News & Info

Candidates Give Opinions on Issues

In preparation for the 2007 elections the Thurston Affordable Housing Council (TAHC), the political action committee for Olympia Master Builders (OMB), mailed out questionnaires to all candidates (opposed and unopposed) for Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater City Council and Port Commissioner. Each candidate's responses enabled TAHC to more thoroughly evaluate the candidate when determining endorsements.

The questionnaire consisted of eleven questions ranging from leadership qualities to views on affordable housing and environmental regulation. Here are some of the questions contained in the questionnaire and the candidates' responses:

What are your views on land use zoning and planning?

Craig Ottavelli for Olympia City Council, Position 2 -
"Simply put, I believe in the Growth Management Act. I believe that uncoordinated and unplanned growth is a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the quality of life in our community. Growth belongs in the urban centers, and we must work collaboratively to encourage development to place in these zones. Unless we plan regionally, we will loose control of our future and ultimately have a community that does not meet the needs and expectations of any of our citizens…to ensure a plentiful supply of safe water we must work together and begin thinking and planning regionally to protect our aquifers…create the relationships and the framework necessary to establish a regional growth management plan."

Jeanne Marie Thomas for Olympia City Council, Position 3 -
"Land use zoning and planning are critical to managing where growth occurs and making sure we have public infrastructure to support it. Zoning should also give property owners reasonable predictability about the use of their properties."

Rhenda Iris Strub for Olympia City Council, Position 3 -
"I support the growth management act. I opposed I-933. I believe rural spaces should be kept rural and residential development should happen in the cities. I want development that will expand our community to house my four children and their children. Obviously, just saying no to rural development will not accomplish that goal…I am committed to making sure the City of Olympia is doing its best to fulfill our obligations to accept housing density that does not belong in the county."

Do you feel that the Department of Labor& Industries and the Department of Ecology generally operate within their authority as delegated by the State Legislature when they adopt new rules and regulations? If not, how would you work to limit their respective rule making activity?

Tom Nelson for Lacey City Council, Position 2 -
"Both at times have been out of control. Take for example the heat stress restriction for workers. A terrible misuse of authority. Also DOE has sat on our water applications for 12+ years. What a waste of our resources."

Russ Olsen for Lacey City Council, Position 1 -
"Generally, I do feel that the Department of Labor and Industries and the Department of Ecology operate within their authority when adopting new rules and regulations. As a former Writer and Legislative Liaison for a State Agency I understand the processes and believe as in any situation without understanding, collaboration, and representation, rules and regulations are not always crafted in the true intent of the law…As a Lacey Councilmember I will make myself available and will participate in the public comment opportunities when rulemaking occurs that will impact the people I represent."

Jason Hearn for Lacey City Council, Position 1 -
"The implication of this question tells me that Thurston Affordable Housing Council may feel that the answer is no. I have more to learn about these departments and how they are handling their authority. I made my intention to run for this office a short time ago. I am completely open to listening and learning more about this issue…I welcome reasonable regulation with regard to safety and the environment…I am against unreasonable regulation and policy, especially when it cuts off economic development and the ability of the free market to remain free.

Neil McClanahan for Tumwater City Council, Position 7 (Unopposed) -
"No! The hill needs to reel these agencies in – set the clear boundaries and hold them to it – with serious consequences."

Jerry Murphy for Tumwater City Council, Position 3 -
"No. Both departments are overburdened with rules and regulations due to lack of funding from the State Legislature to actually be of good service to the public. So the adoption of new rules and regulations may not necessarily be of benefit to the public. We can only question how the rules may apply within our community and try to make adjustments."

Do you feel housing is an important industry for your community's health?

Meta Hogan for Olympia Mayor -
"I believe housing is one of the most important indicators of my community's health. The housing industry has a vital stake in this health, but has unfortunately been remiss in its duties to serve the entire community. The housing industry, which includes private and non-profit developers as well as government at all levels, is continually falling behind in providing adequate housing opportunities for all people as evidenced by our growing homeless population and suburban sprawl."

Ed Stanley for Tumwater City Council, Position 1 (Unopposed) -
"Absolutely. People must have affordable housing relatively near their workplace. As energy prices continue to rise, this will become even more important."

Economic development or environmental regulation? Which should take priority in light of our community's budget constraints?

Bill McGregor for Port Commissioner, District 2 -
"Both are important to our community. Both must occur at the same time (hand in hand) and be a consideration in the location of any business in this community."

Bill Pilkey for Port Commissioner, District 2 -
"What do you mean by 'our community's budget constraints'. The more government gets into the picture, the more laws and regulations we face. This increases housing costs. Then we have government fighting us with our tax money to enforce these regulations. We will have both economic development and the environmental regulation. The question is whether, in your case, the home building industry will lead, or allow government the pleasure. Based on your state organization's Sunday program on KGY, you are making a lot of progress. You need to elect people who will be innovative enough to work with both sides. Someone like Bill Pilkey would be a great start."

Bob Van Schoorl for Port Commissioner, District 1 -
"They are mutually exclusive. You need both. We are consistently told that quality economic development only comes to communities with a high quality of life. The way we treat our environment is a significant part of how our quality of life is viewed. Economic development or a quality environment? We can have both.

The Thurston Affordable Housing Council
endorses the Following Candidates: