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Rarely, but ever so often, the local and parochial concerns of the citizenry rise to a level that has the potential to influence issues of much greater weight. I believe that these are just such times. We are in the midst an upheaval that for all the distress it might cause us, still offers us the opportunity to change fundamental flaws both in our local community and in the larger society. All that is required of us is to commit ourselves and lead by example.

This is not as grandiose as it might first appear. A confluence of events are presenting the democrats in Thurston County with the opportunity to substantially change the future course of economic and environmental activity in the county, and offer a modest, yet potentially influential model of progressive change on the local level. A fuse has been presented to us that only await the spark of our collective wisdom to ignite a new vision of how the people of this county control the many factors that make a community desirable, livable, and equitable.

PCOs of Thurston County have this opportunity because, first, it has become obvious to the entire country that fundamental economic and social change is needed if our society is to survive, much less prosper, and second, because we have a chance to rationally evaluate candidates for county commissioner, choosing those few who would best offer the citizens of Thurston County a thoughtful progressive voice for the inevitable election on 2009. This is doubly wonderful opportunity since we can by our choice ensure that this candidate will have a positive influence during the next seven decisive months, a period of critical importance to the county, unforeseen just a few short months ago, during the last election cycle.

Although, no sane person welcomes opportunity through misery, this is the actual condition we all now find ourselves immersed, whether we like it or not. The economy is a basket case, and its utter abject failure can be laid squarely at the feet of conservative market ideology, a philosophical straight jacket that has, for the last three decades kept us bound to an irrational business model which has been the antithesis of an environmentally sound, sustainable, fair, caring, and sincerely enriching society. It has become painfully obvious that other models are needed, and we have had the amazing good fortune to have elected a president and a congress, who appear to be willing to make major changes to our economy on the National level.

This change is being made out of dire necessity and the pain and suffering that this impeding economic and social collapse will cause should not be trivialized. Yet, change will have to come if we are to extract ourselves from this terrible predicament. And more importantly change will be needed on a local and personal level.This is where we, the PCOs of Thurston County, come in. We have a responsibility to choose a Commissioner who is informed, concerned, politically adept, and most importantly fearlessly visionary. To that end, I suggest that at a minimum, the persons we select should be able to adequately answer the following pertinent questions:

1. The county has responsibility for a huge number of social services, from health, to immunization, family planning, parks, emergency management, mental health, chemical dependency, and many other services that are required for a functional civilization. In the light of the current and future economic downturn what concrete plans do you offer to preserve these services that are so essential to an equitable, cohesive, and compassionate society? Would you support enhancements of medical services that are offered through the county if they are shown to have an acceptable cost benefit ratio, i.e. reducing cost of services in other arenas for investments in related precursor services? How would you prioritize balancing the county budget needed to preserve important social services? Would you advocate tax increases, if the alternative is to discontinue many of these services? How would these tax increases be made equitable and progressive?

2. The new federal administration has committed itself to providing economic stimulus to the country through infrastructure enhancement. These federal funds will almost certainly be provided in both immediate and future disbursements. Do you believe that the county has a role in providing projects for these funds and have you considered how the county will compete for these funds? Do you have specific projects in mind that could be presented to federal review committees, both in the near term and in the future? How would these projects fit into a model of green economic job stimulus?

3. The development model that has been practiced in the county for many decades has been heavily criticized as environmentally, economically, and socially unsustainable. Do you agree with this assessment? How would you change the economic development model to reduce its environmental consequence, particularly its impact on increasing impervious surfaces, with consequential deleterious effects of watershed management and fisheries? Do you believe that concern for the carbon footprint should be a principle concern? How would you reconcile environmental sustainability with livable attractive communities?

4. Criticism of the economic system over the last eight years has included the charge that it has been particularly unfair to the middle and lower classes, with increasing disparity in income and ownership. Of particular concern is the mortgage crisis and foreclosures on family homes. Do you believe that the county has a role in helping these families? How should the county pursue economic development to enhance middle and lower class incomes? Do you support labor unions and, if so, how would you encourage them?

These questions are not meant to be all inclusive, and hopefully many other pertinent questions will be posed. However, I do believe that failure to address these specific questions demonstrates a lack of seriousness on the part of that candidate, and I encourage each one to give a thoughtful reply. These questions cannot be framed for “Yes” or “No” responses and answers will require some detail.