Laposi, Baxter Share Goals

WAITSBURG - With the April 2 election right around the corner, Waitsburg residents Bart Baxter and Tiffany Laposi are throwing their hats in the ring for city council.

Baxter, who has lived in town for 7 years and owns Betty's Diner, has already completed one year on city council and made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2011.

Laposi, who has lived in Waitsburg for 31 years and is a real property appraiser for Walla Walla County. She is a candidate in Waitsburg for the first time. Laposi has served on boards related to her profession and has some leadership experience.

Being engaged to one another is not the only thing Laposi and Baxter have in common. They share the same goals for the city of Waitsburg - they both want to boost small businesses and tourism to make the city thrive. Tiffany Laposi

Laposi, 41, said her family moved around a lot when she was little. At the age of 10, they settled here in Waitsburg and never left.

"I love the town," Laposi said as the reason why she remained here nearly her whole life so far.

She has been an appraiser for the county for 12 years and has three children, ages 8, 18 and 22. Her youngest attends school in the Waitsburg School District.

She said the reason she wants to be on the council is to spur some action.

"I thought it couldn't hurt to throw my hat in and have a different voice," Laposi said. "I think we can do more for the town."

Laposi's no. 1 goals are to grow our local businesses and provide more activities for kids.

She would like to make the former Waits Mill site a tourist destination with a museum and gift shop. Or, they could add a small campsite there to generate revenue for the city or put in an amphitheater for locals and visitors to enjoy entertainment.

"We're one-of-a-kind," Laposi said. " We need something that's one-of-akind."

The council needs to take a more active role in showing off what Waitsburg has to attract even more people, she added.

Laposi believes she can bring many assets to the council, including action, which she sees as lagging.

"I'm not afraid to try new things," Laposi said. "You give me a project and I get it done." Bart Baxter

Before running Betty's Diner, Baxter, age 47, had been a general contractor. He already has council experience and serves on the planning commission. He has also been a WP soccer coach and coaches a Blue Mountain Youth soccer team.

Baxter grew up in La Conner and has been a contractor and roofer most of his life. He is also a self-proclaimed "history buff." He has two grown sons, ages 26 and 18, and a 2-year-old grandson.

He loves Waitsburg because the climate is good on his bones, he says he has broken many, and because his parents Bert and Bitzi Baxter live here.

" Everybody is really friendly," Baxter said.

With an eye on a council seat, Baxter wants to support local business owners.

"I think we need some representation," he said. "We need to be heard."

Baxter said the youth of the city are being "ignored" and he would like to make them a priority.

He said he built remote control car tracks at the fairgrounds, but those have not been maintained. The BMX track is in the same shape and he is disappointed a city skate park for kids never got off the ground.

Baxter said his one year as a councilman in Waitsburg was positive until a sidewalk ordinance created some drama and he didn't enjoy.

"It kind of turned me off to politics," he said.

Baxter in 2011 ran for mayor to create some competition in the race and lost to Walt Gobel. He said going through all of this gave him very tough skin and he's ready to dive into politics again. One of his major goals is to turn Preston Park into a campground. He said the city can get grant money to do so and it could bring in a lot of revenue to the city. All of the camping is in Columbia County, which discourages tourism, Baxter said. Mostly, Baxter said he is running because he is frustrated with how the council has performed over the past two years.

He said he is unhappy with utility rates, the fact that the pool is closed on weekends, and that property taxes were raised instead of sales tax.

He said he admires the work residents have done over the past couple of years to make Waitsburg more beautiful. He would like to add to this momentum by bringing in different businesses and experiences.

"I'm trying to turn this town into a food and drink destination," he said.

He lives by the motto "why not?" and says that is the secret to getting great ideas turned into reality.

Baxter and Laposi are going up against current council members Marty Dunn, Kevin House, Karl