Issues

"What is your stand on the issues?" Is naturally the question I have been asked most often since announcing my candidacy for Pullman City Council. In all honesty, another question I am asked almost as frequently is "What are the issues?"

I believe a majority of our residents give our city high approval ratings. When we discuss our city government, the complaints from the average citizen are few and far between. We are lucky to have thoughtful and insightful leadership who do a great job managing our city and planning our future direction. I will be honored to serve you among individuals such as these.

That being said, when I find a particular issue that concerns me, or if people ask me a particularly relevant question, I am going to research that issue and post my position here. Sometimes my statement may reflect an uncommitted position, but often times these issues have many undecided or unresolved components to them which make coming to a specific position impossible - or at best, imprudent.

While I will do my best to keep these pages updated with current developments, please note the date on any postings, so that they may be framed in their proper context. Also, please make sure to check out the Candidates' Forum Page to watch YouTube videos from the 2009 League of Women Voters / Pullman Chamber of Commerce event.

The Paul Smear Campaign Continues

Well, the ever-affable Tim Paul can't seem to keep his mouth shut. On Monday, he launched into unfounded and unsubstantiatiated claims against me, and when I responded "PROVE IT" he launched into yet another ill-concieved diatribe, challenging me with the impossible task of proving a negative, ignoring my challenge to disavow recent odd endoresements, and assisting his father in coming off as a typical flip-flopping politician desperate to hang on to power.

So this time, instead of keeping my response terse, I have released a 1200+ word essay entitled "Good Old-Fashioned Small Town Mudslinging" in which I detail the futility of Paul's negative campaign tactics, but also illustrate their campaign pandering to groups like PARD and the anti-plastic-bag proponents here in our fair city.

Hey Tim... ever heard the phrase "Loose lips sink ships?" Don't look now, but your campaign seems to be taking on water...

Check it out! Read the article from Red County...

Strange Bedfellows & Unwarranted Accusations

As reported on October 20 in his recent article "The Dubious Endorsement Award" by author Tom Forbes, my opponent Bill Paul finds himself in the odd position of having to accept support from individuals employing smear tactics (Paul's son, Tim Paul) who claims that I hold "extreme predetermined political positions." Hey Tim, I have one thing to say in response... PROVE IT. You see, the problems about making such false claims when every article I have written and every interview I have made being readily available on this website, it makes such claims very easy to disprove, and the author of said comments to look like a fool.

Furthermore, after seemingly endless months attacking Bill Paul during the Wal-Mart debacle, PARD proponent and plastic bag ban wannabe Chris Lupke now ENDORSES Bill Paul. Why the sudden and unexpected change of heart from the guy who once said "We have never been so disappointed with a local city governance. We can’t wait for the next election?" Forbes opines these individuals and groups "wish to have someone more pliable on the city council than Jeff Williams."

Read the article from Red County...

Two More Ways To Grow Pullman Retail....

As outlined in the recent article "Five Years On: Lessons Learned from the Walmart Battle for the Next Pullman City Council" written by author and local political junkie Tom Forbes, two proposals are eloquently presented: 1. Require appellants to pay an appeal fee and the cost of a hearing examiner, and 2. Have the city council rather than the superior court hear appeals of the hearing examiner's decision. Many other municipalities in the state have similar ordinances, and let businesses know that they will not be needlessly subjected to meritless legal wrangling as happened in the instance of the proposed Wal-Mart development.

If we want businesses to locate in Pullman, let's take these steps and show business that we are serious about protecting some of their interests from vocal minority groups who organize to usurp the will of the majority population.

I support these proposals wholeheartedly, and invite you to read the article.

KQQQ Candidate Profile from October 13

These are the sound bites or "Actualities" by Jeff Williams used by the KQQQ morning news, recorded on 10/12 and aired on 10/13

Interview Clip #1 (20 seconds, 164 KB mp3 file)
Interview Clip #2 (20 seconds, 160 KB mp3 file)
Interview Clip #3 (20 seconds, 160 KB mp3 file)
Interview Clip #4 (18 seconds, 148 KB mp3 file)

KMAX "Your Issues" Interview from October 11

Any voter interested in this city council race should hear this interview. Conducted by reporter Jeff Mannix from Inland Northwest Broadcasting (KMAX 840 AM) this is an amazing side-by-side comparison of the candidates for the Ward 1, Position 7 race. I'm going to withhold any additional comment, simply because I feel the interview and the candidates speak for themselves... but I believe this choice becomes amazingly clear once you hear the candidates in their own words.

Click Here to listen to the KMAX Interview. (30 minutes, 5.2 MB mp3 file)

2009 Pullman Candidates' Forum

This forum was sponsored by the Pullman League of Women Voters and the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Recorded Monday, October 5, 2009 at Pullman City Hall. While the video has been edited for this format, all of my statements have been provided IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Thank you for watching.

Click here to watch excerpts from the 2009 Pullman Candidates' Forum

October 5, Your Online Voter Registration Deadline

If you haven't registered to vote or need to update your info, TODAY is the deadline if you want to vote in November. Submissions must be received prior to midnight tonight!

