PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioner candidates Linda Barnfather and Jim McEntire aired their differences over grant money before a Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce audience Monday.
Barnfather, a Sequim Democrat and former legislative assistant to state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and McEntire, a Sequim Republican who serves on the Port of Port Angeles commission, are vying to replace Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger in the all-county, all-mail Nov. 8 election.
Ballots are distributed starting Oct. 19.
Tharinger, now a member of the state House of Representatives, is not seeking re-election to the commissioner position representing the East End.
Citing a statement McEntire allegedly made to Soroptimist International Port Angeles last week, Barnfather said her opponent would not pursue grants if elected.
“I wonder if he knows that over 16 percent of the county’s overall budget in the fiscal year 2010 included federal and state grants,” Barnfather said.
“What would Clallam County do without the
$3.3 million the Sheriff’s Office received, or the
$2.7 million that went to support programs in health and human services, or the $2 million that went to road construction and repair?
“I know the times are tough, and I know that federal and state dollars are shrinking rapidly, but I have to tell you, we would have a very, very difficult time operating in our county without these supportive dollars.”
When asked to elaborate on his stance, McEntire said: “What I actually said was a conditional no.”
“Anytime that grants come with strings attached, and particularly when those strings require you to continue that effort into the following year once the grant monies have been spent, I don’t think that’s something that is wise,” McEntire said.
“We don’t need to build in structural costs for the future.”
McEntire said he would seek grants for infrastructure projects.
“That’s a one-time expense, and then you have an asset in the community,” he said.
“That’s precisely what the Port of Port Angeles does.
“But the simple fact of the matter is, folks, we’re going to see a lot less in federal and state dollars coming our way. So we’re just going to have to get used to the fact that we will have less of that, and we’ll have to make the best of the dollars we have on hand, both locally and from the federal government and state.”
Barnfather reiterated she would actively pursue grants if elected to the three-member Board of County Commissioners.
An audience of about 100 packed the upstairs conference area of the Red Lion Hotel for the forum.
Port Angeles City Council candidates will keynote Port Angeles chamber luncheons Monday and Oct. 17. Olympic Medical Center commissioner candidates will appear in the Oct. 24 luncheon.
Going back to the theme of earlier forums, Barnfather, 48, and McEntire, 60, differed over taxes.
McEntire said the median household income, when adjusted for inflation, has dropped about 26 percent in Clallam County since 2003.
“Therefore, I think it is incumbent on county government to not raise the overall level of taxation because the economic capacity, and certainly the household budgets, are not there to sustain any kind of an tax increase,” McEntire said.
“So that’s proposition No. 1.”
Secondly, McEntire said he wants to try to discover ways to “get behind the economy and push just as hard as we can.”
“There’s an awful lot of detail that goes with that,” he said.
“But that’s the mission, I think, and government revenues, taxes, will follow suit once the economy starts to perform better.”
Clallam County projects a $2.7 million budget shortfall in 2012. Commissioners will meet with elected county officials and other department heads beginning Friday to try to narrow the budget gap.
In her opening remarks, Barnfather said she “has a strong understanding of the county budget process.”
“I have the skill set to keep the county’s budget on track and our county moving forward, especially in these challenging economic times,” she said.
“I am an experienced, hands-on small-business owner who knows what it takes to meet a goal.”
Asked what the candidates would as a commissioner with an extra $1 million, Barnfather said she would invest it in infrastructure to grow the economy.
McEntire said he would return it to the taxpayers, with infrastructure “a close second.”
Asked how they would cut $1 million cut from the budget, McEntire said he would first consult with other county officials.
“The dollars that get cut last are public safety and public health dollars,” McEntire said. “That’s why you have government in the first place.”
Barnfather said she would identify the core services the county provides and cut nonessential services such as the fair and parks.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
