NOTICE: Voters Guide is now online at Skamania County Elections.

https://voter.votewa.gov/GenericVoterGuide.aspx?e=888&c=30#/

I plan to share information about candidates’ activities, perspectives and initiatives. Candidates and their supporters are welcome to email me details about campaign rallies and political stances (I won’t share info about fundraising activities, though).

I heartily encourage county residents who plan to vote to read up on the seven candidates for District No. 2 county commissioner.

Each of the candidates brings unique experiences and perspectives to the campaign.

Collectively, we might have the skills and acumen to a suitable county commissioner. However, the other six candidates are not as well-informed as I am about county governance over the past 13 years.

Managing the county has been and will continue to be a financial minefield for the commissioners.

Vote carefully.

Worst ongoing environmental issue

The intentional neglect of our national forests is the No. 1 ongoing disaster of our times.

It is also the worst ongoing economic disaster for once timber-dependent regions.

U.S. Forest Service photos from the 1930s and 1940s demonstrate the forests of the time were not as crowded as they are today.

Most of the logging that needs to occur on our national forests would be to thin long-neglected plantation stands.

However, professionals throughout the forest service, universities and the forestry industry now know that efforts to protect the Northern spotted owl have been detoured by Nature itself.

I assert that the forests need far more management than less. That’s why continuing and expanding the natural resources office of Skamania County is vital to the economic interests of its citizenry.

My campaign statement

I’m objective, contemplative, compassionate, knowledgeable and teachable.

For 13 years, I’ve reported on our county government. I gained valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities ahead, prompting my decision to seek the office.

Critical issues include: Addressing aging personnel and an aging courthouse; thoroughly updating the county comprehensive plan; expanding the natural resources office; and enhancing economic development.

I will continue the commission’s past effort to increase financial reserves, to implement a forestry program, and to address increasing infrastructure and insurance costs.

I will lobby the federal government to provide proper financial support beyond the transitory SRS payments.

Namaste

Witless for Watness

“Let’s do shit” is the apolitical motto of the nonpolitically astute septuagenarian.

Let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Voltaire expressed that sentiment when he wrote:

Dans ses écrits, un sage Italien,
Dit que le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.

Let’s believe that we can confront the issues of these times
Let’s dream beyond our limited perspective
Let’s remember that a people’s strength is their investment in one another
Let’s resolve some of the old controversies and get on to the new ones

Philip L. Watness seeks the office of Skamania County commissioner because he knows many details of county governance, practices objectivity regarding any subject, and understands the challenges and limitations that the county endures.

No worse than the other guy

Anonymous

The other guys:

Joshua Good, North Bonneville: City council member who won a four-year term in 2023. Elected in November 2021 to fill out unexpired term. [email protected], (971) 930-7506, no party

Forest Hofer, Stevenson: Served as EMS commissioner. [email protected], (503) 516-5137, Republican

Greg Stafford, Stevenson, no email provided, (503) 853-9960, no party

Don Stevens, North Bonneville: Served eight years as mayor. [email protected], (541) 400-9535, no party

Mary Repar, nuff said. [email protected], (360) 726-7052, Democratic

Rob Farris, volunteer fire chief for Stevenson FD for many years. [email protected], Republican

Will post more candidate info as it becomes available

May the best candidate prevail.

Professional gas station jockey and expert crystal glazier Philip L. Watness plans to apply these mundane skills to the office of Skamania County commissioner

Every looney idea

Imaginative ideas to ponder

Why try?

To allay the concerns of that portion of the electorate who worries that this cranky, aging editor might actually win, the office-seeker assures them that he has no intention of winning the contest.

Rather, his intent is to do as little as he can to convince people of his ethics, morals, values, principles and character. He knows his own self without having to defend it.

Watness will not send out those oversize, glossy colored placards which don’t fit well in the recycling slot at the post office where most of them wind up. That seems a particularly useless method of convincing anyone of anything other than you can afford a glossy PR firm.

Watness will not accept more than one buck from any registered voter and vows to leave each dollar as part of a tip at a local business. His motto, “The Buck Starts Here,” honors President Harry S. Truman whose phrase, “The Buck Stops Here” means the president is ultimately responsible for his governing decisions.

But Watness’ twist on Give ‘Em Hell Harry’s motto means he will be beholden equally to every voter.

Another long practice Watness will eschew is the placing of billboards screaming “vote me, vote me.” If you must spend money on plywood and 2x4s, donate the amount to the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority to help that agency build workforce housing.