Sandra Romero Credentials

Peggy Bruton, a Sandra Romero supporter echos the beliefs of Romero in her editorial titled "Romero Has Solid Credentials" appearing in The Olympian on July 1st, 2008.

Bruton has it wrong and it is indicative of Romero's ideology of putting the interestes of her special-interest group Futurewise (and Liveable Thurston) ahead of the interests of the people of Thurston County.

First Bruton writes, "In the long term, the county has failed to adopt measures, such as impact fees, to slow development in rural Thurston County and redirect it to urban growth areas." This would be an incorrect use of impact fees, but one that is popular with Romero and her group Futurewise. Impact fees are intended to "To ensure that adequate facilities are available to serve new growth and development." (RCW 8202.050) And that is it. Impact fees are not a mechanism to improve or restrict growth, that is the job of the marketplace and the law of supply and demand.

Secondly, Bruton writes, "Short-term, the county has made serious mistakes, such as wasting taxpayer dollars to challenge the Growth Management Hearings Board decision that the county's growth management plan needs more rural zoning options." This is again the position of Romero and Futurewise, but not the truth. The truth is, that under the Growth Management Act, jusidictions have the ability to plan with defrence. In other words, each local jurisdiction can create a plan that makes sense for them. 1 unit per 5 acres is a rural zoning, and when Thurston County adopted their comprehensive plan, the pople of Thurston County adopted their rural zoning plan to be 1 unit per 5 acres.

It was an out-of-town, Seattle-based group called Futurewise that challenged the Thurston County comprehensive plan, and caused Thurston County to defend, and revise the existing plan where needed. Sandra Romero is a board member of this group and now wants to be a County Commissioner. Isn't this like sending the fox to the henhouse?

There are much better options available for this postition:

Robin Edmondson

Jon Halvorson

Pick one!

Rossi will Restore Inegrity

Since this letter is so short, I've included it in this post.

"What a sweet deal Gov. Chris Gregoire negotiated for herself with the state’s Indian tribes. She killed a 2005 compact that would have brought millions to the state coffers from tribal gambling. In exchange, the tribes have contributed hundreds of thousands to her campaign.
As democratic Sen. Ken Jacobsen put it, “Why would you give someone a monopoly without taking a cut?”
A sweet deal indeed — for everyone but the taxpayers. In 2008, vote Dino Rossi to restore integrity to the governor’s office!
Dennis Anderson, Lacey"

The reported amount that Gregoire saved the Tribes was in the range of $150 million per year. Re-elect Rossi!

Change Gregoire

Christine Gregoire has worked 39 years in government. She has never had a private sector job. It's time for a change. Yes we can!

Thurston County Budget Woes

Earlier this week The Olympian blamed the Thurston County Commissioners for overspending the County's budget. Of course they are to blame, they approve and administer the budget. It is usually simple math -- spend less than you make. We all understand this in our own personal budgets. Why is it so hard for our elected officials to 'get it'?

I'm elated that The Olympian published the truth and was finally critical of our Commissioners. Hurray!

Here is the good news: It is an election year! Dianne Oberquell will be retiring and Cathy Wolfe is running for re-election. Send Cathy Wolfe a message with your vote in November; Send her packing.

Rising Fuel Costs Force Choices

About the only thing I can agree with Robert here is that the rising fuel costs are causing Americans to make choices.

You can do two things: 1. cry about it like the woman and her two children suffering between the choices of renting a video and putting fuel in their car, or 2. you can get your household budget in order.

Of course I feel for a single mother and her two children. However, I cannot fall prey to a heartfelt logic that tries to lure a George Bush conspiracy theory.

The high prices of oil aren't some conspiracy at the white house and George Bush. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. The solution is for America to become energy independent. We can do this by drilling our own vast oil reserves and at the same time develop new, sustainable technology.

My only question is, "Why is this taking so long?"

County Budget Shortfall

I agree with Lois Powell and his comments below. The Commissioners should have foreseen the budget shortfall. Administrating the budget is their primary duty. The only reasonable explanation is that they were asleep at the switch. I believe the budget fiasco is a result of a lack of leadership. Louis Powell's comments as Published in The Olympian below:

Commission should have seen budget shortfall
I agree with Sgt. Dave Odegaard of the sheriff’s office. The county commissioners and their administrative staff have demonstrated their incompetence and fiscal irresponsibility.
Are they in na-na land?
I didn’t see them decline their pay raises.
Lois Powell, Rochester

Budget Control Key

Yesterday I had the privledge of moderating a Candidates Forum on TCTV. I moderated a panel of 4 out of 5 Commissioner candidates that are vying for Dianne Oberquell's vacant seat.

The primary issue facing the new Commission will be the shortfall in the County budget. Each candidate had a different idea on how to tackle this problem

It was a fun experience and one that I would like to try again sometime.

The title links to the article published by The Olympian.