Nov. 5 General Election candidates: Klickitat Co. Commissioner District 3

Because this county cannot continue to make bad financial decisions so that wealthy campaign donors can get richer. If this Good Ole Boy mentality continues, there will be no option other than heavily increasing taxes on our citizens. What is currently happening is the county is taxing the middle class and poor so that commissioners can increase the wealth of the rich. My seatmates are also working to change the property tax increase annual rate from 1% to 3%. I am opposed to this. People will never be financially secure if they are being overtaxed by their government.

What are your qualifications for this position?

Business owner for over 25 years and currently elected county commissioner who has proven to be fiscally responsible and was a no vote on every bad financial decision taking place in the last 3 years. My only family in this county is my wife, meaning I have no one to give special favors to! That really shouldn’t be a qualification but around here it certainly needs to be.

What are the top three issues facing Klickitat County?

Finances, favoritism and corruption. We all know that this is government in a nutshell but it doesn’t have to be. The people can choose to stop electing establishment backed Good Ole Boy candidates. We are facing a lot of issues, but none can be addressed when the main focus of this county is how can we get more money to ourselves, our friends and family. I hate to be the one to tell you but the amount of moral, ethical and downright illegal activity I have witnessed in the last four years is amazing. I can continue to vote no but it won’t fix the problem until the people quit electing them.

What is an innovation you would recommend the county try?

Commissioners are in charge of policy and the budget. There are plenty of new ideas out there to try, but that would take a different mindset than the establishment has shown to have. Simple things like the county accepting credit cards was a three year fight and still isn’t done. My idea to get the county to provide low interest loans for economic development has been a battle from day one. You can have no change until you elect people that are not stuck in their establishment ways of focusing on wealth creation of friends and family.

Finish this statement: In five years, my vision for the Klickitat County is …

A county where all their commissioners work for the people, not for large campaign donors. Local government doesn’t deal with standard Democrat and or Republican issues. On county issues like mental health, or economic development, 95% of both sides would agree with what should be basic policy. Unfortunately, the 5% control politicians and that 5% wants their return on their donation investment. Or in my case, if you don’t, they will find someone to run against you who will. Case in point, we could have update our comprehensive plan in the last three years, but not when the puppet master developers don’t want it updated. They have money to make so don’t get in their way.

Ron Ihrig

Why are you running for this office?

I am running for this office to bring back dignity and honesty to the Board of County Commissioners. I have lived in the Goldendale area my entire life and I want to represent all the people of our county in a transparent, truthful and respectful way. I also want to rebuild the relationships within the county staff, elected officials and the public.

How does any previous experience help qualify you for this role?

My previous experience as a County Commissioner, Mayor, Klickitat Valley Health Commissioner and a Chief Operating Officer, as well as my experience living in this area give me the tools to bring us back to a functioning board and a better functioning County. The institutional knowledge to work with other departments, entities, and our community to solve problems in Klickitat County.

What are the top three issues facing Klickitat County?

I see the top three issues as, the toxic environment within the board and its work with other county departments and other public entities, the lack of a comprehensive plan, and working with our budget.

What is an innovation you would recommend the county try?

An innovation would be the Board of County Commissioners working together to solve problems, set goals and objectives for our County, then set appropriate goals for each department. That might sound crazy, but wouldn’t it be great to get some things done, do some planning and make our county a better place for everyone.

Finish this statement: In five years, my vision for Klickitat County is…

A functioning board that is working as a team. The comprehensive plan complete with Critical Area Ordinance, Shoreline Master Program complete or near completion. The pump storage project, the White Salmon bridge and the data storage project being well under construction or completed.

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Prior to the Aug. 6 Washington Primary, Dan Christopher and Ron Ihrig answered another set of questions from Columbia Gorge News, which can be found at columbiagorgenews.com.