My thoughts: The Greek philosopher Plato once said “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors,” and Thomas Jefferson said “The government you elect is government you deserve.” While I am hopeful to earn your vote this election, I encourage anyone who is legally able to cast their vote and express their opinion in this election - to do so! Click Here for the Online Voter Registration website.

Synopsis: During the past month,The Pullman City Council voted to raise property taxes by 1% and raised water and sewer rates by 7%.

Original story: WSU Daily Evergreen (Published September 17, 2009)

My response: I was very disappointed in this vote. While members voiced "concerns" over raising fees and taxes, these items were passed unanimously. Where are the cuts before asking for additional dollars from local taxpayers? Personally, I am sick of the ATM mentality of government at all levels, and so are the citizens I am talking to in the community. Their homes are worth far less than they were at this time last year. Many have lost their jobs. All are tightening their belts and doing less with more or eliminating certain discretionary spending because of the down economy. If the average person must live within their means, why can't our government be held to the same standard? And why do these fee and tax increases pass unanimously? Who is looking out for MY interests and YOUR interests?

Synopsis: During the past month, I have been shaking hands and ringing doorbells. Oddly enough, the #1 question asked by potential constituents is: "I don't even know what ward I live in. Can you help me figure it out?

My short response: Sure I can. See link below to download a PDF of the current ward map for Pullman, Washington.

Click here to view the Pullman voting ward map. (Posted August 26, 2009)

Synopsis: On August 11, The City Council Unanimously Adopted the controversial stormwater ordinance.

My response: For a deliberative body that has claimed their opposition to portions of this ordinance for some time, it's curious that final passage of the stormwater ordinance was unanimous. What does the passage of this ordinance mean? Well, honestly, there is some good in this work, as none of us want to see our local waters polluted. However, this legislation was mandated by the State Department of Ecology, the members of which are appointed, not elected. As there is a massive tax component for non-permeable surfaces included in this work, and as a nation we have always held to the philosophy of "no taxation without representation," I believe this entire mess may be unconstitutional. Additionally, with local businesses hurting in a down economy, there is no excuse to further saddle them with additional punative taxes.

I don't like the obfuscation from the city on the issue of the now illegal act of washing your car in your driveway. You read that correctly, washing your car in your driveway and allowing the waste water to drain into the storm sewer is now an ILLEGAL ACT. The city says they won't emphasise or prosecute, but the state might. And why in the world are we passing laws and restrictions that we have no intention to enforce?

Last, I am still not satisfied that with the language that allows city workers to violate property owner's rights in the case of a stormwater "emergency." I believe the language is unnecessarily broad, so as to encompass a wide variety of potential (yet unlikely) issues.

Lastly, even if the current City Council was between a rock and a hard place on this ordinance, as they have claimed... that the result of not passing this ordinance would have been potential fines and lawsuits, so as to leave them no viable options... why in the world was it adopted unanimously? It seems to me that the City Council could have shown at least a degree of disagreement with this unfunded and unconstitutional mandate by passing it with the slimmest of margins. Perhaps a symbolic act, but an important one nonetheless.

If the Pullman City Council determined that a stormwater policy was important for our locality, then they should have been free to develop one that better suited the needs, wants and desires of our community. Politicians in Washington D.C. and Olympia don't know much of anything about our region and should allow us to govern ourselves as we see fit, without interference.

In short, our new stormwater ordinance is a very unfortunate matter, and I hope the citizens of Pullman eventually work to find a different solution. If the people determine they wish to follow such a course of action, I would gladly lend my efforts and energy to it.

Click here to read my original stormwater essay. (Posted July 31, 2009)

Synopsis: My take on two issues surrounding the continuing (mandated) stormwater debacle.

My short response: The city says: "Don't Worry... we won't enforce the law that says you can't wash YOUR car in YOUR driveway." I say: sorry - it's still a violation of law regardless of what you have been led to believe, and eventually that law WILL be enforced. The city says "Trust us, we would never violate property rights unless it's an emergency." I quote Ben Franklin: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” I agree with current council members in that the ordinance needs to be refined dramatically.

Click here to read my comprehensive response. (Posted July 31, 2009)

Synopsis: The Pullman City Council is considering raising water and sewer rates to pay for needed infrastructure projects.

Original story: Moscow/Pullman Daily News (Published July 1, 2009)

My short response: Are these projects truly necessary? Can alternate, non-traditional funding from other budgets be utilized for these proposals? Critical infrastructure projects need to be funded first, as they are the key responsibilities of local government. How much of this expense is due to unfunded State or Federal mandates? Are unfunded mandates a violation of constitutional rights? Close scrutiny is warranted and public input needed.

Click here to read my comprehensive response. (Posted July 2, 2009)

Synopsis: The Pullman Wal-Mart Development is one of the most divisive issues to EVER come to Pullman Washington.

My short response: Since a majority of Pullman residents favor the Wal-Mart Development, then a majority of Pullman residents will appreciate my opinion in this matter. But even if you don't agree with my position, you'll know exactly where I stand.

Click here to read my comprehensive position statement. (Posted July 10, 2009)

Read the Articles of Freedom!
(Click cover to download as PDF)