Candidates for Columbia County Offices Appear at Forum

DAYTON—The Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women held a Candidates’ Forum to allow voters in Columbia County to hear from and ask questions of candidates for local races. Candidates for Columbia County Sheriff, Columbia County Commissioner from Dist. 3 and Columbia County Treasurer all appeared, along with candidates for two local seats in the Washington State House of Representatives.

Columbia County Sheriff

Columbia County Chief Deputy Joe Helm and Narcotics Deputy Jeff Jenkins share many ideas on how to move the Sheriff’s Department forward, including ways to establish community trust, creating a reserve deputy force to fill gaps in inadequate patrolling, and working with the school district to improve safety.

They even share similar ideas about how to accomplish goals, including utilizing grants and working closely with other agencies to solve problems.

Helm said the main reason he is running for sheriff is because of the rash of burglaries due to a drug epidemic that is plaguing the community. He said his plan is to provide for a community oriented policing program and to share resources with other agencies, along with creating a citizen’s academy, to curb those problems.

Helm’s background as a corrections officer in Walla Walla County, his work with a gang unit in the Walla Walla Police Department, his training on a DEA task force, and the relationships he has established have prepared him for the task, he said.

“I feel strongly about community involvement with law enforcement. We cannot do our job effectively without you,” Helm said.

Jenkins said he has prior experience as a jailer, and he has attended Corrections Academy and Basic Law Enforcement Academy, during his employment with the Payette County Sheriff’s Department in Idaho.

He said he has served with five different sheriffs. His appointment to a narcotics taskforce in 2006 and subsequent DEA surveillance training has given him the experience he needs to do the job, he said.

“The drug problem is an epidemic, and it’s not going to get better any time soon, so we need to put the screws to it and get it under control,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins said he wants to hire a part-time detective to investigate drug crimes. He also wants to work with the school district to create a zero-tolerance drug-free zone around the schools.

“My first priority is to get the Sheriff’s Department up to full staff,” said Jenkins, who hopes the department can become more proactive when that is accomplished.

Jenkins said he has become familiar with the grant-writing process through his participation in local youth groups such as 4-H and Little League, and budgeting processes also through his participation in youth programs.

Helm said that as jail commander for the county he works with the county’s jail budget and he has been reviewing the department’s budget regularly to see where funds can be better utilized. He also has experience with grant writing through the sex offender registry.

Both candidates see a role for nursing services for inmates at the county jail, which will save money in the long run, because inmates will not have to be transported off site to receive some kinds of medical care.

Helm made a point that hiring reserve deputies should be viewed as a temporary solution. He said he believes the hiring process can be made simpler by completing the written and physical testing requirements through the civil service, on site, rather than the eight-month public safety testing process currently in place.

Columbia County Commissioner, Dist. 3

County resident Chuck Amerein is running against Dayton City Council member Dain Nysoe for the County Commissioner seat currently held by Merle Jackson, who is retiring.

Amerein said he was raised in the Methow Valley, a former logging, farming, and ranching community that has fallen on hard times.

“Now, the BLM is trying to get rid of the ranchers,” he said.

Amerein said he has found a refuge in Columbia County and will work hard to maintain the rural nature of the community.

After high school, Amerein enlisted in the Army. As a combat veteran in Special Operations, Amerein was involved in the 1989 invasion of Panama. As a Special Forces Operative, he subsequently undertook missions in Northern Iraq and Yugoslavia. He said that after a brief stint at home, he served additional time in Northern Iraq.

Amerein said he has managed a few million dollars for medical operations for the private security companies he has worked for. He also owned Hammerdown Fitness in Dayton and CrossFit Walla Walla, giving him experience in budgeting and working with personnel.

He is currently working as a journeyman carpenter at the Lyons Ferry Straw Pulp Mill. He is the commander of American Legion Post No. 42. He belongs to the Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds.

Amerein said he wants the fairgrounds Pavilion to be used for more trade shows so the fairgrounds can become more self-supporting.

“I don’t have a huge bank of policies,” said Amerein, who has spent considerable time sitting in commissioner meetings.

He said he has been talking with county department heads and road crews to get a better picture of their operations and needs.

“My job will be making sure it all works,” he said. “We can improve efficiency and get more value for our dollars.”

Dain Nysoe said he is running for a seat on the BOCC because he wants to give back to the community all that his family has gained from the county over the years. He was born here and was raised on the family farm.

Nysoe served in the Army after high school and went to college on the GI Bill, receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a master’s degree in public administration.

Nysoe has served Chamber of Commerce executive director for Pendleton, Ore. and Bremerton, Wash. He also had 30 employees and oversaw a multimillion-dollar budget while working in marketing for the Kitsap County Parks Department.

Nysoe was also responsible for between 22 and 25 people when he managed the Correctional Industries Program at the Washington State Penitentiary.

Nysoe said the county fairgrounds are underutilized, and he would like to see more events taking place, on a year around basis.

The commissioners in Kitsap County would allot the fairgrounds a certain amount of money for events, and the money that was raised from events went to pay the county back, he said.

“If there was any excess we could keep it for the next year,” said Nysoe, who proposed this model as a way of eliminating subsidizing the fairgrounds by the county. He said he looks forward to working with the Friends of the Fairgrounds.

Nysoe also emphasized the need for better housing for families and seniors. And he said the county tax base should be increased to help pay for essential services.

If elected Nysoe said he would work in earnest with Port officials to bring living wage jobs into the community, a discussion he has already begun.

“We need jobs, not just any jobs,” Amerein countered. “Everyone is all for business, until somebody decides to put a rendering plant across from their home. We need jobs that bring similar values, similar ways of thinking and similar work ethic.”

Columbia County Treasurer

Carla Rowe, who runs a local bookkeeping business, and Columbia County Chief Deputy Treasurer Cathy Shochet are running to replace retiring treasurer Audrey McLean.

“I believe I’ve developed a skill set which could bring practical applications to the County Treasurer’s Office,” said Rowe.

Rowe grew up in Dayton, graduated from high school in Dayton and attended Walla Walla Community College, where she received an associate’s degree and edited the college newspaper.

For the past 14 years Rowe has been a professional bookkeeper, implementing and maintaining acceptable practices and procedures for many small businesses in the area.

She referred to herself as a problem solver. She has been busy as a 20-year 4-H Leader, a Treasurer for 4-H, and on a Young Life committee. She is also on the Dayton Development Task Force.

“My focus is on the future. I want to do my part to keep Columbia County financially strong, and to continue to prosper for upcoming generations,” she said.

This is Cathy Shochet’s third year as chief deputy treasurer in the treasurer’s office.

“I believe I am the most qualified candidate for treasurer, because not only do I have on-the-job experience, I also have supervisory experience while working for other larger organizations,” said Shochet.

Shochet grew up in Dayton, graduated from Dayton High School, and received a BA from Evergreen State College, along with accounting certification from Fort Steilacoom Community College.

She said she devoted the first part of her working life to several large organizations in the Puget Sound area.

Before coming to work at the treasurer’s office, Shochet was auditor and administrative assistant for the Port of Columbia.

Shochet said her management experience, work ethic and knowledge as chief deputy treasurer makes her the better candidate.

The AAUW forum was also a platform for short statements from candidates who are running unopposed. These are: Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Slack, who is running for Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney, District Court Judge Scott Marinella, Clerk of the Court Sue Marinella, and Anne Higgins, who is running for Columbia County Auditor.

Ballots for the November election will be mailed out by October 18.

Next week, The Times will present coverage of presentations at the forum from candidates for state representative from legislative district 16.