Jeff Gadman, who was appointed to fill an unexpired term in February, faces off Tuesday against Lacey Planning Commissioner Raymond Payne and Washington State Patrol Lt. Mark Arras. The top two will move to the general election.
All three recently sat down with The Olympian to discuss issues facing Lacey, lay out their short- and long-term goals for the city and describe what distinguishes them.
JEFF GADMAN
Age: 50
Occupation: Appraisal division manager, Thurston County Assessor’s Office.
Political experience: Lacey City Council, 2011; Thurston County Assessor candidate, 2010.
Education: South Puget Sound Community College.
Contact information: 360-628-6876, gadmanforcouncil@live.com, www.jeffgadman.com.
Endorsements: Mike Kreidler, state insurance commissioner; Lacey Mayor Tom Nelson; Thurston County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela; Lacey Professional Firefighters Union Local 2903.
Campaign contributions: $8,675.81.
Top donors: Local 2903 ($800); Andy Ryder ($800); Helen Surprenant ($500); John Surprenant ($500).
Contribution figures from state Public Disclosure Commission.
What is the biggest challenge facing Lacey?
“Making sure we’re fiscally responsible for the next few years,” he said.
While the city sits in a pretty good spot financially, Gadman said the sluggish growth of the economy requires the council keep a watchful eye so the city doesn’t fall on hard times.
What are some short-term goals you’d like to tackle?
Gadman says the city must work with local chambers and economic-development groups to attract businesses that create family-wage jobs.
“It’s important that people have jobs where they feel successful and not just surviving,” he said.
He also said commitment and value of small businesses will create a “tidal wave” of success.
Gadman also wants to make sure the city has growth policies and a solid business core that is ready for an increased population at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
He said the Department of Defense is working with communities affected by base growth and that the city now has a better idea of how many people are coming to the city because of that growth.
The city’s role in this is making sure the spouses of JBLM employees who live in Lacey have work.
“We need to identify jobs that can support them,” he said.
He also said the police department must remain adequately funded.
Long-term goals?
One of his highest priorities is helping the city realize the Gateway town center vision.
Gadman would like to see the city create more of a civic presence in the Hawks Prairie area. He said a library, satellite police station or public-private civic center would help residents feel more involved in the city.
He’d also like to see improvements made on the county-owned Martin Way corridor and Intercity Transit service in Hawks Prairie.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Gadman has been on the council since February and he says that experience gives him an advantage going into the election.
“I’m sitting on the council doing the job right now,” he said.
He also has been endorsed by five City Council members.
RAYMOND PAYNE JR.Age: 42
Occupation: Public works dispatch and project assistant for communication services, City of Olympia.
Political experience: Lacey Planning Commission, 2008-present.
Education: Courses through Community College of the Air Force.
Contact information: 360-455-4598, campaignone @raymondpayne.com, www.raymondpayne.com
Endorsements: Former Lacey planning commission chairman O’Dean Williamson; Planning Commissioner Kenneth Mitchell.
Campaign contributions: Payne selected the mini-reporting option through the state Public Disclosure Commission, meaning he doesn’t regularly report and can only raise up to $5,000.
Top donors: Not reported.
Contribution figures from state Public Disclosure Commission.
What is the biggest challenge facing Lacey?
Payne said the No. 1 issue brought up by residents is traffic.
He said that to fix peak-time congestion on College Street and other major arterials, the city needs to find a dedicated funding stream.
What are some short-term goals you’d like to tackle?
Payne said he’d like to create a citizens advisory committee on environmental stability, restructure the business-and-operations tax and propose no-cost fixes to traffic issues.
The advisory group, he said, would be made up of a councilmember, conservation representatives and the business community.
In terms of the B&O tax, Payne said the current setup is unfair and is making it harder to attract business.
Payne would like to see a restructuring of the tax without eliminating the revenue stream. The city should also look at tax incentives on labor or production costs, he said.
Long-term goals?
“I think we need to look at attracting young entrepreneurs to replace the maturing business owners that are there now,” Payne said.
Payne doesn’t think the city is doing enough to attract green and technology businesses.
He also said he wants to engage residents, and that leaders need to be held accountable.
“If you say something, you better go out and do it and if you don’t, you better come back and say why,” he said.
Payne has made a campaign promise to return his council stipends and not run for re-election in four years if he doesn’t reduce trip times in busy corridors by 10 percent, do something to restructure the B&O tax and set up the advisory committee.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Payne said it’s his depth and breadth of experience.
Payne said that during his time in the military, he worked in the fields of public works, communications, transportation and finance.
He said that as an administrative assistant to the director of the Situation Room in the White House, he developed important crisis-management skills.
MARK ARRAS
Age: 48
Occupation: Lieutenant, Washington State Patrol, section commander.
Political experience: Lacey City Council candidate, 2003.
Education: Community college courses.
Contact information: 360-455-7002, mark@arras4council.com, www.arras4council.com.
Endorsements: Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman; Lacey Fire District 3 Commissioner Judy Wilson; 20th Legislative District Sen. Dan Swecker; Fraternal Order of Police, Olympia.
Campaign contributions: $5,067.35.
Top donors: Dan Cathers ($200); Thurston County Women’s Republican Club ($200); Crystal Molen ($125); Dave Molen ($125).
Contribution figures from state Public Disclosure Commission.
What is the biggest challenge facing Lacey?
“The economy is on the ropes,” Arras said.
While he believes Lacey is the best-run city in the county and perhaps the state, Arras said things could change if city revenue remains flat or declines.
“If you look at the state budget, it’s probably inevitable that it’s going to go down,” he said.
Arras said the city must take a defensive posture with the budget, work within its means and maintain service levels. A stop on all unnecessary spending and a strong budget reserve is vital to keeping the city running smoothly, he said.
“I really like the way the city has run lean over the years,” he said. “I want to make sure it stays that way and we don’t venture off on any other paths that can distract us.”
What are some short-term goals you’d like to tackle?
A: Arras said he acknowledges the city council’s current vision and established goals, and that he’d come in as a team member and wouldn’t try to “drive everything on my own.”
“First off, we need to make sure we can handle what we have and we can develop and expand and work on the wish list,” he said.
Arras said his focus will be a being part of a council that works within its means.
Long-term goals?
Looking down the road, Arras said the city must concentrate on public safety, traffic congestion and staying away from putting up road blocks to economic development.
Arras said the area is seeing low crime rates, but that the community needs to take care of problems (such as gangs and theft issues) that are “right under the surface” in Lacey and the county.
He’d also like to see progress made on relieving congestion on College Street.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Arras points to his 26 years of public service in the State Patrol and his work in functions at the state and county levels.
For 15 years, he has worked in management and supervision roles, including handling budgets up to $38 million for terrorism grants. He said his opponents’ backgrounds lack the budget and management experience he possesses.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
