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Council incumbent Ed Stanley faces Dave Raatz, who ran for mayor in 2009. Councilwoman Joan Cathey is challenged by Debbie Sullivan, who heads the city planning commission.
Council candidates were asked about Walmart, future uses and development at the brewery and whether the city should consider consolidating services with surrounding jurisdictions.
When it comes to redeveloping the brewery property, candidates agreed that the city’s role needs to be to assist and knock down roadblocks.
“We, as a city, can help market something that is unique and a benefit to the citizens,” Cathey said.
Sullivan said it will be the planning commission’s task to look “out of the box” and be flexible to make sure any issues are easily addressed.
All four favor a fish hatchery on the Deschutes River but didn’t think the city should make it a funding priority.
Candidates were also asked if they supported a plan to regionally consolidate services to save resources.
Stanley said the cities need to look at consolidating fire services and possibly police. He went as far as to say Tumwater, Olympia and Lacey should look at consolidating.
Raatz doesn’t favor consolidating the cities or police services but said fire services might work.
Cathey said consolidating emergency services is a good idea, but that a parks merger would be more difficult.
Sullivan stated that she’s open to consolidations.
Candidates were asked if the city made the right decision letting Walmart come to town.
Stanley said his only initial objection was traffic issues; Raatz said the city needs the competition and sales-tax dollars.
Cathey noted she campaigned four years ago against Walmart and said the store displaced union-wage jobs.
Sullivan disagreed, saying she thinks the store will bring in smaller businesses and be better overall for the city.
A few jabs were taken.
After thanking Stanley for his four terms on the council, Raatz said the city needed a change to bring in more businesses and to “quit using the citizens of Tumwater like ATM machines,” alluding to the recent sales-tax proposal that went before voters.
“To change direction, we need a change of representation,” he said.
Stanley retorted in his wrap-up, saying that “I am not for the status quo; I am a change agent,” noting that he has received endorsements from a variety of groups.
SCHOOL BOARD
For the contested School Board seat, school counselor Kim Reykdal is squaring off against Dave Brastow, a stay-at-home dad who volunteers in schools.
Reykdal said her experience as a teacher and counselor gives her a unique perspective.
“I have seen firsthand the impact education has on a student’s life,” she said.
Reykdal and Brastow were asked about diversity in the district and whether the district is going a good job weeding out bad teachers.
Asked if the district should consider moving sixth-graders to middle schools, Reykdal said that until she has seen the data the board is gathering, she won’t have an opinion.
Brastow said his initial feeling is that it’s a good idea. “I think the diversity is important for the kids,” he said.
Both said they wouldn’t remove books from a school library or limit student access to those books.
