules and regulations to see if there is any way to help residents be able to build on their property in a more timely manner.
As your next county commissioner, I will work very hard with the other two commissioners to pass a realistic budget and come up with good long-range planning and goals for where Pacific County will be in the years to come. I have helped produce the budget for Pacific County Fire District 1 for many years. During that time, the budget has been in the black with necessary equipment replaced as needed and expansion of paid personnel while encouraging and appreciating volunteers.
I will make every effort to make sure taxpayer's funds are spent responsibly where they are supposed to be spent. I will try to keep fees within responsible boundaries. As a county commissioner, we need to have fair and equitable treatment for all residents. There should not be complaint-driven enforcement without reason. I will listen to you.
As your next commissioner, I will work to have all county offices open at least five days a week. We need to make Pacific County a place that people want to live in. We need to see if there is any way we can help business to flourish without unnecessary restraints, but with well-thought-out rules. I will represent the entire county, not just my district.
I am looking forward to meeting even more citizens of the county. I want to make all Pacific County residents glad to have chosen our county.
Thank for you for remembering me with your vote.