Strong Financial Management
Supported Vital Services for Public Safety and Public Health
Protected Community Values
Promoted a Growing Economy in Jefferson County

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BIOGRAPHY

I was born and raised in the small town of Wood River, Illinois on the Mississippi River. I attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where I received a B.A. in Human Services focusing on the criminal justice system model and a M.A. in Speech Communication focusing on small group communication and conflict resolution. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1978 I obtained a nursing degree at Lower Columbia College.

My work experience includes over 25 years working in hospitals in the fields of alcohol and drug treatment, crisis stabilization, and mental health with patient populations that ranged from children to geriatrics. I was a charge nurse at Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital where we had the additional challenge of training new physicians and nurses.

My wife's family has lived in Jefferson County for 5 generations, going back to 1851 when they homesteaded on Discovery Bay and eventually built and ran Chevy Chase Inn and Golf Course. Her great-great grandmother, Linnie Chase Tukey, was the driving force behind the building of the Bay School District #12's new one room school house in 1904. Her great grandparents and grandparents farmed the Discovery Bay valley and her uncle and aunt still do so today in the home that her grandparents built.

Part of the significance this has for me is that I became acquainted with Jefferson County through the stories and relationships of a family that has a long history here. Regular visits to the area were enriched by the study of history, natural history, local geology, and local wildlife.

In 1997 we purchased our home in Cape George to fulfill my wife's dream of moving here. We became involved in our homeowners association's Neighborhood Watch and Environmental Committees and I was later elected to the Board of Trustees and have served as both Vice-president and President. I endeavored to bring listening and problem-solving skills I developed in nursing, along with a concern for individual needs and rights, to this private community government that has its own water system, roads, marina, swimming pool, parks, and community buildings to manage and maintain.

In the larger community, I became involved with Baywatch, a volunteer group that helps the Department of Fish and Wildlife monitor Discovery Bay, the Jefferson Land Trust, and the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I also served Jefferson County on the Fee Review Advisory Board, the Seawater Intrusion Group, and on the Jefferson County Substance Abuse Services Advisory Board.

In 2002 I was elected Commissioner of Public Utility District #1 of Jefferson County. As PUD Commissioner I represented the PUD on the Washington PUD Association Water Committee, the Economic Development Council, the Jefferson County Community Investment Fund Board, the Public Utility Risk Management Services Board and the Jefferson County Board of Health.

During my tenure as PUD Commissioner, we installed drive-by meters in all PUD water systems for accuracy and efficiency, began the process of providing water for Quilcene and Marrowstone Island, and initiated an innovative sewage system on Beckett Pt, which will curb pollution into Discovery Bay. We improved the water flavor to many of our Tri-Area customers by looping dead-end lines to increase circulation. We reduced both the Tri-Area water rates slightly, and the PUD tax on each property in the county. We reduced the amount of electricity and treatment needed at Kivley Well, completed a Tri-Area leak detection and repair program, and continued to foster a goal of ensuring conservation of our vital water resources for people and wildlife in Jefferson County. I negotiated to secure $214,000 from Jefferson County Community Infrastructure Fund for the Quilcene water system, and helped write the applications for Public Works Trust Fund loans for the Marrowstone Island and Beckett Point projects. I also served on the negotiating team that negotiated a 3-year labor contract with the PUD employees union.

I found serving as PUD Commissioner very rewarding. The focus was on practical projects that led to tangible positive results for the community. My involvement in local issues, however, led me to be very concerned about the direction County government appeared to be taking.

In 2004 county officials began talking about an impending "budget train wreck", and their immediate answers included transitioning Park and Recreation programs to being funded by fees and cutting the Nurse Family Partnership program that was a best practice, nationally studied program that was shown to be very effective at helping new mothers and their babies who were at risk. At the same time changes in Medicaid and other state and federal budget cuts were making treatment for mental illness and chemical dependency less accessible. The leadership needed to protect our most vulnerable citizens, and ultimately save money through prevention and early intervention programs, was not being demonstrated on a local level.

