LAST CALL FOR PRIMARY CANDIDATES UPDATED!

Readers, recently I emailed the Candidates for the local primary election here in Port Angeles which will allow local voters to separate the weeds from the wheat as it were, for the general election in November. I wrote the candidates in the primary to allow them to have their final say on their issues...I will post responses on this page when they come in:

• As a candidate Doc Robinson is focused entirely on jobs.

         
Carbon fiber jobs – recycle it and create businesses here to build everything from skateboards   to snowboards, drones, auto and boat parts.  But before we spend a dime we must see that the recycled product we produce, will sell at a competitive price.  This most basic business
         question has not been answered and it must come first.
         
Wood production jobs – help our young entrepreneurs succeed at making
and selling wood products – from designer furniture, to bee hives, to
whatever marketable idea they have.  Our men and women have the work skills,
         they need micro-loans to get started and local business trainers to help turn ideas into
         companies that employ.

Logging jobs – be a thorn in the side of State DNR to open lands promised and overdue.
         We don’t have to sit by and let the state withhold land.  Sure we don’t have political or legal
         control, but that means we need to become a vocal and visible pain in their backsides.

Pollution cleanup – our Port waters & lands have pollution sites waiting for cleanup.
         The Port this week voted to award the K-ply cleanup contract.  Seven other sites are tied up in
         the courts while lawyers feed at the trough.  The Ports interest is to clear the path to Port
         development.  You and I cannot stop the lawyers.  But we can take this time to get ready
         for the day when cleanup actually starts.  Business, banks, the City, County, Port and the
College need to work together to develop a new private company – Clallam Pollution Cleanup, Inc.
         Pollution cleanup is a growing national and international business.  Let's use our 7 difficult sites
         to train our young men and women in this career.  When our cleanup begins, our local company
         needs to be ready to win the bids and then go on to win them elsewhere with our people.

Marine industries – Our Port is not close to capacity.  Meanwhile the marine transportation industry
         continues to grow because it is the cheapest form of transportation.  We need to attract new Marine
         business servicing this industry.  Meanwhile, Anacortes is slowly squeezing their Marine Industries
         because all the new retirees want more condos and less heavy industry.  Good for us.  We need to park
         a trailer in Anacortes and work with other county agencies and business groups to bring these
         companies to our deep-water port.  This is a every day effort until it is done.  In addition to this clear
         opportunity, we also need to bring in a company to build a small container facility so our new manufacturers
         can cheaply move their products to market.

Tourism – Tourism is good.  It brings cash flow.  But we all know in tourist jobs, the company owners can
         make money, the employees make $13 per hour or so.  So, the Port will only lease to small local shops.  We
         want lots of locals to start and run small businesses.  We will not allow large tourism corporations to
lease spots in the port.  Anything an outside corporation can do, three or four of our local business people
         can do better

County Labor Rule – If you bid for public business then then fifty percent of your workers must have lived
         in Clallam for at least a year and these jobs must be evenly distributed to all levels from trainee to executives.
         Companies may only be excused for a level if they can prove the required skill is not available in Clallam County.

There are other management issues.  Management oversight has been lacking.  At a recent Port meeting there was debate when one commissioner asked for the expected Return on Investment before voting for a project.  ROI is a
basic business investment number, as common as interest rates on loans.  It is unbelievable that the project did not already have this.  And it was more unbelievable when another commissioner stated this was not really necessary.
Try bringing a business proposal to a commercial investor without an ROI.  The meeting will be short and brutal.
We have to upgrade our management practices to reduce costs, increase returns and promote job making industries. ----Richard "Doc" Robinson, Port Commission Candidate

• To the Voters of Clallam County,

I decided to run for Clallam County Commissioner District 1 because I am fed up with the status quo, and the same people that have been in control for far too long with their game of musical chairs going from commission to commission,
board to board and council to council.  When the music stops we see the same faces sitting in the chairs and their revolving door spending sprees on ideas that just never seem to pan out and when they fail they always blame the public
for lack of involvement or community interest.

We need a change from top down, someone who will protect your hard earned tax dollars and spend them on projects that are needed like water supplies for the community, schools, and existing public infrastructure that has been left to decay for far too long.  Businesses
in Sequim have had to install pumps to boost water pressure to support their day to day operations and their fire suppression systems because the water system is inadequate and old.  Our fire department couldn’t test hydrants without setting off fire sprinkler
alarms due to the decreased pressure in the system.  These are but two examples.

I value the small business and the jobs they create and encourage everyone to buy local first.  Make your purchases from the local bakery, dress shop, dinner, farmers markets.  We must become self- sufficient and protect what is left of our farms and open spaces.
I want to be your voice for your ideas and vision for Clallam County. If you have an idea or proposal I want to hear it and discuss it with you.

As of this election there is no unified vision for the City of Port Angeles, frankly it’s scattered and we should not re-elect those responsible.  We need port commissioners with a background in the maritime trades, a city council that actually listens to and responds to those
who have elected them.  Timber is not the future, retirement villages are not the future, tourism will not last because we have nothing to offer.  If we must purport Port Angels as the foyer or gateway to the Olympics then let’s put our best downtown, fake beaches just aren’t enough.

We must draw from our community talents and entrepreneurial spirit to bring their art, crafts, baked goods, clothing, into shops downtown.  Port Angeles is an historic Mill town, maybe someone can come up with a unifying theme and build on that.  Port Angeles is also rich in native cultural heritage
and our local tribes should be in the forefront helping with development.  This is a democracy and all voices and opinions matter, we must work together.

We must all plan for our future here in Clallam County,  we must plan for a secure water supply, we must now place this as a top priority and everyone must do their part to use our water wisely.  I do believe that the county has a responsibility to down zone critical areas in order
to decrease the demand on an already over appropriated water supply and plan for growth in those areas where water can be easily managed around cities with existing public facilities, services and infrastructure.

If you want STRONG-INCLUSIVE-LEADERSHIP, I’m your candidate.  If you want someone who will protect you HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS, I’m your candidate.  If you want someone that is COMMITTED, HARD WORKING and INVESTED, I’m your candidate.

LET US BUILD A BETTER COUNTY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW!
Byran Frazier Candidate for County Commissioner, District 1

•  My name is Mark Ozias and I hope to be your next Clallam County Commissioner.

I am a former small business owner (The Red Rooster Grocery, Sequim) who understands the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs around the County.  As Commissioner I will advocate for policies that support and advance the local business community and local economy.

I am a skilled non-profit executive who builds budgets and crafts policies to carry out budgetary priorities.  Since non-profit organizations depend on individual donors for their support, the concepts of transparency and accountability come naturally.

I am a proven leader who achieves results.  We ensure the best ideas come forward when citizens are actively engaged in their governance.  I will prioritize public participation and work to ensure that all who wish to participate feel their voice will be heard.

I look forward to elevating the entrepreneurial small business owners who are today’s job-creators and the leaders of tomorrow’s economy as well as looking outward for new “big picture” opportunities that take advantage of our unique resources and skilled workforce.

My priorities include increased planning for water scarcity and other vital environmental issues such as global climate change; a renewed focus on the crucial subject of community health and a commitment to transparency and open government.

Please visit markozias.org to learn more about my positions, catch my song of the week, register to vote, contribute to my campaign or volunteer to help.  I look forward to earning your vote.