Oct. 16—With November's general election less than a month away, candidates for Centralia City Council and a Port of Centralia commissioner position met at O'Blarney's at the Gibson House in Centralia on Oct. 12 for debates hosted by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.
The debate format allowed each candidate two minutes for an opening statement, two minutes to respond to each of the three questions they were asked, two one-minute rebuttals and one minute for a closing statement if they saved at least one of their rebuttals.
Candidates who participated included:
—Dianne Dorey and incumbent Commissioner Peter Lahmann, who are running for Port of Centralia commissioner in District 3.
—Russell Barr and Chris Brewer, who are running for Centralia City Council position 1 at-large.
—Joyce Barnes and incumbent Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston, who are running for Centralia City Council position 2 at-large.
—Incumbent Councilor Adrianna Garibay, who is running for Centralia City Council position 3 at-large.
Garibay's opponent, Kylie Sexsmith, was not present for the debate. Additionally, both candidates for the Chehalis City Council District 4 position — Jody Kyes and Karen Laugenberg — were invited to participate but did not.
Below is a summary of the questions candidates were asked and their responses. To view the debates in their entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2xZCA17Fe8.
Dianne Dorey and Peter Lahmann
In his opening statement, Lahmann described himself as a lifelong construction worker and apprenticeship advocate.
"I got into construction early. I started in 1976 at Exit 81," Lahmann said. "And I find it ironic that I'm ending my career at Exit 81 on I-5."
He originally wanted to be on the Port of Centralia Commission to change some of the ways the port operates, especially concerning transparency. If re-elected, he said he hopes to continue pushing for those changes.
Dorey opened up by saying the port affects taxpayers countywide. She spent nearly five decades working for the Lewis County Assessor's Office, including 24 as the assessor.
"All of that experience is necessary in order to do the administrative portion of the Port of Centralia commission," Dorey said.
She said she believes a commissioner's responsibilities revolve around ensuring taxpayer dollars collected by the port are spent well.
The first question posed to both candidates was what they believe a port commissioner's key role is.
Dorey responded first, saying a commissioner's role is administration of the port and setting policies and procedures, along with oversight.
"It's to make sure the port director is doing the job he was hired to do and to set forth, like I said, the strategic plan for the next 20 years," Dorey said.
She said she believes her experience as an assessor would also help her build relationships with businesses looking at developing on port property.
Lahmann said he agreed with Dorey that a commissioner's role involved both oversight and planning. He added these are issues he originally ran to help remedy.
"One of the first things that I asked when I walked into the door five and a half years ago is, 'I would like to get a copy of the policies and procedures manual,'" Lahmann said. "We do not have policies and procedures manual for the Port of Centralia."
He said he's asked to have meetings about strategic planning and goal setting along with a port property inventory. After multiple requests for that information, he said he has yet to receive it.
The next question posed to the candidates was what they felt were the most pressing challenges the port is facing. Lahmann responded first, saying continuing to pay for growth was the biggest issue in his eyes.
"When the port started, it was sold to us that it would be self-supportive in eight to 10 years. Thirty-five years later, we're taxing you at the maximum amount we can," Lahmann said. "I brought up a motion, I did not get a second, to have a discussion of what it would look like to have the port be self-supporting."
He said the port needs to work more with the city and Lewis County to promote housing development, as most of the property the port has purchased for projects was originally zoned as residential.
Dorey said she is concerned about maintaining the port's sustainability in the future and trying to ensure livable wage jobs keep coming into the area as Lewis County continues to grow.
"We need to make sure we can handle that (growth)," Dorey said, later adding, "the question is whether or not we want to continue to create another industrial development district for another project at some point ... If you want businesses to come, you have to have infrastructure, and that's not cheap."
She added the current levy being collected by the port expires at the end of the year and has not been renewed.
"I totally agree that until it's necessary, we set those taxes aside," Dorey added.
The final question was what industries the candidates hope to attract into the port.
