The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

This fall the citizens of Wahkiakum County have the opportunity, and the duty, to carefully evaluate and elect the best candidates running for a variety of local, regional and national public offices. Locally the county commissioner position is of major importance because the commissioners are both the legislative and the executive branches of our local government. As such the position of county commissioner requires the office holder to possess the education, experience and personality traits we expect to see in successful managers of businesses and government agencies.

Ideally, the resume of a county commissioner should indicate that the person has sufficient formal education and work experience in the handling of business/corporate finances and budgets, and the skills needed to manage people and processes in business or government in order to perform the “business management” or “chief executive officer” aspects of county government. As local legislator, the commissioner needs to be not only a good listener to the various constituencies in the community, but also a good decision-maker in setting county priorities and establishing the policies to direct the course and direction of county activity. It also takes a creative thinking problem-solver to address the challenging problems facing the county. The job requires someone who is patient, respectful of others, fair-minded and decisive, and one who represents the county in a professional manner.

In light of the criteria listed above for the position of county commissioner, we would urge the voters of Wahkiakum County to elect Greg Prestegard as county commissioner for District 1. Born and raised in Wahkiakum County and working his construction business in the county for over 30 years, Greg is very familiar with the county and its needs. Having been a manager at Reynolds Metals, in Longview, for 25 years, Greg has the education, experience and professional demeanor we need in a county commissioner. Greg has been our contractor for two major property restorations in the last 12 years, and we have seen first-hand Greg’s skill, creativity and efficiency in getting our jobs done in cost effective ways. In our evaluation, Greg Prestegard fits the bill ideally for county commissioner, and we strongly urge Wahkiakum County voters to elect Greg Prestegard as Wahkiakum County Commissioner, District 1, in November.

Tom and JoAnn Doumit

Cathlamet and Grayland