Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Redistricting at issue in Franklin County Commission race

By Joe Chapman, Herald staff writer

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- The Franklin County Commission's decision not to redistrict last spring is among the top issues the District 2 candidates have sparred over leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Incumbent Bob Koch, 66, is seeking his second full term against challenger Lee Barrow, 42. Both are Republicans who live in Connell.

Redistricting became an issue when District 3, represented by Commissioner Rick Miller, grew in recent years to about twice the population of either District 1 or 2.

From June 2006 through May of this year, the three county commissioners discussed the disproportionate size of their districts and examined four possible maps realigning the districts.

But in late May Koch voted to put off approving a new map until after the election because, he said, adopting one then would have created too much change too close to the candidate filing period.

Barrow faults Koch, who served as the commission chairman this year, for his handling of the process.

"It should have been done months ago," Barrow said. "I just think Bob being the chairman of the committee, it's his job to make sure that was done."

Koch recently deflected the charge. "We work together as a board. ... I just facilitate the meetings," he said.

He didn't push for the new district boundaries, Koch said, because state law only requires the districts to be equal in population when they're set. The districts grew out of proportion after that, but the next required redistricting isn't until after 2010 Census data becomes available, he said.

Nevertheless, the Franklin County Republican Party endorsed Barrow over Koch, largely on the redistricting issue.

Barrow has also challenged Koch on other issues, such as deciding to drive a county vehicle instead of taking a car allowance, and for what Barrow says is excessive travel for a county commissioner.

Koch said people are confused about his decision to use a county vehicle, mistakenly thinking the county still pays him a car allowance, too.

He used to get one -- about $650 a month -- to cover his routine travel inside the county. But when gas prices went up, the allowance no longer covered his 30-mile commute from Connell to the courthouse in Pasco, he said.

He said using the county vehicle -- a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck -- actually costs the county less than paying him a car allowance. According to the county's public works department, it will cost $14,560 for Koch to drive the truck for a year.

That's more than the $7,800 a year the allowance totaled. But the annual car allowance would have been raised to $13,860 in 2009. The county also reimbursed out-of-county travel at 58.5 cents per mile, and business trips to places such as Tacoma, Ritzville, Yakima and Bremerton added up, Koch said.

His truck has room for three passengers and their luggage, meaning the county can send multiple representatives at the cost of one, he said.

During his tenure, Koch has been involved with selling spare property at TRAC to generate revenue for the county and with installing a security system at the courthouse, he said.

If re-elected, Koch said he plans to continue working to get federal funding to rebuild Road 170, which was covered by a landslide more than two years ago, and for developing a public access route to Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area. He also wants to help solve the county's space needs at the jail and courts, he said.

He's a member of the National Association of Counties and serves on two subcommittees for agriculture and rural affairs.

Koch was self-employed as an auto electrician for about 40 years, is a former fire chief and fire marshal in Franklin County.

Barrow is a detective in the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, where he has worked for 20 years. He grew up in Franklin County and owns the Pizza Station in Connell with his wife.

He said he is running for county commission because of what he sees as wasteful spending, lack of communication, indecisiveness and lack of leadership on the county commission.

"I've gotten a feel of what's going on in the courthouse, what the different departments need and how they feel about the commissioners," Barrow said. "... I feel like I've got a handle on what the public expects out of their government as well."