PORT ANGELES — The candidates for Clallam County District 2 commissioner largely overlap in their policy priorities and stances, although they vary on short-term rental policy and current budget cuts.
Incumbent Randy Johnson, an Independent, and Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter, a Democrat, discussed their positions Tuesday morning at a Port Angeles Business Association breakfast at Joshua’s Restaurant.
Johnson, who is running for his third term, first joined the county as a commissioner in 2017. Prior to that, he worked as a local entrepreneur, which he said gives him a unique perspective on the board. He said he is independent because “almost everything we’re talking about does not relate to a D-party or an R-party.”
Dexter has spent seven years on the city council, including five years as mayor. She also works full time as the clinical, outreach and accreditation coordinator for the nursing program at Peninsula College.
Based on the struggles faced by local healthcare, Dexter said she would provide the board with a valuable perspective.
Each candidate said they were concerned about local housing, childcare access, the climate and the economy, although they had different ideas about how to tackle those issues.
Both individuals agreed the county should encourage housing development through steps such as shortening the permitting process.
“The issue is housing,” Johnson said. “I think everyone can agree with that.”
However, they disagreed about short-term rental regulation possibilities.
“My position on short-term rentals was to stop exponential growth of short-term rentals in the city of Port Angeles, because we need housing,” Dexter said, referring to recent code passed by the city council.
At the county level, she said she is interested in looking at potential regulations but doesn’t think a similar policy would be necessary or effective.
Johnson said he thinks restricting short-term rentals will lead individuals to sell their units for inflated prices, rather than leading to affordable housing or long-term renting options.
Candidates also addressed different types of taxes they would support.
“Are there any taxes that I would enjoy paying?” Johnson said. “Probably not. But let’s talk about the reality.”
Clallam County’s largest source of income is property and sales tax, Johnson said. However, jurisdictions are only able to collect an additional 1 percent in property taxes each year, unless voters approve otherwise.
County expenses, however, do not follow suit and only increase by 1 percent each year, he added.
Unless taxes are increased, Johnson said “at some point, you’re going to have to do without something.”
Dexter agreed.
“There are just certain things we have to fund,” she said.
To continue funding essential services, Dexter said there are times she might vote for a tax increase. However, she said she also is an advocate of implementing a non-regressive tax structure that can reduce local reliance on sales tax.
“We all know, sales tax is the most regressive form of taxation,” she said.
Johnson said he is doubtful that a progressive tax, such as an income tax, would provide relief to households burdened by sales tax.
Dexter said she disagreed with the commissioners’ currently strategy of reducing their 2025 projected operating deficit by implementing across-the-board cuts.
To reduce next year’s operating deficit, the county asked 18 departments to reduce general fund expenditures by 7 percent. Dexter said she would address budget cuts in a different way.
Candidates also were asked what they stood for.
“How can we better our community?” Johnson said. “That’s what’s going through my mind, all the time.”
“I stand for collaborative working together, to make sure that our county and communities are the best they can be for everyone,” Dexter said.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