I decided to run for County Commissioner because I knew I could make a difference. My campaign in 2004 focused on providing responsible, responsive leadership and developing budget priorities for county spending that support services vital for public safety and public health, and that promote a growing economy. As I run for re-election it is instructive to review my record to see what has been accomplished.

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RECORD AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Strong Financial Management

• Kept budgets within 1% property tax limit without using banked capacity, keeping $1.5 million in taxpayers' pockets over the past 3 years.
  
• Discovered $1,197,201 state accounting error that had been ongoing for 8 years and successfully recovered these funds to be used for public infrastructure to create jobs.
  
• Achieved Jefferson County bond rating upgrade to "A".
  
• Implemented mental health sales tax, becoming the first county in the state to do so, and by being an early adopter qualified for an additional $100,000/yr for methamphetamine treatment for the next 3 years.
  
• Set aside about $1 million in additional reserves over the first 2 years that has cushioned the effect of the recent economic downturn.
  
• Worked with the Port Townsend-Keystone Ferry Partnership as the representative for the Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization and lobbied regional legislators for 3 new ferries and support for a community voice in resolving the current ferry crisis.
  
• Continued to lobby our congressional delegation to restore Secure Rural Schools Funding that has mitigated the loss of timber revenues for rural counties. Bush administration opposition to renewing this program is costing the Jefferson County Road Fund $1.3 million per year.

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Supported Vital Services for Public Safety and Public Health

• Budget provided for 2 more Sheriff Deputies in 2008.
  
• Established stable funding for mental health, chemical dependency, and domestic violence programs.
  
• Authored rewrite of No Shooting Area ordinance in response to public testimony developing process to protect neighborhoods and preserve hunting rights.
  
• Maintained funding for the Nurse Family Partnership and other public health programs.
  
• Testified for increased Public Health Funding representing rural counties for Washington State Association of Counties.
  
• Appointed by Governor Gregoire to the State Council on Aging.
  
• Moderated discussion on Aging Readiness for Washington State Association of Counties at annual conference.

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Protected Community Values

• Worked with the Auditor to establish vote by mail with an auditable paper trail.
  
• Mobilized state and tribal support for the PUD's large onsite septic system at Beckett Point enabling project completion.
  
• Led successful lobbying effort resulting in US Geological Survey and DOE grants to dig 600 foot monitoring well for the Chimacum Basin groundwater model.
  
• Led bipartisan effort to develop county watershed management policy.
  
• Provided leadership to get watershed planning back on track and expand participation.
  • WRIA 16 plan adopted
  • WRIA 17 plan adopted, implementation proceeding
  • WRIA 20 plan pending
    
• Established Clean Water District
  • Provides structure for future watershed monitoring
  • Acquired DOE grants to address shellfish downgrades
    
• Successfully lobbied for Senate Bill 5248 to study conflict resolution regarding Agriculture and Critical Areas.
  
• Adopted Critical Areas Ordinance providing flexible options for landowners while still providing environmental protection based on best available science.
  
• Protected local farmers by stopping Department of Fish and Wildlife plan to relocate Sequim elk herd and bring Willapa herd to Jefferson County threatening local farms.
  
• Passed solid waste ordinance, obtained grants and removed 701 junk cars in 2007.
  
• Completed courthouse clock tower renovation.
  
• Denied off road vehicle park proposal that encroached on neighborhoods.
  
• Reinstated Pledge of Allegiance on anniversary of Iraq War in recognition of military and civilian losses and sacrifices.
  
• Supported establishing an Equestrian Park through public/private cooperation.
  
• Recognized Gay Pride month.
  
• Enforced county codes preventing Security Services Northwest inappropriate expansion in residential area.
  
• Ensured a fair, independent Environmental Impact Statement for the Pit to Pier project.
  
• Provided funding for the Quilcene Museum expansion and Quilcene Park upgrade.
  
• Passed Climate Change Policy and established a workgroup in cooperation with the City of Port Townsend to study carbon footprint.
  
• Passed resolution in 2006 promoting plug in hybrid vehicles.

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Promoted A Growing Economy In Jefferson County