Gary Atkins and Brycen Huff both are vying for the same McCleary City Council position.
Both candidates were given an opportunity to respond to a questionnaire from The Vidette. Huff did not return his questionnaire.
Atkins’ answers follow:
Tell me about yourself (profession and education):
Atkins: I went to Eatonville High School and then to Bates votech, business auto management. I spent 23 years in the auto/RV business. Now I drive chip truck out of the local mills. I have grown up in a small town. And like the small town feeling. My wife was born and raised in McCleary and so was her mom and dad. We reside in the house her mom grew up in.
The budget is tight at McCleary — what would be your priorities for the City of McCleary’s budget issues?
Atkins: I feel we do have a tight budget, but the budget can be fixed. I feel the town is owed the funds the past mayor Gary Dent wrongfully took from light and power to pay police salaries. The way to do this is not the way it’s currently being done. We should not have hired a fourth officer or signed a janitorial contract until said money was paid back. I do feel our current mayor is doing a great job overall. And we are very lucky to actually have a police chief that is motivated to help make such a positive change to our great town. I feel we actually have a great police department.
Utility rates continue to increase and have been forecast to increase further over the next several years — how would you aim to address or limit those rising rates?
Atkins: As far as the price increases on utilities, it is complete nonsense. Just because we as a town are told that we can or should raise our rates, we should not. I feel a lot of the problem is poor planning and spending in the past. That’s not the people of McCleary’s fault. If you take an average income of $5,000 per month, subtract taxes (let’s say $1,000), subtract medical (let’s say $500). Now before rent, car payments, groceries, or child care, subtract $300 to $500 a month for utilities — that’s a big chunk of change. Now there are a lot of people that live in McCleary that make far less. In some cases that’s half their income. We are a small town, and if we want to bring in younger families and build newer homes, we need to stop raising rates to pay off old loans and start finding ways to lower utilities to entice people to move here. That works in Olympia.
What is your vision for the City of McCleary and how do you plan to make that vision a reality?
Atkins: We need to start being more hands on and not take months or years to make decisions. We need to make a four-year game plan at the new council members year. Then take that four-year goal and break it down to a time line and work hard to hit our goals. We need to start listening to the people’s needs and wants and not just what a panel of elected people feel needs to be done. As far as my vision for this town, I want to see this town become a community again. I want to see new growth, new businesses and a lot more interaction from the community to make the changes they want even if that means going door to door and asking questions and just saying hi.
