Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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I’m supporting Gunner Fulmer for Walla Walla County Commissioner because I believe he is the most qualified person for the job. During my years working for the county, I appreciated Gunner’s support and had the opportunity to see him grow as a commissioner. He brings firsthand experience with county government and the responsibilities of this office that his opponent does not have. That experience matters when making decisions about budgets, essential services, and our community’s future. His leadership also extends beyond Walla Walla Count...
Tim Reeves is transparent, engaged, and approachable. His business experience, education, and training as an economist have prepared him for the critical work of our County Auditor. As an organizational leader, Tim successfully managed teams at Boeing and Microsoft through development and change and provided the fiscal oversight of his wife’s small business. These experiences prepared him to work in harmony with colleagues and on behalf of constituents, managing and coordinating the myriad systems that make the work of the County Auditor b...
I’m supporting Derek Sarley for State Legislature and Tim Reeves for Walla Walla County Auditor because both bring valuable experience and a commitment to public service. Derek’s decade on the Walla Walla School Board and small business experience have prepared him to balance budgets, make difficult decisions, and bring people together. As a father and community leader, he understands how those decisions affect local families. I appreciate his commitment to listening to every voice and representing the entire 16th District. Tim’s backg...
To the Editor, To get the US back on its feet and heading in the right direction, vote Carmela Conroy for Congress. Incumbent Baumgartner has done nothing to improve the lives of Eastern Washingtonians. He has given Trump a blank check while constituents bear soaring fuel prices and inflation. Baumgartner championed the Big Beautiful Bill, which increased the debt to $40 trillion. He voted to cut over $90 million in Medicaid and Medicare funding from Eastern Washington. In the Fifth Congressional District, 36,000 people are expected to lose...
Richard Schram has outlined not only his vision for the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, but also the meaningful improvements he’s already helped accomplish. From achieving state accreditation for the first time to strengthening training, developing leadership, modernizing equipment, securing grants, and improving services, his record demonstrates experience, dedication, and a commitment to making a good department even better. When I first endorsed Richard, it was based on the respect and confidence I developed while working with him dur...
Letter to the Editor Vote “YES” on Proposition NO 1 when you receive your upcoming ballot. A public swimming pool enriches the quality of life for our community. This Proposition helps finance operations & expenses to have a public swimming pool again. It’s been almost 10 years that citizens of Columbia County have been without a public swimming pool. Not everyone has access to public pools at other locations. A generation of local children are growing up without learning basic water safety skills and the joy of playing, or swimming in the wate...
Ads supporting the income tax are being less than honest. The Center Square is one that has called them out: “Politicians and the media are claiming approval of Initiative 645 will “cut funding” for public schools, higher education and health care. There’s only one problem - it’s not true. Why? Because there’s nothing to cut. Washington doesn’t collect a dime of income tax revenue until 2029. It’s not possible to cut something that doesn’t exist.” Source: The Center Square at https://tinyurl.com/2cvs3p46. And for those claiming it is ONLY...
Our American justice system is too important to take for granted. We must have the best and brightest people administering that justice. That’s why my husband Jim and I are proud to endorse Janelle Carman-Wagner for part time District Court Judge. I’ve known Janelle for more than 20 years, and my husband has known her for much longer than that. Her broad experience in civil, family, and criminal law makes her competent and knowledgeable in all the legal matters under District Court jurisdiction. After some court cases, someone may be ang...
Dear Editor, There are people who will tell you they are about their community, and there are people who simply show up when someone needs them. Richard Schram has always been the kind who shows up. From what I have seen, he steps up because he feels a responsibility to help, not because he wants recognition or a title. That is the same quality I see in his decision to run for Sheriff. Richard knows the responsibilites of the office and the people who do the work everyday. He has the depth of experience to understand the challenges ahead and...
To the Editor of the “Waitsburg Times” I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse Richard Schram for Walla Walla County Sheriff. As President of the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Foundation for the past three years, I have come to know Richard as a highly motivated and professional individual dedicated to serving both the Sheriff’s Office and our community with excellence. Born in Spokane, Wash., and a long-time resident of Walla Walla County, he has been deeply committed to our community throughout his career. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2003,...
I support the candidacy of Tim Reeves for the position of Walla Walla County Auditor. I encourage readers to visit Tim’s website, which lays out how his educational and professional journey uniquely qualifies him to serve us in this pivotal role. Part of the challenge we face as a nation has resulted from a lack of civic engagement. Of particular importance to me is Tim’s commitment to help make county government accessible, transparent, and understandable to ordinary citizens. Tim’s plan to make the Auditor’s website the repository of all bud...
When you love someone who wears a badge, you understand that their job becomes part of your family. You see the long hours, sacrifices, difficult calls, and the weight that comes home at the end of a shift. That is why Richard Schram’s leadership means somuch to me. As the wife of a deputy who serves under Richard, I have had the privilege of seeing the kind of leader he is when noone is watching. I have seen that he genuinely cares—not only about our community, but about the people who serve it. Richard holds people accountable and is not afr...
