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

A small election has drawn lots of interest in the Grays River Valley.

Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed Friday to landowners in the valley for election of members of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District Board of Directors.

The district, which is essentially a flood or erosion control district, has a three-person board of commissioners, and all positions are up for election. The term has ended for the Position 1, held by Delvin Fredricksen, and the unfinished terms of two candidates who resigned from office are also up for election. Poul Toftemark, Position 2, and William Karwoski, Position 3, were appointed to fill the vacancies, and they're running for election to fill out the original terms.

The positions are non-partisan.

Qualified electors will be able to vote by mail or in person at a polling place in the Johnson Park Cafeteria, Rosburg, which will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 27.

Last week, The Eagle asked candidates to provide information about their backgrounds and statements about why they're running for office and what they hope to accomplish, if elected. Here are their responses:

Position 1

Kurt Steinke: Candidate information not received in time for publication this week. The Eagle will publish it as soon as possible.

Delvin L. Fredrickson served in the Army as a paratrooper and continued with four years of college. He has worked as a journeyman plasterer and builder. He retired from City of Stockton in California after nearly 30 years with the Public Works Department as the Soils Engineer and Engineering Inspector.

He said he is running for the position "to continue supporting the landowners within the district with flood control and diking issues, He hopes "to continue with and add to the progress being made with the west end dikes, Mill Road dike, PUD project, FEMA work being done at various locations and to help with property rights and protection for the farms and land within the district, as well as continue to deal with the progress being made with the flooding and erosion issues caused by the Columbia Land Trust/Ducks Unlimited with the Kandoll Farm Project.

Position 2

Teri M. Satterlund earned a Bachelor of Science Sociology, Associate of Science Early Education, and worked Department of Defense Dependent Schools European Division Germany and taught at Mt. Hood Community College

"I live in the house that my husband grew up in, and it lies in the Grays floodplain," she said. "We are restoring the farmhouse and have begun application to the Conservation District for riparian and timber planting of the riverway.

"The Grays river has flooded for thousands of years. This natural process has created rich farmlands for us to enjoy, but over time climate change and the hands and machines of man have contributed to the issues we face. I enjoy my farm, my community and our watershed. I have communicated with residents that have suffered the flood waters and those with a passion to conserve our natural areas and threatened species. There is division, but it is realized that most would like to save our wild spaces and preserve quality of life. With a natural interest in flood protection related issues, and habitat preservation, I seek to volunteer and serve the Grays River community.

"Over time, I hope to learn more about federal, state and county outreach programs that are able to build public awareness and provide support for our interests to ensure a productive future for our river and streams. These programs should offer taxpayers and landowners choices that merge with their unique perspectives.

"Lastly, as a united community, there must be a concerted effort to restore our natural systems as well as protect our personal space. It is my desire to be an integral part of this effort and process."

Poul K. Toftemark worked as electrician at Weyerhaeuser pulp and paper in Longview, took classes at Lower Columbia College, worked as an electrician at Long Beach, and started fishing out of Ilwaco trolling for salmon, fishing commercially for 25 years.

"I am running for reelection to continue my volunteer work on the Grays river to improve the valley for people and also for fish enhancement," he said.

"The last two years as commissioner of Grays River Habitat Enhancement District, I have enjoyed working on various projects in the Grays River Valley, working with the people on diking situations. Together with Commissioners Delvin Fredricksen and Bill Karwoski, I hope to be re-elected to continue our work.

I have helped survey dike damage after storms and collected FEMA monies for repairs. Helped clear brush and trees of dikes. Eliminated nutria and beavers threatening the dikes.

I have worked with Columbia Land Trust, county commissioners and the county road department to solve the Kandoll farm project. This is an ongoing situation that is slowly making some headway. I have lived on Seal Slough for 15 years. I attend Valley Bible Church. I have worked with and contacted many Valley residents on various issues. I have been attending the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board meetings regularly for the last two years and volunteered for the county designee to the board. I am also on the county planning commission.

"As I am retired I enjoy these volunteer positions to give back to the community."

Position 3

William J. Karwoski grew up in Chicago and earned a doctorate degree in mining engineering. He has worked in research and development in geotechnology and for Boeing, US Bureau of Mines, Occidental Petroleum and at Hanford.

He said he is running for the position "to represent the enhancement district constituents as a service to the community. "In addition to helping the community achieve their objectives, I would like to have a NOAA speaker tell us what is the future of the Grays River given the rising ocean levels and incremental tidal increases based on NOAA's measurements," he said.

Karen Bertroch has worked as a professional fundraiser with 44 years in the non-profit sector as a grantwriter, non-profit director, trainer and consultant. She is owner of Faith Leadership Consulting since 2000 and co-founded the Strategic Leadership Institute in Seattle. She facilitated the Wahkiakum Stakeholders since 2004 to address county wide watershed issues and founded the CEEEP program at Wahkiakum and Naselle-Grays River High Schools and received grants to support the program and students. Assisting the late County Commissioner Mark Linquist, she worked with the Gorley family on a streambed restoration project for their farm.

"Since Grays River is my home, this valley is important to me," she said. "What happens to my neighbors impacts my life. When the valley is polarized, it saddens me. When there is ongoing conflict, it tires me. I want to see this community be all it could be, and the enhancement district has a great opportunity to lead the landowners in the district to a strong sense of community. That's my main goal in running, to build a stronger, more confident community of landowners who understand all the options for their own land situations.

"I want to build up community pride, bring landowners together to work collaboratively, and approach decisions with an open mind, welcoming input and ideas. I have much to offer in the way of fundraising skills, familiarity with flooding and restoration issues, and relationships with key funders and agency reps.

"I want to help people learn about dredging and learn about timber policies that effect us in the upper watersheds. There has to be room for the fish, the landowner and the forester in our world. I believe we are stronger together than alone.

"I want to offer an inclusive approach so everyone who needs help is heard. I’d like to bring landowners together in a listening culture, and sponsor educational seminars. I will work on behalf of what the people want, including exploring dredging. We can’t afford to be divided anymore. We are neighbors and need to value each other with a positive, open attitude. I’d like to see the District’s limited funds spent on efforts that will help the most people and show no preference for who gets that help. I want to see projects done in as many places on the river as possible. I want to see civility and politeness and respect and fidelity shown to all, whether residents or visitors. I want the values of this Valley to reflect the hearts of those who were here first."