These 2 candidates are our choices for the Benton County Commission | Editorial
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Tri-City Herald 2024 election recommendations
The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board met with more than two dozen candidates for local and state office. Here are their endorsements.
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Benton County has been doing well in recent years. The economy is chugging along, the population is growing, and the county is making progress on important issues.
The county commission has led with a lighter hand than some other county governments, giving staff the autonomy to do their jobs. We see no reason to rock the boat and recommend that voters re-elect the incumbent commissioners in Districts 1 and 3.
In each race, two Republicans are facing off because no Democrats or independents ran in the primary.
Granted, it is tough for a non-Republican to win in a county that Donald Trump carried by 21 percentage points in 2020, but a Democrat, Libertarian, independent or other candidate could give a real choice to voters and engender healthy debate. We hope some run next time.
District 1: Jerome Delvin
In the Benton County Commission District 1 race, we recommend voters give incumbent Commissioner Jerome Delvin another term. District 1 covers the northeast part of the county, including most of Richland, West Richland and the Hanford nuclear reservation.
Delvin has served in public office for 30 years, first in the State House of Representatives, then in the state Senate, and since 2012 as a county commissioner. The day will come when he should step aside gracefully for a new generation of leadership, but that time is not now. Benton County benefits from his experience and his political connections. He knows what strings to pull to get things done.
Most notable among his recent accomplishments is the Tri-Cities’ first public recovery center, which broke ground this summer. He was a driving force behind it for years. Arguably it took longer than anyone wanted or expected, but Delvin is seeing it through.
That facility will help county residents suffering from substance use disorders. That’s a critical public service for many families and individuals suffering from addiction, but especially for homeless residents whose substance abuse stands in the way of finding jobs and homes.
Jeff Smart, Delvin’s challenger, is president of the Washington Association of Realtors and has never held elected public office. That’s not a disqualification in a local election, but his painting Delvin as a “career politician” comes off as more of an attempt to cover for his own inexperience than a grounded critique.
He argues for supporting law enforcement, expanding job opportunities and increasing affordable housing, but he is frustratingly vague on the specifics. Indeed, many of the things he hopes to accomplish are in the hands of the Legislature, not the county commission.
Smart does not offer a compelling case for voters to deny Delvin another term.
District 3: Will McKay
In the District 3 race, we recommend voters re-elect first-term incumbent Will McKay. District 3 covers the southeast part of the county including the east side of Kennewick.
McKay owns a construction company. If his name sounds familiar, it might be because he is the son of former Kennewick Mayor Bill McKay.
Will McKay was still green when he took office after the 2020 election, having not held a previous elected position. Over the past four years, however, the community has seen him learn the ropes and become a successful partner on the commission.
In his first term, he had particular success supporting infrastructure. He backed upgrading court security systems at the Justice Center, building a new training facility for law enforcement and conducting overdue renovation at the Juvenile Justice Center. The long-awaited public recovery center broke ground during his tenure, too. And he has been a voice for reform after the Lineage cold storage warehouse fire in Finley.
McKay has done nothing to our knowledge that disqualifies him from another term.
Meanwhile. his opponent, Zach Fluharty, is barely running a campaign and declined to meet with our editorial board. We cannot recommend a candidate who does not make a case for himself. Voters should stick with McKay.
This story was originally published October 20, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREBehind Our Election Recommendations
Who decides the recommendations?
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 2024 election, the board includes: Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald editor; Rosa Torres, community representative. Chris Trejbal is our editorial writer.
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