Candidates Defend Their Views At Forum

DAYTON - Interested at- tendees listened to candidate positions and a brief summary of eight measures on the ballot this fall in preparation for the upcoming General Election last Wednesday night at the Liberty Theater.

Judge William D. Acey spoke first. Acey, who ran unopposed for his judicial posi- tion, addressed the eight measures on the upcoming ballot. Information about the measures is available on Secretary of State Sam Reed's voter guide website, sos.wa.gov.

Columbia County commis- sioner candidates Tom Bensel and Mike Talbott are both run- ning for a seat open because of a retirement. In the Primary Election in August, Talbott won with 40.62 percent over Bensel and Anne Higgins. Higgins did not advance.

Bensel spoke first, recount- ing his experience working for the county and the city. Bensel said more than 40 percent of employed Washingtonians are employed by the government.

"One thing I learned is hellip; there is no limit to what you can do, if you don't try to take credit for it," Bensel said.

Bensel said he thinks it is critical to eliminate the duplication of effort and improve the flow of information in county government.

Talbott said he has lived in Columbia County for his entire life. including 42 years operating his farm, which taught him budgeting and management skills that will be useful as a county commissioner. Talbott also said he has been a member of or heavily involved in com- mittees and organizations in the city and county as well as several volunteer positions.

"I believe I am uniquely qualified to fill this position," Talbott said.

Both candidates were able to relax and speak more candidly during the question and answer segment.

Dwight Robanske, running unopposed for the second county commissioner seat, answered questions in the lobby after the forum.

State Senate candidate Scott Nettles spoke briefly about himself. Nettles said he was born in Oklahoma and moved to Waitsburg, where he graduated from high school and later attended Walla Walla Community College. Nettles, who is now a corrections officer at the state penitentiary, was raised by his single mother. Nettles said he believes he will bring a unique perspective to the Senate be- cause he knows he serves the people.

"You're (a senator) not the boss," Nettles said. "The people are the boss."

District 16 state representa- tive position one candidates Rep. Maureen Walsh and Mary Ruth Edwards spoke and took questions from the audience. Walsh, who spoke first, said she has served in the legislature for 20 years and likes to work with children and families. Walsh said she had to take a tough po- sition by supporting referendum 74, which would legalize same- sex marriage this year, which she knows challenged her voter base. Walsh said she tries to work across the aisle by working with people she may not other- wise agree with to help be more productive as politicians.

"I'm a bridge-builder, I'm not a bridge-burner," Walsh said.

Walsh said she believes in Reagan's rule of 80-20.

"If we agree 80 percent of the time, we're allies, not enemies," Walsh said.

Edwards said Walsh's stance on marriage equality was one of the reasons she decided to run against Walsh.

"One of my reasons for running is ideological differ- ences with (Walsh)," Edwards said. "In my mind, marriage is still between one man and one woman."

Edwards stressed her experi- ence as a teacher and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in her responses.

The candidates were asked several questions from audience members and overall agreed in their responses to the questions.

The District 16 representative position two candidate, incumbent Terry Nealey, spoke briefly about his experience as a representative and thanked the audience for their support in his unopposed race. Nealey also took some of his time to support gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna. Nealey's brief men- tion of support for McKenna was the most dominant topic for questions in the audience.

Acey also explained initia- tive measures for the audience that will appear on the ballot.

They are:

*1185: concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government

*1240: concerns the creation of public charter school system

*502: concerns the legaliza- tion of the distribution and pos- session of marijuana.

* 74: would legalize same- sex marriage,

* 8223: would allow the University of Washington and Washington State University to invest funds for the school

*8221: concerns Washing- ton's debt limit.

Acey also briefly explained advisory votes one and two which concern a B&O tax deduction and the expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products.