Position 1
q Jason Hearn
q Michael Steadman
Position 2
q Lenny Greenstein
q Joe Mihelich
Position 3
q Jeff Gadman
q Mark Arras
Voters in the City of Lacey have three decisions to make on Nov. 8 – decisions that will influence the direction of one of the fastest growing communities in South Sound.
This year’s election lacks the drama and dynamics of the election two years ago when three incumbents were tossed off the council, largely over their handling of a conflict with Lacey Fire District 3 and Lacey’s threat to form its own fire department. That issue has been resolved.
This year’s election lacks that singular focus, and The Olympian’s editorial board recommends Jason Hearn over Michael Steadman, Lenny Greenstein over Joe Mihelich and, in an extremely close contest, Jeff Gadman over Mark Arras.
HEARN VS. STEADMAN
Michael Steadman, 41, a self-employed businessman in the commercial leasing industry, says Lacey can, and should, do more to attract small business. He talks about Lacey’s burdensome sign ordinance and the need to eliminate the business and occupation tax for small businesses, but offers no clear vision for how Lacey will attract the businesses he says the city needs as a backbone to the tax structure. He seems to base his campaign more against Hearn and less about what he would do as a councilman.
Hearn, 40, the owner of a media company, has served a full, four-year term on the council. At a time of huge transition in Lacey, several new council members and the departure of longtime City Manager Greg Cuoio, Lacey voters need Hearn’s knowledge and depth of experience.
Hearn took a strong leadership role in getting his council colleagues to get a much-needed plan for College Street improvements off the shelf and into action. Hearn, as chair of the city’s Transportation Committee, will help get those improvements made as funding becomes available. He’s also strongly committed to making the vision for the Gateway/town center development a reality once the economy rebounds.
Hearn is a collaborator, embraces Lacey’s diversity and is an incumbent who is doing a good job serving his community.
GREENSTEIN VS. MIHELICH
Joe Mihelich, 38, a customer-service representative for the state Department of Health, advocates a strong arts element to the Gateway project, but he seems almost singularly focused on building Lacey’s parks program and creating more facilities such as the Regional Athletic Complex, which he says will attract tournaments which, in turn, will put heads in hotel beds and fill area shops and restaurants. He shows no depth of knowledge about city operations, and chides his opponent for living in the community for only six years.
But in his six years, Lenny Greenstein, 45, an insurance salesman, has absolutely thrown himself into community service. Greenstein has served on the Lacey Planning Commission for two years, the last year as chairman. He is president of the largest homeowners association in the county, chairs two different committees for the Lacey and Thurston County chambers of commerce and took a risk to open a restaurant that opened the same month the national economy tanked.
Greenstein is smart, articulate, and involved. He has a huge amount of energy. Greenstein rightfully takes credit for the planning commission’s hard work to increase the maximum size of warehouses in Lacey’s light industrial zone from 200,000 to 500,000 square feet. That recommendation and favorable council action, led to Harbor Wholesale and Trader Joe’s locating in Lacey – bringing with them an estimated 600 jobs.
In this economy, that’s huge.
Greenstein again stresses diversity as one of Lacey’s strengths and sees the need to get neighborhoods more associated with city decision-making. He’s done his work at the Planning Commission and is ready to step up to the Lacey City Council.
GADMAN VS. ARRAS
The race between Jeff Gadman, 50, chief of the county’s appraisal division, and Mark Arras, 48, a lieutenant in the Washington State Patrol, is an endorsement challenge. In Gadman and Arras, Lacey voters are fortunate to have two well-qualified, articulate candidates who bring great passion to their run for the City Council. Both are public servants at heart, and Lacey voters will be served extremely well no matter which candidate is elected.
This race, quite frankly, comes down to experience.
We like Arras’ experience with budgets in his multiple roles as a State Patrol administrator. There is no question that he would fit well with Lacey’s fiscal conservatism when it comes to setting and monitoring budget expenses. He admits to being driven by data and principles – admirable qualities.
Where Gadman gets the nod is both his community service and his 8-month tenure as an appointed council member – a unanimous choice by his colleagues.
Gadman is involved as a leader of his homeowners association, a member of Rotary and has served as a community volunteer for the public school system. Melding his appraiser position with his council duties, Gadman better than any other candidate sees the impact land use decisions can have – short- and long-term – on individual pieces of property.
He understands the need to build a quality city with strong public safety and social service systems, as the foundation for attracting new business to build the tax base. He spent his first few months on the council wisely – listening and learning. He gets it.
Lacey voters should take advantage of Gadman’s broad experience and return him to the Lacey City Council for a full, four-year term.