Dorey responded first, saying jobs in the tech industry were the highest priority as they pay employees well.
"Manufacturing is great, but you have to have a balance, and we don't ever want to get out of balance where manufacturing is the only thing we have to offer," Dorey said.
Lahmann said he wants the industries the port pursues to be responsible, pay well and try to develop with minimal impact to the quality of life in the city.
"A lot of us live here because of the quality of life in Centralia ... People out on Ives Road, out that way, they have to look forward to having tilt-up buildings going across the street from their nice, country-living home," Lahmann said.
Dorey closed by saying voting is important and urged voters to participate as turnout in port districts is usually low. She reiterated whatever the port does, it brings in additional tax revenue and helps all Lewis County residents.
"I want to keep that going with a plan forward on how we're going to accomplish it," Dorey said.
Lahmann closed by thanking Dorey for "elevating the conversation" about the port and again advocated for more transparency from the Port of Centralia. He also brought up an investigation into conflict of interest allegations brought against him by port staff earlier this year as previously reported by The Chronicle.
"There's probably not going to be anybody else in the room that they spent $10,000 to prove that they're wonderful. Well they did that on me, so I would appreciate your vote," Lahmann said.
Russell Barr and Chris Brewer
In his opening statement, Barr said he has lived in Centralia since 1990 and moved there to raise his family.
Originally a FedEx driver, he eventually became a software engineer, creating computer programs for school districts. While he has no previous elected experience, he believes his career experience has prepared him to be a city councilor.
"It's used by people who work for the public, so I have an idea about the pace of change in public products," Barr said.
Brewer opened by saying he is running for the council to help out in any way he can.
He believes a good business community is vital to enhancing the quality of life. He currently works in the IT department for Lewis County.
"Our business community needs a true friend on city council, and I pledge to be just that," Brewer said.
The first question posed to both candidates was what they believe the Centralia City Council's top three priorities should be.
Brewer answered first, saying housing, community livability and safety should be the top three priorities in his opinion. While the council can't control every aspect of these issues, he added it can control certain aspects through responsible planning and zoning.
"We have a good system in place already and we have people already doing that work, and I want to come alongside them to ensure that our comprehensive plan is what it needs to be when we address the housing crisis," Brewer said.
He also wants to further empower the Centralia Police Department to address its understaffing issues to improve public safety as well as try to make the city more walkable.
Barr explained the top priority, in his opinion, is the rise in crime the Centralia community is seeing right now. He said he wants to help make it easier for police to do their jobs.
"Housing is also a significant issue. I see that city council has a limited ability to change housing prices ... There's little that we can do on the council, save zoning and land use, those are important issues dealt with by the council," Barr said.
He also wants to ensure no matter what issue the council is dealing with is carried out in a responsible manner, he said.
The second question asked to the candidates revolved around both of their safety concerns and if they felt the city was being reactive, proactive or inactive when it comes to safety in public places and for local businesses.
Barr responded first, saying he believed the city in general was being reactive and it is important for the council to protect what the city has.
"But not overly reactive," Barr said. "I think things could have gotten a lot worse over the last five years, had the city brought in what I consider 'big city priorities' into our local government."
He added he believes the government that governs the least, governs the best. He said he wants to keep the city from being overly reactive.
Brewer stated he thinks the city was being both proactive and reactive. The proactivity he spoke of involved the city's purchase of Flock Safety cameras to aid the Centralia Police Department earlier this year, among other things.
"You can look to (George) Washington Park as an example. I see foot patrols there, I see police engaging with the community there, so that work is being done and that's a proactive step," Brewer said.
He added he would like to see a community watch formed as well as police foot patrols in the downtown area. He expressed interest in taking ride-alongs with police to form policy based on first-hand experience.
The final question posed to the candidates asked what they would do on the council to address the recent loss in lodging tax revenue Centralia has suffered.
Brewer responded first, referencing a recent issue concerning a request to change zoning in a district with hotels to allow those hotels to be converted into apartments addressed by Centralia City Council earlier in the week.
