Pasco councilman faces five challengers in primary

Nine months after Chi Flores was sworn in as Pasco City Council’s newest member, he’s fighting to keep his seat against five driven challengers.

Flores, who represents a large swath of west Pasco, was selected from a pool of 11 applicants following the death of longtime Councilman Mike Garrison.

Flores became the second Latino on the current council.

Fellow finalists Robert “RJ” Garcia and Pete Serrano might have lost the appointment last fall, but they didn’t lose interest in being a voice for Pasco and helping shape the growing city’s future.

Garcia and Serrano are challenging Flores in the Aug. 1 primary, along with Dan Hatch, Trevor Sall and Abel Campos.

They’re seeking a four-year term in District 4, which covers the area between Convention Drive and Broadmoor Boulevard/Road 100, north of Argent Road.

Ballots must be postmarked or returned by election day. The top two vote-getters from the district will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.

All Pasco council members will receive $1,115 per month in 2018, while the council-selected mayor will get $1,450.

Flores, 39, said he first sought office because he noticed a disconnect between awareness of city issues and residents.

The married father of three and assistant manager at Lowe’s said he had to educate himself on what was happening in Pasco and what city leaders were doing about it.

During his brief tenure, Flores has met with downtown representatives on revitalization efforts and the city manager on Pasco’s goals and strategies, and secured an appointment to the council committee for the aquatic center project.

“I’ve stayed real true to working on these issues, and one thing I’ve realized is that these issues are processes that are taking place,” Flores said. He wants to be part of the solution, but knows it will take a few more years to see some of them through to the end.

Flores said he has proven since his November appointment that he listens and responds to constituents, including when controversial issues come before the council.

When he makes a decision, he’s doing it with not only his constituents in mind but also the whole of Pasco, he said. He also acknowledges that some things they are asked to consider are on a regional level.

“I would just like to continue to serve our community here with our citizens in mind and with a good heart, and accomplish these things that I know will help benefit everybody and not just certain groups,” he said.

In the week before the filing period, it was revealed that Flores was under investigation for allegations he inappropriately touched a young girl on two separate occasions. He was charged later that month with two counts of first-degree child molestation and has a Sept. 6 trial date.

Flores’ attorney has said there is no truth to the allegations. Flores said he cannot discuss the case since it is ongoing.

Garcia, 35, moved to Pasco eight years ago from Benton City and has been an active volunteer with different organizations to help improve both the lives of the residents and the community that he lives in.

He has been chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for four years.

Garcia said he gets involved because he thinks it is key to “have your finger on the pulse of the community.”

He is married with five kids and works as a senior industrial engineer for a major food manufacturing company — which he declined to name — in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. He spent nine years in the Army with two deployments to Iraq.

Garcia wants to see Pasco build relationships with business owners and entrepreneurs and engage them to be part of the city’s growth. He also is supportive of law enforcement, recognizing they’ve gone through challenging times recently that have affected the community in a negative way.

“I really want to help create strategies that will work to help build stronger relationships between the community and city government,” Garcia said.

He believes city leaders need to identify some of the barriers that are keeping Pasco from making progress.

“The city I think does a good job of listening to the concerns of the community … and communicates clearly on what it’s currently doing and what it plans to do based on the input that it receives,” he said.

Serrano, 36, has only been in Pasco for two years but says in that time he’s adopted it as his hometown.

Serrano is an attorney with the Department of Energy. He is married with two children.

“We plan to be here long term and I want to make sure, as my children are raised and grow here, that we’ve got something good for them, that gives them the support they need,” he said.

That includes more recreational facilities like parks, a water park and other family-oriented amenities, and coordinating with the school district.

“I’d really like to work with businesses and the city council to help drive policy that really is open to supporting families,” he added.

A native of the Sacramento area, Serrano said he’s worried Pasco will soon mirror that California region’s congestion if the city doesn’t properly plan its growth with the Broadmoor/Road 100 development.

Pasco needs the infrastructure to support another 20,000 residents over the next 10 to 20 years, he said.

“I’m running because I feel like I’ve been adopted into the city of Pasco, and I feel like I’ve adopted it,” Serrano said. “My family is going to stay here and grow here, and I want to help make sure that we grow together and we grow intelligently.”

Hatch, 32, said he would bring an open mind and a willingness to make a decision to the seat.

“I applied for City Council because I want to be more involved in my community and have my voice put in there with everybody else,” he said. “I like what direction that most of the leadership of this town has it going in and I want to be more hands-on in helping plan its future for my family.”

A married father of three kids, Hatch said he watches the council meetings on the live feed each week. He has been the general manager for IHOP for 11 years and is based at the Kennewick restaurant.

Hatch would like to see Pasco attract bigger businesses, while also improving its parks and recreation with more activities for families.

A Pasco resident for 20 years, Hatch said he would bring the newcomer mentality to the council and not just vote “yes” on every issue that comes before the board.

“I run a business that employs 50 people and manage it in every aspect,” he said. “I talk to the public daily in my workplace. I hear the concerns and the public’s wants, and it’s time to put those into action.”

Sall, 45, was raised in Pasco, even though he jokes that his mother drove across the bridge to give birth in Kennewick.

Hearing about the allegations against Flores helped light a fire when contemplating a run, Sall said.

A radiological control technician at Hanford, Sall said he’s always wanted to get involved and do something for his hometown — this is his chance to improve of lives of his neighbors.

“I’m always taking and arguing with my friends on Facebook, but doing nothing,” he said.

He is married with one adult son. He is concerned about Pasco’s overcrowded schools, and the need for more businesses and available housing within city limits.

“I find myself every time I go out to dinner or every time the wife wants to go shopping, we go over the bridge and we go to Kennewick or Richland and spend my money there. That’s tax dollars that could be spent in Pasco,” Sall said. He quickly added that he’s “not dissing all the restaurants in Pasco.”

Campos, 40, is a Pasco native who says he lives his life to serve the city and its residents.

He describes Pasco as being in between a small city and a big city, and says city leaders need to be proactive about the continuing growth before it gets out of hand.

Campos believes there is some division in the city, and wants to work on unification.

“It’s not about just getting along, it’s the ability to work together. That’s where my heart is,” Campos said.

Campos, who is married with three kids, is lead pastor at The River Church in Pasco and a student achievement specialist for the Pasco School District. A 1995 Pasco High graduate, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame last year because of his volunteer contributions to the community.

The city needs to address mental health issues, homelessness, affordable housing and infrastructure with the ongoing development, Campos said. He also questions the use of “west Pasco” and “east Pasco,” saying some see more meaning behind those terms with culture and economics.

“I really want to see our city become a city where people want to live and want to visit,” he said. “I don’t have a personal agenda. … I want to have that connection with the people.”

A July 19 candidate forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, can be viewed on Pasco City Television channel 191 on Charter Cable in Pasco, and on streaming video at pasco-wa.gov/candidateforum.

This story was originally published July 26, 2017 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Pasco councilman faces five challengers in primary."