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

A few candidates running in the upcoming election spoke before a small crowd at the Grays River Grange on Tuesday night.

Bob Dingethal, a Democrat candidate for US Representative District 3 and opponent of incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler spoke first.

"A lot of times rural counties don't get the attention they need, particularly from their representatives," Dingethal said. "You solve problems in any area by being out amongst the people. The only way to solve a problem is by knowing about it. My commitment to you is that I will be there for you. Frankly, it's not a bad gig to come out here."

"You not only need to meet with the people who agree with you," he continued, "you need to meet those who disagree with you, so you know what's going on."

Dingethal touched on several issues that affect people locally, including rural health care and commercial fishing.

"Commercial fishing, it's not just a job," he said. "It's a legacy, it's iconic of who we are. If it goes away, you can't just go back into commercial fishing, because it's very capital intensive. When we cut that line, it's gone."

"It is so expensive for doctors to go into primary care," Dingethal said, going on to tell of doctors who turn away from primary care and specialize in order to pay off student loans that can total as much as $250,000.

"I think it's critical that we find ways to bring medicine back into local areas," he continued. "There are certainly enough medical people that would love to live in an area like this and work with the local community if they could afford it. In some countries, if you go to on to medical school and serve in a rural area, then your school is paid for or mitigated. It is something we could easily do in congress to give people that kind of opportunity."

Dingethal is for campaign finance reform.

"We need to get back to the important thing being the vote not the money," Dingethal said. "If all we get are rich people running, we are only going to get laws that are good for the very rich. We need representation. We have to do it to survive and evolve as a nation."

Herrera Beutler had been repeatedly invited, according to organizers, but never responded.

Dean Takko, a democrat and the incumbent for State Representative District 19 Position 1 had dire words for the crowd about the state's budget.

"I'm here to bring you the bad news," Takko said. "We have got a real budget problem. The supreme court, with the McCleary Decision, has found the state in contempt because we haven't funded K-12 education to the level that the court said we had to a few years ago. They have drawn a line in the sand that we will fund education at this higher level."

"Our state revenue is increasing," he continued, "but at the same level as our obligations for the next few years. So for the most part our budget is flat and we've got to come up with 2 billion dollars. On top of that, we also have a number of things that are going to be a problem next year with our budget."

Some of the things that will continue to strain the budget include this year's forest fires and a recent decision by the supreme court that obligates the state to provide beds for the mentally ill. A new initiative, 1351, would require the state to reduce class sizes over and above what the McCleary decision says.

"We don't have that money," Takko said. "That is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. How are we going to fund these things? It is going to be a big challenge next year. On the one hand I look forward to it, it will be interesting. On the other hand, it's going to be a tough problem and a lot of people are not going to be happy."

Takko reminded the crowd that he was a local boy and that he recognized local problems.

"I've lived in this community, I graduated from high school here in Cathlamet. I know the area, I understand the problems. I've worked on them over the years and I'm more than happy to help in the future."

"I'm very frustrated with what's going on with our commercial fishing," Takko said. "Commercial fishing is important. As Bob said, it's not just about the job, it's about heritage. It's something that needs to be protected."

"It's a numbers game, unfortunately," he continued. "We've got 300 commercial fisherman and 300,000 sport fishermen. Do the math, that's the problem. There are people that want to take commercial fishing away so the sportsmen can have more."

His opponent David Steenson was stuck in traffic and could not make it in time.

Brian Blake, a democrat and incumbent for State Representative District 19 Position 2 shared some of his thoughts about commercial fishing, the recent decision on mental health and education.

"The commercial fishing issue really stands out for me," Blake said. "I'm following it on a daily basis. We've had a record run on the Columbia this year and they are not letting our fisherman access as many fish as they should be accessing. And there is a group of folks who are trying to change the statute this year to give the sports fisherman first access at all salmon and make the commercial fisheries secondary."

"I have to tell you they are working hard and talking to a lot of legislators," he continued. "Assuming I'm Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, I may be standing in the gut trying to stop this legislation. I don't think it's right. As Dean said, commercial fishing is a heritage issue for us in southwest Washington."

"As for the court ruling on the mental health issue, Blake said, "God bless them for ruling that way. We've been pawning off and warehousing people with severe mental health issues in jails and impacting our sheriff's budgets. We should be held accountable, we've got to change this system, we've got to get more beds at Western State and Eastern State. They may be in the criminal system but these are human beings that are suffering. and we've got to do better by them."

Blake reiterated Takko's words about Initiative 1351.

"It breaks my heart to say I'm voting no on 1351," Blake said. "If that passes, there is no hope for us to find the resources to fund more staff to solve some of these problems. Lower class sizes is a good thing, the right thing to do. Initiative 1351 is the wrong method."

Blake's opponent Hugh Fleet was expected but did not show.

Wahkiakum County candidates on the upcoming ballot were introduced, including Prosecutor Dan Bigelow, County Commissioner Blair Brady, County Auditor Diane Tischer, County Treasurer Tami Peterson, County Clerk Kay Holland, Sheriff Mark Howie and County Assessor Bill Coons. All are running unopposed.