"On one hand, we need housing. On the second hand, we can't deplete our hotel/motel tax funds. We are using that to pay bonded debt on the Sports Complex right now," Brewer said.
He believes the council needs to concentrate on bringing in more hotels and other lodging options into the community through its comprehensive plan.
Barr said there needs to be incentives to ensure hotel owners are making money to attract more hotels to the area, with the current trend of developers purchasing old Centralia hotels to convert them into housing.
"Determine some sort of incentives to make it worthwhile for people to revitalize the hotels we already have," Barr said.
If existing hotels are revitalized, he believes they will attract customers again and provide more lodging tax revenue.
Brewer closed by saying he believes the city council is the highest form of volunteerism one can partake in.
"We're a great city because of all of us. We're a great city because of what we have to offer here. Let's showcase that to the rest of the world," Brewer said.
Barr also wants to be of service to the community and help guide the growth he currently sees happening within the city.
"I'm a homeowner and I intend to stay here, and I want to be a force for good both on the council and in the city," said Barr.
Joyce Barnes and incumbent Kelly Smith Johnston
In her opening statement, Smith Johnston said the decisions the council makes are important as they affect the everyday lives of Centralia residents.
"I've now lived here for 20 years, and this community has provided me with the stability and the love and the support that I needed to raise two daughters on my own ... Running for office was a way to give back and help guide Centralia through a period of growth that we're in right now," Smith Johnston said.
With the spread of depression, misinformation and polarization happening now throughout the U.S., she said she believes leaders who can unite at a local level are needed.
Barnes opened by saying she has the experience to serve on the council as she has already spent a combined nine years serving as a Centralia city councilor in the past.
"I'm willing to serve you again. There's some things, in my opinion, that are wrong and aren't being done right (by the council)," Barnes said.
She added despite her age, 89, she is still in good health and capable of serving on the council.
The first question posed to the candidates was where they would like to see growth in Centralia's diverse business community.
Barnes responded first, saying she wants to keep Centralia as it is now with its small-town feel.
"I live in a senior park, and all the people that are moving in here are from someplace else and they just want what we already have," Barnes said.
Instead, she wants the council to focus on creating more housing and reducing crime.
In her response, Smith Johnston stated she appreciated the business diversity. As for what businesses she hopes to attract, she said she has no preference as long as they create jobs that encourage Centralia students to stay in the community.
"Some students might want to grow and spread their wings and go to another community, and I wish them well," Smith Johnston said. "But I don't want anyone here in Centralia to feel like there isn't a future for them."
The next question posed to the candidates focused on housing and zoning, and whether they believe any changes need to be made.
Smith Johnston responded first, saying that zoning is constantly evolving and needs to be changed.
"We're going to do a comprehensive plan periodic update next year, and we'll have a chance to engage our public and have a robust conversation about that," Smith Johnston said.
She said she wants to look at how commercial and residential zoning can go together, and help foster the creation of neighborhood hubs in Centralia to make the city more walkable and strengthen the connectivity of the community.
Barnes said she believes the council is currently going in the wrong direction concerning housing. She referred to a recent decision the council made denying a developer's request to change zoning so they could go from converting hotels to permanent supportive housing to converting them into free-market rental apartments instead.
"The vote on Tuesday night needs to be changed. I don't think that we need to have a housing development for homeless people," Barnes said.
She also said while she thinks Smith Johnston is a good mayor, she is overstepping the position's authority.
"She's not the controller or manager of the city. We hire a manager to run our city, and we're supposed to support his guidance ... The mayor is not in charge," Barnes said.
In Centralia, the mayor is chosen by fellow city councilors.
Smith Johnston offered a rebuttal, saying Tuesday's decision was made because the rental rates being proposed had the potential of being above the area's median income.
"It was going to create housing right in our commercial zone that would prevent business growth, and it would impact a major business corridor. Keeping the zoning the way it was was the decision of the council," Smith Johnston said.
