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Listen up:
Nine vie for two council seats
By Jordan Kline - Daily World writer
Saturday, June 23, 2007
OCEAN SHORES — The Dave Creighton v. Terry Veitz matchup may be the most closely watched out of the Ocean Shores City Council races, but there are other matchups, too.
Concerns over the council's ability to listen to their constituents topped the list of reasons why the other candidates decided to run for office. Most of the candidates said they'd like to change the interaction between the council and residents.
“The council spends too much time arguing with the citizens,” said Doug Thaut, a hearings officer at Stafford Creek Correctional Center and former Snohomish city councilman.
Bob Crumpacker, a retired plumbing contractor and member of the Public Works advisory committee, is making his third attempt at a council seat. “I'd move public comment to the beginning of the meeting, and every agenda item will have a public comment period,” he said.
Jim Sanders, a former employee of the city's finance department said, “it's my belief that the current City Council and past City Councils have assumed responsibility of thinking for the electorate and informing the electorate after the fact that this is what were' going to do and how we're going to do it.”
Sanders suggested weekly town hall meetings or informal sit-down sessions so that people can air their thoughts on a more regular basis.
Peggy Berry said the current council isn't listening to one of its most important constituencies — senior citizens. “We have absolutely no outreach program for them to discuss and learn about issues they're facing,” she said. “I will recommend that we hold at least monthly meetings to discuss services and programs available to seniors.”
Meantime, while controversy swirled around the city's plan to move golf course holes from the downtown area to a part of the Weatherwax property in order to finance needed city facilities, one council candidate was involved in another controversy involving a group trying to protect the Weatherwax property from development they deemed “irresponsible.”
Eleanor Dorman says she parted ways with Citizens For Balanced Growth after some members were upset with her desire to compromise with city officials.
“The small minority became a strong minority,” she said. “Once the group decided that they would no longer compromise, I thought it was in their and my best interest to part ways.”
While Citizens for Balanced Growth now says the city's plan isn't a compromise, merely a recycled version of an old plan, Dorman insists city officials came to the bargaining table and listened to what residents wanted.
“I have gained more respect than I've lost votes,” she said of her decision's electoral impact. “On principal, I think it was the right thing to do.”
Look for more in-depth coverage of the Ocean Shores City Council races in The Daily World throughout the summer.