By the Herald editorial staff
The race for Kennewick City Council Position 1 pits a longtime fixture at city hall against a challenger hoping to become an agent for change.
It's a tough choice between experience and a fresh perspective.
Marge Price has a long history of public service. She was Kennewick's city clerk for 23 years and has been on the city council for 12.
She's had a hand in decades of progress for Kennewick, and we're grateful for her efforts.
But as much as we admire Price, we think the council would benefit more from a new outlook.
Don Britain's Kennewick roots also run deep. He's a lifelong resident, a Kamiakin High School alumnus and a former reserve Kennewick police officer.
Price is justifiably proud of her time in office. She likes the way the city looks. She favors closing Vista Field and considers the carousel to be a good investment.
Conversely, Britain is opposed to putting any more public money into the carousel. He thinks the land around Vista Field could be developed without closing the airport, although he recognizes that it's the Port of Kennewick's decision, not the city's.
He credits the city for making great strides in Columbia Park and is interested in working with Richland to develop the west end.
Britain is fiscally conservative without being tightfisted, which seems a good match for Kennewick voters. For example, he advocates some regional facilities, such as an aquatic center, but doesn't want to invest in a new coliseum until the current one starts to show a profit.
Britain is an intelligent and thoughtful candidate who is up to speed on council decisions. There would not be much of a learning curve if he is elected.
Britain points out that the current council's combined tenure totals more than 80 years. That's a lot of time.
He argues that it's time for some new blood and fresh ideas.
We agree.
The Tri-City Herald recommends Don Britain for Kennewick City Council Position 1.
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City Manager Marie Mosley said the 5:30 p.m. meeting will update the council about what private citizens have been doing to rejuvenate the project.
Kennewick bought the antique from a private owner in New Mexico eight years ago. The 44-horse carousel was created by renowned carver Charles Carmel.
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The Downtown Historic Kennewick Partnership would have to meet city council expectations in 2012 to collect $50,000 that has been provided to the group annually for 12 years.
The council wants the association to show quarterly progress on developing a comprehensive marketing plan, revitalizing the look of downtown with at least one improvement project, doing something to identify and reduce the vacancy rate and developing a five-year vision and mission with an appropriate plan for the Columbia Drive business district.
Achieving those goals will be essential to receiving quarterly payments as the city's annual support to the association.
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The Wenatchee implosion of its financing for the 3-year-old, 4,300-seat center has some state officials thinking all future municipal projects requiring bonds for financing should go through an independent review coordinated by the state Department of Commerce.
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That home would place the 100-year-old carousel in a facility to be built near the Southridge Sports Complex in Kennewick.
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