The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The 16th Legislative District is changing. While the 16th LD is composed of Columbia and Walla Walla counties, most of southern Benton County, and Pasco, it is no longer predominately an agricultural region. Our region has a rich diversity in its peoples and industry. Even within the agricultural sectors we see a multitude of different agribusiness variations with sometimes competing legislative policy needs. These policy areas are as wide ranging as water use, pesticide application, to immigration and if I dare say —public health! Throw in the needs of the tourism, health, manufacturing,...