Experience comes from different backgrounds in Yakima Co. commission District 2 race

by DAVID LESTER
Yakima Herald-Republic

Jesse Farias and Kevin Bouchey approach their matchup for the Yakima County Commission, representing District 2, from distinctly different directions and backgrounds.

Farias, a Democrat and mayor of Wapato, and Bouchey, a Republican and longtime farmer, are both lifelong Valley residents.

Farias, 63, touts his government experience and Bouchey his business experience as the primary factor that sets them apart.

"What's totally different is that in all the areas county government is struggling -- budget, economic development and credibility -- I have experience in all those areas," said Farias, who is in his first full term as mayor of the Central Valley city.

Farias, a disabled Vietnam veteran, has been regional director for the Employment Security Department, director of state Veterans Affairs and a member of the state Liquor Control Board.

The 48-year-old Bouchey said the background issue poses a clear choice for voters in the district, which stretches from south of Tieton Drive in Yakima to the county line on the west side of the Yakima River.

"You have to look to the best use of the dollar. I've had to do that on a regular basis in my farming operation," said Bouchey, who grows potatoes, asparagus, mint, corn and wheat on the family's 900-acre farm on the Yakama Indian Reservation near Toppenish.

Bouchey added he will be a full-time commissioner. A ranch foreman and other employees will take over all ranch duties, he said.

The winner in the general election will succeed Ron Gamache, a two-term commissioner and former Toppenish farmer, who lost to Bouchey in the Republican primary. Bouchey received 40 percent of the vote, while Farias received 29 percent, which allowed them to emerge from the primary election as the two candidates receiving the most votes.

The successful candidate will see a substantial in-crease in pay. As a result of
commission action two years ago, annual salaries for com-missioners will increase 17 percent in January, rising from $67,692 per year to $79,248.

The increase will be the first for commissioners since 2002, when they opted to freeze their salaries. The increase will bring commissioners current with other elected administrative positions, including the assessor, treasurer, clerk, and auditor.

The annual salary will be more than Bouchey has raised this year to run for the office. According to the latest reports from the state Public Disclosure Commission, Bouchey has raised more than $76,000, including extensive support from the agriculture industry. Farias, including $6,000 in loans to his campaign, has raised a total of $25,400.

Despite their divergent backgrounds, both candidates would approach the county budget in much the same way. Neither will have a say in the 2009 budget that will be adopted prior to the winner taking office. Their first experience will be with the 2010 county budget.

Current Commissioner Mike Leita, who is running unopposed for a second term, has said a budget crunch and the county's building needs are the primary issues commissioners must face in 2009.

Farias said commissioners must hold department heads and elected officials accountable for the money they receive. Commissioners, while they do not control individually elected department heads, do control the purse strings.

"The county's position is
no different than the cities.
We are all hurting for money," Farias said. "We
have to hold people account-able. You build that into your budget process," he said.

Bouchey calls development of the county budget a joint effort among commissioners and other elected officials.

But he, too, is calling for accountability.

Bouchey isn't offering specific programs he would cut, but does argue that public safety needs to remain a priority.

"It is a matter of prior-itizing. First and foremost is public safety," he said.

Bouchey is proposing a coordinated, countywide effort to reduce gang activity.

He said the county could overcome the growth of spending that is outpacing revenues by helping applicants obtain approval for new businesses and industry that will bring new jobs and higher tax revenues to county coffers.

Farias said the county could help expand the economy by supporting creation of a small-business incubator to give local entrepreneurs help to start and grow their businesses.

Both candidates favor renewal of the three-tenths of a cent sales tax to fund law enforcement and court needs. The tax, which went into effect in 2005, will expire in 2010 unless voters agree to extend the tax, which allocates 60 percent of the money to the county and 40 percent to the cities. A public vote is likely next year.

Neither candidate is taking a position on the need for a new courts building on the parking lot north of the old jail.

A county task force made the new building a part of its recommendations as a way to improve security within the courthouse, separating criminal cases and emotion-filled domestic cases from those with other courthouse business. A new courts building would leave the existing courthouse for all administrative departments.

Bouchey said he is aware a security problem exists, but he is reserving judgment on the building and a bond issue needed to fund it.

Farias said he believes the commissioners have a credibility problem and will have a tough time convincing voters of the need for a new building.

The credibility gap is related to the county's troubled jail project that had to be scaled back because of cost overruns. The jail is now operating and is generating enough revenue to cover operating costs and the annual payment on $33 million in bonds sold to finance the project. Along the way, the county bought 38 acres near Toppenish for $513,000. After abandoning the site because of inadequate water, the county ultimately sold the 38-acre site for $300,000.

Farias says credibility can be improved by spending more time talking with constituents.

"I am running on access-ibility. I believe that elected officials need to be out and about in the community and not just have business meetings," he said. "That is where you start building credibility when they see you as an individual."

 

* David Lester can be reached at 577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.

 

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