The Herald makes this call in the Richland City Council race between Alvarez and Maier
Richland City Councilman Michael Alvarez is just finishing his first term and we recommend voters return him to office.
Regardless of how well prepared a candidate is, there will be a learning curve. Alvarez is now past entry level and seems more confident in his elected role. He fits in well with the rest of the council and should be given a chance to further prove himself.
He is challenged by Kurt Maier, who is determined to make Richland a healthy city “top to bottom on the income scale.” He is an IT engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has served on the Richland Library Board since 2017 and is the current chairman.
The best part about elections is that it provides an opportunity for citizens to hold their elected officials accountable. Challengers can bring up problems that demand a thorough discussion instead of a quick mention during the public comment period at a government meeting.
To his credit, Maier goes beyond vague talking points. He actually has several specific concerns that could use attention.
For starters, he says too many city codes are outdated and hard to navigate. Maier wants them cleaned up — especially parking regulations which apparently are, in many cases, inconsistent and confusing. He should be sure to take these concerns to City Hall.
Maier comes from a military family and moved frequently growing up. As a U.S. Army vet, he has lived in a variety of small towns and big cities.
He and his family decided five years ago to make Richland their permanent home and he said he often bikes to work. “To have a world class research facility a bike ride away from a nice house is something ruinously expensive in other places of the world. But it is achievable here,” Maier said.
He wants to keep it that way. He also wants to make sure young people can grow up in Richland and be able to afford to live in the community their whole lives, but that affordable homes and high property taxes are making it tough.
The lack of affordable housing in Richland was brought up often in our interviews with many Richland City Council candidates.
As it happens, Alvarez has owned a mortgage company in the Tri-Cities for 25 years and is also a licensed real estate instructor and faculty member for the Washington Association of Realtors.
With many years of residential and commercial development, Alvarez said he would like to see collaboration between the home builders association, real estate groups and community organizations to address the housing concerns facing the Tri-Cities.
“I don’t see that happening yet,” Alvarez said.
It’s a great idea and we encourage Alvarez to try and get that collaborative effort going. Between his professional experience and his elected post, he is in great position to pull the right people together.
Maier clearly cares about the community he now calls home and wants nothing more than to serve and make sure Richland continues to thrive.
Alvarez shares that concern too, and he is already poised to address many of the concerns Maier has brought up.
The Tri-City Herald recommends Michael Alvarez for Richland City Council, Position 7.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREBehind Our Election Recommendations
Who decides the recommendations?
Members of The Tri-City Herald editorial board is comprised of experienced opinion journalists and community members, and is separate from The Herald’s newsroom. Conversations are on the record.
What does the recommendation process entail?
Whenever possible, The Herald editorial board meets with opposing candidates at the same time. The questions are largely focused on a candidate’s qualifications and goals. The editorial board then discusses the candidates in each race and decides who to recommend. Board members seek to reach a consensus on our recommendations, but not every decision is unanimous.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making recommendations, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues, their understanding of public policy and their ability to work with the current board . We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats.
Why are the editorials unsigned?
Our election recommendations reflect the collective views of The Herald’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. For the 2022 election, the board includes: Cecilia Rexus, Herald editorial writer; Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald executive director; Matt Taylor, retired Herald editorial writer; Mike Paoli and Martin Valadez, community representatives.