Letter to the Editor: I am proud to endorse Chief Criminal Deputy Richard Schram for Walla Walla County Sheriff. I work for the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office in the Civil Department. Although Chief Schram works in a separate department, he has always made a point of checking in on the Civil Department employees and making sure we know that our work and our concerns matter. When my duties take me into the Criminal side of the office, Chief Schram is quick to offer an encouraging “well done.” Those small moments may seem insig...
To the editor, Walla Walla County has been my home for my whole life except for the 6 years I spent in the US Navy. I love this place & the people who live here. I care what happens to them. For that reason I wholeheartedly support Richard Schram for Sheriff. He is the much superior candidate by education, experience, & temperament. I retired from the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office after 37 years of service. I was the first K-9 handler for the WWSO, working dogs for 15 years. I was jail commander for 12 years & did thousands of hours of p...
Letter to the Editor, So far this summer, five families have participated in the Friends of the Pool program to reimburse swimming lessons for Columbia County residents. Eight children have had their lessons at the Walla Walla YMCA, fully reimbursed through this offer. Hopefully, the word will spread, and more families will participate. The offer extends year-round and is not limited to summer. You can receive swim lessons anywhere, as long as it is a certified program such as the American Red Cross. To be reimbursed, send invoices with...
To the editor As a physician, I have spent my career in a profession where trust, integrity, and accountability are essential. Those same qualities shape the people I choose to call close friends. I have known Richard Schram for ten years, and I am proud to count him among them. Richard’s friendship extends to my entire family. Our children know him simply as “Uncle Richard.” He takes a genuine interest in their schoolwork, activities, and hobbies because he genuinely cares. I see that same commitment in his enthusiasm for visiting local schoo...
To the Editor, I was thrilled to see Richard Schram file to run for Walla Walla County Sheriff. He has been preparing for this role for years. Throughout my eleven years on College Place City Council, I have watched Richard serve as a Sheriff’s Office representative and take on increasingly significant leadership responsibilities. He has worked under three sheriffs, learning what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. Richard understands how budgets and collective bargaining agreements work. He knows how to lead deputies from different bac...
I am proud to support Richard Schram for Walla Walla County Sheriff, based not only on his superior law enforcement and leadership experience, but also on the person I have come to know through his involvement in our community. Richard consistently shows up, and it is not limited to campaign season. Look through the Sheriff’s Office posts, and you will notice he is always there, supporting the community and the deputies. Richard has consistently attended community events, taking the time to speak with residents, and genuinely listening to t...
To the Editor, As a Waitsburg resident who has known Richard Schram for over 20 years, I proudly endorse him for Walla Walla County Sheriff. Long before this campaign, I saw Richard’s true character through everyday life in our county. He is honest, steady, hardworking, and always quick to help a neighbor. That kind of integrity cannot be manufactured for an election; it is simply who he is. Richard’s professional experience is extensive. During more than 23 years with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, he has served at every level and c...
To the editor: During my service as both a full-time Patrol Deputy and volunteer Reserve Deputy with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, I have consistently observed Chief Deputy Richard Schram demonstrate the kind of leadership that strengthens an organization from the inside out. His approach is steady, principled, and rooted in the values of honor, courage, and commitment. Richard leads from the front, supports the people under his command, and sets a professional standard that others naturally follow. In demanding situations where judg...
To the Editor, I spent 45 years living in Walla Walla County, and serving its citizens was one of the greatest privileges of my career. Even though I no longer live there, I’ll always care about the community and the people who call it home. That’s why I’m taking the time to write this. I’ve known Richard Schram since 2007, when I was hired as a Deputy with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. Over the years, I worked beside him on a wide range of cases, from death investigations and homicides to drug warrants and everything in between....
To the editor, Joe and I are voting for Tim Reeves for Walla Walla County Auditor. We believe he has the knowledge and experience to be an exceptional auditor. His priorities, as stated on his website, are: Build trust with County Commissioners, peers, and staff Promote customer service in county licensing and recording operations. Ensure detailed and timely reporting of county finances Embrace technology to streamline processes and reduce costs Protect the integrity of the election process These priorities align with our values. His work as...
To the editor, I’ve known Richard Schram for over 11 years now. I was with the Sheriff’s Office from November 2014 until December 2022 when I retired as Chief Civil Deputy. I watched Richard from the time he was a patrol deputy, to a sergeant and then to become the Chief Criminal Deputy. Richard has worked as the Chief Criminal Deputy under the last two Sheriffs and has developed outstanding leadership abilities. Richard knows how to run the agency at its best and always takes into consideration the needs of the community for whom he ser...
To the editor, During this election for Sheriff, many letters have noted Richard Schram’s leadership, devotion, professionalism, and vision for the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. I agree with every word. But let me tell you about something that matters just as deeply: how Richard handles his mistakes. This job will humble you. No one escapes it entirely. We’ve all said the wrong thing or damaged a relationship. We’re only human. When it happens, the whole agency watches to see what kind of person you really are — especially with prov...
To the Editor: I’m impressed that Reeves has set himself five goals when elected auditor: Re-establish trust with county commissioners and staff. Provide accurate monthly reporting of county finances. (As of July 17, no expense reporting was available for 2026.) It is impossible for commissioners to plan without timely and accurate reports. Improve customer service. Leverage Technology. Reeves is already familiar with Workday, the new data management software that will be implemented in the auditor’s office. Protect election integrity and priva...
