Commissioners face off to lead newly formed regional fire department

Benton County voters will have the opportunity to choose who will lead the first regional fire authority in the eastern part of the state into the future.

Voters approved a proposition in 2014 that led to the formation of a new fire department in Prosser — called West Benton Regional Fire Authority — which replaced Benton Fire District 3.

The switch to a regional fire authority helped secure improved and more stable funding for the department. It was recommended by a citizen task force after months of research.

The move to the new model also reorganized the board of commissioners, opening all five commissioner positions for the Nov. 3 election. Three of the races have challengers for the open seats. Ballots have already been sent out.

Previously, the board had six seats — three occupied by representatives of the fire district and three from the Prosser city council.

“The new commissioners will be vitally important because we have started a new entity,” said Doug Merritt, chief of West Benton Fire Authority.

The fire authority has 28 staff and volunteers, and covers 176 square miles in western Benton County.

Richard Clizbe, a former Prosser deputy fire chief, and Jay Boyle, who works at Prosser Memorial Hospital, are running unopposed, according to the county auditor’s website. Clizbe’s term is for two years and Boyle’s is for six years.

Squaring off in the race for the at-large commissioner position 1 are former Benton County commissioner Max Benitz Jr. and former Prosser police chief Win Taylor.

Benitz, who lost a bid for election as county commissioner in 2010, is currently a fire commissioner in Prosser. Taylor, who was fired in 2004 as police chief, has served on the school and library boards in Prosser.

Two current fire commissioners in the city, Randy Fox and Tim Stewart, are going up against one another for commissioner position 2. Fox has been a commissioner for more than 10 years and Stewart has more than 30 years of experience in fire service in the region.

Battling for the third position on the board are David Moon and Trevor Day. Moon, according to his online candidate profile, has more than two decades working in emergency services. Day did not have a candidate profile posted online.

The fire authority also has a proposition on the ballot which voters must approve in order for the old fire district to be officially dissolved, a move Merritt called a formality.

If for some reason the proposition isn’t approved, the district will be forced to remain operating.

“The board would be required to meet once a month,” Merritt said. “They will have no business. They will have no money because they don’t collect taxes. It doesn’t make sense.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Commissioners face off to lead newly formed regional fire department."