2 trying to unseat longtime Franklin County commission incumbent
All three Franklin County candidates for the District 1 commission spot say they are the best communicator for the county’s future.
Incumbent Commissioner Brad Peck has attracted two competitors in his bid for a fourth term as a board member.
Peck and county Auditor Matt Beaton are both Republicans and former agriculture teacher Kim Lehrman is a Democrat.
The top two vote-getters on Tuesday, Aug. 4, regardless of their party, will face off in November.
The race could potentially shift the balance on the three-person commission. Commissioner Bob Koch is retiring, and the only commissioner not up for election is Clint Didier.
Beaton is leading in the fundraising efforts with more than $26,000 raised so far, with farmers and business owners topping his donor list. Lehrman has raised $9,500 with large contributions from local unions.
Peck has put $1,400 toward his campaign.
The commissioner’s job pays $94,000 annually.
All three candidates emphasized the importance of communication when they spoke to the Herald.
Peck is looking at keeping the communication lines open with the public, fellow governments and state leaders. Beaton and Lehrman talked about how they could increase cooperation within the board and with the community if elected.
Matt Beaton
Beaton, who has served as the elected Franklin County auditor in 2010, said he was motivated to run for the county commission because he sees a need for a better relationship between the commissioners and the county departments and other counties.
“I believe that a county commissioner should be an ambassador,” Beaton said. “You need to include everyone and set goals. … I think good process makes good government. It needs to be open, transparent and accountable.”
This is his second attempt to unseat Peck, but he stopped short of specifically complaining about his opponent. He said that he is looking for ways to bring city and county governments closer together.
He noted the city and county agreement on the HAPO Center will need to be renegotiated this year, and the commissioner districts will be adjusted because of population changes. He would like to see the commissioners start to hold workshops to discuss the issues.
“You have to be willing collaborate and find common ground,” he said. “I’m going to facilitate as much public involvement as the public wants … My big thing is the best government is the government that is closest to the people.”
He believes reducing government regulation is the best way to promote a thriving economy, he said during an interview with the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Beaton’s supporters include former Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim, former Coroner Dan Blasdel, Benton County Administrator Jerrod MacPherson and Benton County Engineer Matt Rasmussen.
Kim Lehrman
A former agriculture teacher who spent 13 years at Kennewick and Pasco high schools, Lehrman said she wants to lead through listening and start building bridges between all of the parts of Franklin County. She learned those skills growing up on her family’s alfalfa farm.
“I really feel that elected officials are public servants,” she said told the Herald. “They deserve a leader that is willing to build bridges and put people over politics. It’s time for them to hear our county’s diverse voices.”
Lehrman describes herself as a fiscally conservative Democrat who values government transparency and collaboration.
The current divisions in politics has led to a commission that is not able to meet the needs of the community, she said. She pointed out that Franklin County has been slower than Benton County in distributing the federal funding for businesses.
“I grew up on a family farm in a conservative household, so I have lots of experiences of understanding values that are common in both Republicans and Democrats,” she said.
The commissioners should be pulling together with health officials, economic experts and local residents in finding a safe path through the COVID-19 pandemic that will meet both safety and economic needs, she said.
She suggested doing a budget analysis and creating governing board priorities. In all of these, she wants to survey people in the county to find out what they want.
“We should always be going toward that direction to have that commitment of seeking common ground. Once you give up that prize then you’re no longer serving the people of your county.”
She’s received endorsements from Pasco Councilwoman Zahra Roach, Plumbers and Steamfitters local 598 and former Richland Councilwoman Dori Luzzo Gilmour.
Brad Peck
“As one of the more experienced commissioners in the state, I think it’s essential that I remain there to provide historical perspective on the county’s governance and the expertise in all of the areas of the county business,” he said.
He wants to stay in the position, so the board doesn’t become one of the least experienced in state. The need for that experience is only more necessary with the current budget issues that could be facing the county because of COVID. He expects cuts to state and federal funding as they see declining revenue.
The last time budgets were this difficult was around 2010, when he was a relatively new commissioner. He said he played a role getting them through those austere times.
“If you were to ask commissioners across the state of Washington, it takes several years to become proficient and effective in the many broad areas and responsibilities of the counties,” he said.
With his time in the position, he’s developed professional contacts in all of the 39 counties and in numerous state and local agencies, he said. This includes discussions with the governor’s office about the impact of the COVID-19.
“I don’t see any distinctions between the various groups,” he said. “They are all my bosses and I draw no distinction between them and merely serve the interests of each individual or group the best that I can.”
Peck has gotten a series of endorsements including Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond, the outgoing Commissioner Bob Koch, Reps. Brad Klippert, Matt Boehnke and Bill Jenkin and Franklin County Clerk Michael Killian.