The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

I'm always amazed when I hear my friends, neighbors and colleagues complaining about the state of our country or community only to find out that they've not voted in a national or local election. I took the opportunity to attend our county caucus in Walla Walla earlier this month and was shocked to find only a handful of people from Waitsburg, Prescott and Dixie in attendance. Maybe it's because most folks feel that their opinion won't make a difference. I've struggled with that thought myself. But if we're going to make a difference it has to start with the people we vote into office.

Those big yellow envelopes we received in the mail last week aren't sweepstakes or cable company advertisements. The Waitsburg City Council election is upon us (mail-in ballots being received until April 2,) which is a great opportunity for us all to make our opinion count.

Waitsburg is "One of Kind" and so is your vote. I urge you to fill out the ballot and get it turned in. There's plenty at stake in every local election and this year is no different.

I decided to run for city council because I am convinced that I can contribute to the important work we need to accomplish for our community. Since many of you don't know me personally, I'd like to highlight a few of the key perspectives I would bring to the council. It was suggested to me recently that I was thought of as another status quo candidate. I had to chuckle. Nobody that has every served with me on corporate boards or government appointments have ever accused me of being apathetic.

Having grown up and worked in the Pacific North- west most of my life, I've seen far too many wonderful small communities loose the battle of economic down-cycles. Often for two common reasons:

The town failed to build a healthy commercial economic base that would sustain a vibrant community. Whether it be a lumber mill, food processor, or manufacturing plant, any community that is wholly dependent upon a single major employer is at risk, no matter how big the "green giant."

A persistent failure to embrace and promote a positive message to the would-be tourist travelers and commercial interests that attracts crucial infusion of "outside" dollars.

I believe that Waitsburg has a great story to tell and a marketable product to sell. Sustainable economic development doesn't mean abandoning the culture and history of our town. In fact as we continue to build on the unique attributes of our town, like many of the downtown businesses have successfully done, I'm convinced that Waitsburg will attract and retain more visitors and relocate more businesses, which is crucial to maintaining a healthy tax base so that residential property tax isn't the only means of maintaining our roads, sidewalks, and utilities.

City council has a limited, but important, role in the economic and social health of a community. If elected to the council, I would commit my attention to diversifying the tax base in support of needed city infrastructure maintenance, and to partnering with the local business community and port authority to create an economic development strategy that can be embraced by the whole of the community.

KC Kuykendall

Resident of Waitsburg and

candidate for city council