The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Dale Johnson has spent the past several months talking to people in Walla Walla County. He has gone door to door in most of the rural part of the county and is now doing it in Walla Walla. He also meets with groups throughout the county and spent about 60 hours talking to people at the Walla Walla County Fair.

"I ask people two questions," Johnson said. "What do you want in a county commissioner, and what changes would you like to see in the county."

He then listed a number of themes that ran through those conversations. "Safety and security comes up a lot; both property crime and, especially in Walla Walla, gangs.

"Another important topic is transportation," he said. "For one thing, people want to see a major carrier continue to serve the Walla Walla airport. Also roads and road maintenance are important."

Johnson said that other issues that came up over and over were improving communications, both within government and between government and citizens, and also economic development, and the level of taxes and government regulation.

Johnson has lived in College Place for 30 years. He has been a professor of education and psychology, and an administrator, at Walla Walla University for much of that time.

He has served on both the College Place and Walla Walla County Planning Commissions. He has also served on the College Place School Board and the Walla Walla Hospice board.

"I've always been a big believer in volunteerism," Johnson said. "I got that from my father and mother."

Johnson is a native of northwest Illinois and attended college in Nebraska. He has a bachelor's degree from Union College and a master's from the University of Nebraska. He also holds a PhD. from the University of California, attending both U.C. Riverside and UCLA.

Johnson is running as an independent, unaffiliated with either political party. "I've always supported moderates," from both parties, he said. "I'm looking for people who are problem solvers." Johnson said he hasn't been active in either party, and so decided not to run under either one.

If elected, Johnson says he will work to improve communications within county government and help county leaders work together better. He also wants to focus on working with the Port of Walla Walla to promote economic development and job growth.

"The Port has done a good job over the years," Johnson said. But budgets are tight and the county needs the growth, he says.