Story Photos
 Candidates for District 1 -- Incumbent Kathleen Johnson, Democrat, left, and challenger Tom Wilson, Republican.
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Election Primer: Johnson, Wilson vie for County Commission, District 1 seat
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:32 PM PDT
By Tony Lystra
Printable version
E-mail this articleKathleen Johnson, the incumbent Democrat in November’s District 1 commissioner race, wants voters to think of her as a simple administrator, one of three “CEO”s of the county. There are no frills here — no wild ideas — just plain language, she says, during a time when county government is under increasing pressure.
Republican challenger Tom Wilson, says he will use his experience as a Woodland Port commissioner and natural gas industry manager to bring more business to the county. It’s all about economic development, Wilson says. More companies doing business here means more jobs and a larger tax base.
As a port commissioner, he says, he helped the port attract 245 new jobs and 27 new industries to the Port of Woodland. As a county commissioner, he says, he can do it again.
Wilson calls Johnson “a very fine woman and a formidable foe, but we have different philosophies. Her’s is kind of status quo.”
“I’m here to shake the tree,” Wilson said. “I’m here to make something happen.”
Johnson, who has been no stranger to upheaval in her first term, said she found Wilson’s comments “amazing,” adding that she and other county officials are constantly plotting the county’s future.
At issue, Johnson said, is the county’s budget, which is projected to be $5.1 million in the red next year. The trick, Johnson said, is to provide required services to citizens — particularly in law enforcement, which siphons off 74 percent of the county’s budget — as the Legislature continues to pass more and more unfunded mandates.
“You are running a government,” Johnson said, “not a business.”
The national economy’s troubles certainly won’t help the county’s budget situation, she said, but there’s not much commissioners can do about that.
“We didn’t start it,” Johnson said of the national problems. “We just have to deliver mandatory services.”
Johnson’s four years as a commissioner have not been without bumps. Her fellow commissioners voted her out of the chairwoman’s seat earlier this year. She was criticized for writing a letter to a district court judge on behalf of a man accused of shooting his neighbor’s dog — essentially, critics said, using her position to influence a court proceeding.
In addition, she raised questions about the candidacy of one of her primary opponents, Sheriff’s deputy Todd McDaniel, wondering if the federal Hatch Act prohibited him from entering the race. The county’s attorney, as well as her fellow commissioners, said the question was without merit.
Johnson also angered fellow Democrats in 2006 by endorsing incumbent Republican commissioner Jeff Rasmussen over Axel Swanson, his Democratic challenger.
Still, she has since won her party’s official support. And she more than survived the August primary, which included four other candidates, including two Democrats. Wilson outpolled Johnson by a significant margin, but he was the only Republican in the primary.
Johnson questioned earlier this year whether she would enter this year’s race. She as had to beat back rumors she wouldn’t serve her entire second term if elected. She said in an interview that she believes the rumors are coming from Democratic circles — and they aren’t true.
“I’m happy to serve,” Johnson said. “I will serve to the end, God willing.”
Wilson, a relative newcomer, has not made so many waves. But his proposal to ban plea deals and send all criminal cases to trial was dismissed as naive last month by Cowlitz County Prosecutor Sue Baur, a Democrat.
The Candidates
Tom Wilson
Residence: Woodland
Age: 57
Personal: Married, two children.
Occupation: General manager, Cascade Natural Gas
Education: Attended Lower Columbia College
Civic and political experience: Commissioner, Port of Woodland
Kathleen Johnson
Residence: Kelso
Age: 63
Personal: Married, three children
Career: Cowlitz County commissioner, first elected 2004
Education: bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral science, Linfield College, 1994. Post-graduate certification in human resource development, Linfield College, 1998.
Civic and political experience: Served on Kelso City Council; was a Kelso freeholder during establishment of city charter.
On the issues:
Reforming Building and Planning Department
Johnson: The department processes many building permits with no complaints; it’s the problem cases that get the most attention. The county has worked hard to resolve the problems. Still, Johnson said, when she began her first term, she came to the conclusion that the department was “broken.” “It took 18 months to do anything about it.”
Wilson: The department is “broken” and plagued by problems with “lost files, misplaced paperwork.” The county won’t be able to attract new builders and business leaders until it’s fixed. The department needs to sit down with companies and ask, “How can we get this (project) built and on line and on the tax base as soon as possible?”
Opening Willow Grove agricultural land up to housing development
Wilson: “I support an individual’s property rights and I support planned development, whether industrial/commercial or residential.”
Johnson: Supports. “Amending the Comprehensive Plan allowed an agreement to follow the updated 2008 Critical Area’s Ordinance and private funding of a sewage treatment facility.”
Proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline
Johnson: Opposes.
Wilson: Supports terminal, but says pipeline shouldn’t cross Cowlitz County.
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Candidates on the Economy: County Commission
Election Primer: Orcutt, Fant face off for 18th District seat
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:53 AM:
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