Local News

Bill Coons announces commission candidacy
Puget Island resident Bill Coons announced Friday evening he is a candidate for Wahkiakum County commissioner, District 1.
Coons will run as Democrat; he is seeking the position now held by George Trott, an Independent, who hasn't officially announced his plans concerning another term. Coons managed Trott's first campaign for office.
Coons grew up in the San Francisco area and earned a bachelor degree in electrical engineering and computer science. He worked as a field service engineer and manager with StrataCom and became international partner support manager. He moved to Puget Island in 1993 and telecommuted. After Cisco Systems acquired StrataCom, he retired and pursued his sailing hobby, logging over 10,000 miles at sea.
He joined the Puget Island Fire Department and was appointed to Wahkiakum County Fair Board in 2003, elected board president in 2007 and 2008. He was also elected Chairman of Wahkiakum County Democratic Central Committee in 2005. He became a Realtor with Lower Columbia Realty in 2006 and was appointed to Board of Directors of Wahkiakum Historical Society in 2006.
"Wahkiakum County is my home and I care about this wonderful area," he says on his campaign blog, coons4cc.blogspot.com. "This has led me to run for District 1 county commissioner. I am very active in our community and I see the need for comprehensive leadership in our county."
Coons said his platform is called "Local Positive."
"I will represent the people of Wahkiakum County, not outside interests," he said. "I believe in the cleansing power of "sunshine" in government. I will think out of the box to solve problems and create opportunities.
"I value positive change in our county--responsible growth while maintaining a diverse community with economic opportunity for all."