County issues and candidates on November ballot

Posted

Rick Sorrels

There is one referendum on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for Pierce County, along with elective office for candidates for the charter review commission, Port of Tacoma, Peninsula School District board of directors, fire commissioners and park commissioners. The fire commissioners, parks commissioners and one school board director are running unopposed, so will not be addressed here.

Referendum No. 2015-1: This asks the voters if the ordinance passed by the Pierce County Council to construct a new county general services building should be repealed. It follows an advisory vote in the August primary where the voters advised that they did not want the building to be constructed.

Repealed: Will stop construction. Supporters claim the $230 million building is not effective, with alternatives available.

Maintained: Will allow construction to continue. The county claims that this is the most cost-effective alternative.

Charter Review Commission, District 7, Position 1

Randy Boss: Gig Harbor resident. Past elected director and chairman for Pen Met Parks for six years. Appointed by governor to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Citizens Advisory Committee. Was citizen participant at the last charter review commission, a real estate broker and commercial land developer. Attended UW.

Martha Lantz: Tacoma resident. Graduated Gig Harbor High School. No elective office experience. Law degree, 24-year legal career. Currently deputy city attorney for city of Tacoma. Past assistant attorney general and judicial assistant at court of appeals.

Charter Review Commission, District 7, Position 2

David Olson: Gig Harbor resident. Elected to Peninsula School District board of directors, now its vice president. Holds a degree in organizational leadership. Retired U.S. Navy. Currently assistant vice president and branch manager for U.S. Bank.

Brenda Wiest: Tacoma resident. No elective office experience. Attended Willamette University. Active with union issues, Tacoma’s minimum wage task force and food banks.

Charter Review Commission, District 7, Position 3

Beckie Krantz: Gig Harbor resident. Appointed to GHP advisory commission (2007-2014) and Tacoma Narrows Airport advisory commission (2011-2014). No elected office experience. Law degree from UPS. Currently CEO of a research company that tracks pending legislation and regulations.

Katie Baird: Tacoma resident. No elected office experience. Doctorate in economics. Associate professor at UWT (2000-2015). Columnist for News Tribune. Served on committees concerning economic issues for city of Tacoma and state of Washington.

Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Position 3

Bruce cook: Lakebay resident. No elected office experience. Master’s and doctorate in business and finance, with 40 years experience in business, financial consulting and banking. Past director of University of Texas’Investment Management Co.

Don Johnson: Tacoma resident. Incumbent port commissioner (2007-2015). Businessman for 37 years. Vice president and general manager at Simpson’s pulp and paper mill for 10 years.

Peninsula School Board Director, District 1

Matt Wilkinson: Lakebay resident. Incumbent school board director (2007-2015), currently the school board president. Bachelor’s degree in computer science and master’s degree in information security and assurance. Currently works under federal contract on computer security.

Marcia Harris: Lakebay resident. No elected public office experience. Master’s degree from UPS and some doctoral study. Public school administrator for 37 years, including five years with Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and 11 years as deputy superintendent at Peninsula School District (1995-2006).

Peninsula School District Board Director, District 3

Rand Wilhelmsen: Gig Harbor resident. Incumbent school board director (2010 to present). Bachelor’s in art. Master’s degree in telecommunications management. Retired from position as senior vice president for investments for the bank now known as Columbia Bank.

Lyn McClendon: Gig Harbor resident. No elected office experience. Bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from PLU. RN for 25 years.

Peninsula School District Board Director, District 4

Garth Jackson: Gig Harbor resident. No elected office experience. Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Master’s degree in education. Professional engineer for 28 years. Math and science teacher in public and private schools for the past 12 years.

Leslie Harbaugh: Gig Harbor resident. No elected public office experience. Attended San Francisco State University. Active in PTA and involved with last year’s failed levy attempt.


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