She added she believes the council's role is to set policy while working with the city manager, who she works closely with.
The final question posed to both candidates focused more on their thoughts revolving around the council's Tuesday decision regarding rezoning to allow hotel conversion into apartment complexes.
Barnes responded first, again saying she believes the council should have allowed the zoning change. While housing in Centralia is needed for both those making more and less than the area median income, she said she feels the developer should have the right to build what they want.
"We don't want a poorer grade of people there. We want people with money to have something they deserve, nice small apartments," Barnes said.
Smith Johnston started by saying the issue is complex and that the city is currently working to address housing shortages across the full area median income spectrum.
"Rezoning and allowing residential, I strongly think that should be done as part of a periodic update where you're looking at the entire city," Smith Johnston said.
She said if the council had approved the zoning change, it would not have required the developer to do a traffic impact analysis, which concerned her as the hotel is located on Harrison Avenue, a highly congested area.
"It seemed irresponsible to allow multi-family dwellings to go in there without a traffic study or traffic mitigation," Smith Johnston said.
Additionally, she said the developer has a track record of rent increases ranging from 40% to 140% and was worried Centralia residents could be priced out of those apartments.
In her closing remarks, Barnes said she is also worried about short-staffing issues within the city's police department.
"We make a mistake in hiring people who have never been a police officer before, then we have to send them away to have training," Barnes said. "It would be better if we offered bonuses, or larger amounts of money for experienced police officers."
Barnes said she feels this would help address safety concerns many Centralia residents have.
Smith Johnston stated that while the police department had been short staffed, it is now fully staffed again.
"Crime is down. Our statistics in 2023 from 2022, in shoplifting, in vandalism, in assaults and more, are all trending downward. I'm very proud of that," Smith Johnston said.
She added she believes local leaders inspire optimism about the future, and leaders need to keep an open mind when considering solutions to issues the city faces.
Incumbent Councilor Adrianna Garibay
Though Sexsmith was not present, Garibay was still given the opportunity to answer the questions prepared for her and her opponent.
In her opening remarks, Garibay said she is proud to be representing the Hispanic community on the council. She has lived in Centralia for 25 years. She originally moved to the city from Michoacàn, Mexico.
Garibay was not originally elected to the council, but chosen out of a field of seven candidates to fill a council vacancy earlier this year following another councilor's resignation.
"The opportunity that I got to be a city council member is giving me the feeling in my heart that I belong here," Garibay said.
Even if she loses the upcoming election, she now feels like a true part of the Centralia community and will always consider the city her true home, she said.
The first question posed to Garibay was what her personal vision for Centralia is. She said her main hope is to get the Hispanic community more involved in the city.
"I really want them to be able to feel what I'm feeling right now, that we are a part of Centralia, that we came here for a reason, that we come here to work," said Garibay.
She also wants to create more opportunities for people to get jobs with livable wages, as many in Centralia currently have to work multiple jobs to pay rent.
Next, the moderators asked Garibay what she thought about the Veterans Memorial Pearl Street Pool's recent closure.
Growing up in an impoverished part of Mexico, Garibay said she originally felt that the city had much bigger issues to worry about aside from a pool.
"I got more information, and I know it's important, especially to veterans and the remembrance of them," Garibay said. "So I think it is important to keep it. I just don't know where we can get the funding to have it."
The final question posed to Garibay revolved around COVID-19 business losses and how the city should prepare for future pandemics should another shutdown occur.
She said many businesses are still struggling to fully recover from the shutdown, and while she didn't know exactly what should be done in the future, she was motivated to find solutions and be involved in the process.
"I need to get to know more and learn more ... It will be something that I have to learn more before I give any more answers," Garibay said.
In her closing statement, she reiterated she wants to continue bridging the gap between Centralia and its Hispanic community.
"I really want to close that gap and create a bridge where we can work together," Garibay said.
The general election is Nov. 7. Ballots have already been mailed out. To learn more about the current election, visit https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/current-election/.