Vote Hutch for commission

The two outgoing county commissioners leave Thurston County with a legacy of a costly $12 million lawsuit, tripled building permit fees, horrific property restrictions that turns over a homeowners private property to gophers and a final parting shot to county residents with a vote on this Oct. 20 to instill new car tab and private septic system taxes.

County commissioner candidate Jim Cooper has, throughout the years demonstrated support for the outgoing commissioners county damaging policies and philosophies. If Mr. Cooper is elected county residents can expect more of the same increasing, expanding taxes and increasing regulatory burdens further eliminating affordable housing.

His opponent John “Hutch” Hutchings has a decades long record of public service. He has gone out of his way to investigate the regulatory plight and ever increasing taxes faced by struggling county taxpayers. I know Hutch and for years observed his service on the Olympia and Tenino police departments. He has demonstrated his desire to help and support all residents of Thurston County. He has vowed to continue his good work as a county commissioner and fight to rein in the voracious appetite past commissioners have had for increasing taxes and home owner regulatory burdens.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 8:41 AM with the headline "Vote Hutch for commission."