PORT ANGELES — Candidates in the 6th Congressional District and county auditor races weighed in on issues ranging from the federal government shutdown and climate change to top goals and qualifications during a Clallam County League of Women Voters forum this week.
The forum, co-hosted by the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center on Wednesday evening, gathered U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat, and his challenger in the Nov. 4 general election for the 6th Congressional District seat, Gig Harbor Republican Marty McClendon, as well as county auditor hopefuls Shoona Riggs, county elections supervisor and deputy auditor, and Kim Yacklin, county Health and Human Services administrative coordinator.
Kilmer, 40, a Port Angeles native seeking a second term representing the district that includes the North Olympic Peninsula, told the audience of roughly 50 people that one of his top priorities was getting people back to work.
“I want us to roll out the red carpet for our employers, not red tape,” Kilmer said.
“I don’t want our region’s top export to be our children.”
The 47-year-old McClendon, a real estate broker for 15 years and co-pastor of Family Church in Gig Harbor, highlighted his professional experience as a vehicle for bipartisanship in Congress.
“As far as qualifications for this office, specifically my real estate career is about working with opposing parties,” he said.
“There are 20 to 30 of them in every transaction, working across the boards. . . helping people make their biggest purchases.”
Responding to a question from the public on the federal government shutdown in October 2013, McClendon said he would have voted for the shutdown, but only because of the spending he said the political maneuver was targeting.
“I would have supported it if I was in Congress, not because it shut down the government but because it was the right thing to do. It was trying to rein things in,” McClendon said.
“It wasn’t a vote on shutting down the government; it was a vote about rampant spending.”
Kilmer claimed the shutdown was more about far-right politics and health care reform.
“I did not support the shutdown and sequestration,” Kilmer said.
“This was about one thing and one thing only: This was about [U.S. Sen.] Ted Cruz and other right-wing parts of the federal government wanting to shut down the government and repeal the Affordable Care Act.”
The U.S. representative position pays $174,000 a year.
Auditor candidates
The county auditor candidates, introduced by league moderator Norma Turner later in the forum, targeted the accomplishments they would like to see attained in their first year and highlighted their work experience as qualifications for the post.
Yacklin, 50, said she has three top goals for her first year in office, the first being “accountability and transparency of where public dollars are spent.”
She added that she also would aim to increase voter turnout in Clallam County and implement a quality improvement program in the Auditor’s Office.
“I think we need to continually look at ourselves and ensure that we’re providing the most effective services possible,” Yacklin said.
Yacklin said she has worked for Clallam County in management for 24 years.
Riggs, 41, said she would like to see an informational voters pamphlet printed for the public and underscored her work in the Auditor’s Office as making her the most qualified for the position.
“I have done all the jobs in the office and done them well,” Riggs said.
“I will be able to walk into the Auditor’s Office on Jan. 2 and hit the ground running.”
Riggs, who grew up in Chimacum, has worked for 18 years in the Clallam County Auditor’s Office and six years in the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office.
The auditor’s salary will be $70,590 in 2015.
Auditor Patty Rosand did not seek re-election.
Charter review
Eight of 11 candidates for District 3 seats on the Charter Review Commission also gave two-minute presentations on their qualifications and intended accomplishments at the forum.
In the general election, five charter review commissioners will be elected from each of the three county commissioner districts.
Those 15 people will review the county’s charter, which is its “constitution.”
They will serve for one year in the unpaid positions to review the charter, propose amendments or review public initiatives for amendments.
District 3 covers the West End beginning at Valley Creek in Port Angeles.
The last league forum will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday in Port Angeles City Council chambers, 321 E. Fifth St.
Candidates for county commissioner, prosecuting attorney and community development director will debate.
________
News Editor Michael J. Foster can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5064, or at mfoster@peninsuladailynews.com.
