GOLD BAR:
Beavers only mayoral candidate; six others vie for council

by POLLY KEARY, EDITOR

With no incumbents seeking re-election for either the mayor’s seat or any of three open city council seats, the election season in Gold Bar looked a little bleak.

No longer.

By the filing deadline Friday, one race has three candidates, enough to require a primary run-off, another has two competitors, and candidates have stepped forward to fill the other two open seats. All the candidates who filed were offered an opportunity to give their experience and reason for running, along with a photo.

Mayor

	Joe Beavers

Barring a really strong write-in campaign from another candidate, current council member Joe Beavers will become mayor, as no one else filed for the position currently held by Mayor Crystal Hill, who isn’t seeking re-election.

“My goal as mayor would be to help make Gold Bar a financially stable, safe, and family-friendly town,” wrote Beavers. “With the Skykomish River, Wallace River and May Creek running through our town, nestled up against the Cascade Mountains, we are blessed with a wonderful living environment. Gold Bar can become the most desirable place to live in Sky Valley with careful stewardship of its environment and finances.

“Gold Bar needs to become financially sustainable, a tough job considering the loss of state funding over the years. The citizens of Gold Bar, working together constructively, can make this happen.

“I have been active in city and community projects, including Gold Dust Days Heritage Festival, Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, Safe Stop, U.S. 2 Safety Coalition, and fundraising for the Sultan Food Bank and Take the Next Step. I have served on the Gold Bar Planning Commission and am currently in my second year on the city council. My background is engineering, with a business degree, and over 20 years experience in managing of departments and technical projects.”

Council Position #1

Running for Council Position #1, currently held by Dorothy Croshaw, who is not seeking re-election, are planning commissioner Charles (Chuck) Lie and Ryan Chadwick.

	Chuck Lie

“I believe in community service,” said Lie. “This has drawn me to volunteer in the city for sand bag duty during floods, serving on the planning commission and participating in the community emergency response team (CERT) training.

“With the impending expiration of my current term as a member of the planning commission, it is a natural step for me to pursue a seat on the city council. I understand the week-to week responsibilities of a council member. I also understand the year-to-year and decade-to-decade responsibilities of the city council.

“The future of this city rests in its citizens. It is my goal to encourage more involvement by the citizens. I believe that the city needs to place the existing citizens at the head of the line; not only to listen but also to engage in a constructive dialogue and resolve issues that are important to all of us in the city. I have seen visible changes that have occurred in our community that were a direct result of citizen action and input.

“I have a demonstrated record of being a team player and believe that I am an excellent candidate for the next generation of the city council.”

Council Position #2

	Noel Frederick

Current council member Lonn Turner is not seeking re-election to City Council Position #2, and there are three people hoping to take his place, including Christopher Wright, Noel Frederick, and Susan Forbes.

“I’ve been a resident of Gold Bar since 2006,” wrote Fredrick. “In 1994, I earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and I am currently employed as an acoustical consultant.

“I moved to Gold Bar because it’s a small town with a whole lot of potential for growth, if planned right. For one year, I served on Gold Bar’s Planning Commission, which increased my awareness of the city’s need for cautious future planning.

“The challenges facing Gold Bar require well-thought-out planning as well as careful management of city resources. If elected, I will use my education, experience, and my respect for the city to ensure that Gold Bar’s future planning and development is a place that meets the needs of the entire city.”

Susan Forbes is a current planning commissioner who sought to unseat council member Robert Amenn in 2007 in a three-way race that was won by Jay Prueher.

“I have been on the planning commission since 2001,” she wrote. “I attend the council meetings regularly and keep up with what the current issues in the city are.

	Susan Forbes

“I believe elected officials are accountable to the citizens that vote for them. Lately its seems as if the city government is not being completely open with the citizens.”

Council Position #3

There is only one candidate for this seat, for which incumbent Rich Norris is not seeking re-election.

Rick Merritt, slong with wife Heather and daugher Paige 7, and McKenzie, 9, have lived in Gold Bar a total of five years, and in the Sky Valley 23 years.

"In 1967 my grandparents,Bob and Alice Hogan, moved to Gold Bar so Bob could become principle at the original Gold Bar Elementary school. They also also owned a gas station, now the Sky Valley Video store along U.S. Highway 2. |
“I am a graduate of Lake Washington Technical College majoring in Diesel Technologies, earning a place on both the president’s and dean’s list for academic achievement,” he wrote. “I am currently pursuing a nearly decade-long career with one of the largest construction equipment rental companies globally. My most current responsibilities are supervising the operations of one of the two centralized repair facilities that service our retail rental branches maintenance and repair needs throughout Washington and Oregon.

	Rick Merritt

“I chose to run for city council due to my concern for the community’s fiscal future and the citizen interest. I feel that all too often today that elected officials are basing their decisions on what they perceive in their minds as best for the community rather than basing decisions on what the community is voicing as its primary interest. I truly believe that it is the responsibility and duty of any public servant to execute the will of the public majority regardless of their personal opinion or beliefs.

“Additionally, time and time again we see local communities attempting to overcome deficits with simply increasing taxes or coming up with creative fees. I feel that although taxes are necessary for any community’s core services, that any increase should always be a last resort rather than an easy solution to the problem at hand.

“Anyone that is currently employed by a major corporation today is familiar with the term and definitions of lean principles and management, in addition to how it’s disciplined practice directly contributes to the survival of the business in today’s economy. Our local communities are facing financial and fiscal decisions that they have never had to face before. It is through my experience of lean principles and management that I feel I can bring invaluable in site to the city and a return on tax payer dollars that every citizen deserves.

“Considering our current economic state, potential deficits, and tough decisions ahead, I believe that through my dedication, perseverance, and desire to serve my community, that I will be the voice of the citizens of Gold Bar on the city council.

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