Our Voice: West Richland: Whalen, Benegas, Perkes, Smart

The West Richland City Council needs to find a better way to communicate with its citizens.

Many of the challengers in this election are displeased with decisions the city council has made, prompting them to run for office.

We understand the concerns of those dissatisfied citizens. But, for the most part, we believe those in office have a good grasp of what is needed to move the city forward.

West Richland is a unique community with little commercial development to support its residential growth. Many of those running for city council are concerned with the future of the library, the golf course and the location of future businesses. The new park fees also have angered a lot of folks. We are not taking sides on these particular topics, but instead have tried to focus on what attributes each candidate brings to the job.

Whalen v. Garza

West Richland City Councilman Ron Hayden is not seeking re-election, leaving his seat open for two newcomers. Both are fine candidates, but one is coming in with no agenda and only a desire to help the community. That impresses us. In this race, we recommend Scott Whalen.

We think he would be an open-minded, conciliatory voice on the city council, which will be more helpful in the long run.

His opponent has some fine qualities, however. Neomi Garza has lived in West Richland for a number of years and runs a construction company in the community. She has done her homework on many issues and regularly attends city council meetings

Garza believes the city council has had a disconnect with several community groups and wants to make sure citizens are heard. She is particularly concerned with the past attempt to rezone the Austin Drive neighborhood and the ongoing lawsuit it caused.

Whalen said he has no gripe with the city. He is a researcher at Battelle and seems like someone who would join the city council with a completely open mind.

Benegas v. Stoker

Ken Stoker is another council candidate concerned with the direction the current city council is going. He first got involved in city politics by protesting the city’s plans to make changes to Flat Top Park in 2011. He has been monitoring City Hall ever since.

Stoker is a bright guy, but being on the outside he may not fully understand all the details surrounding some of the council’s decisions. Rumors seem to fly easily in West Richland, and that’s why we believe the city council should work harder to communicate with its citizens.

Tony Benegas is going for his third term on the city council. He has a vision for the city that goes far beyond the immediate future, and his experience and knowledge are an advantage. He was able to counter Stoker’s concerns in a reasonable manner and made a lot of sense.

We admire Stoker’s passion, but we believe West Richland needs to keep Benegas on the city council.

Perkes v. Engelman

Don Engelman likely would take a very practical and thorough approach to the job if elected, and that is commendable. He is retired from his career in engineering and management and was a past member of the Tri-City Development Council board.

There is no doubt he would make a good addition to the city council. It’s tough, though, to recommend anyone other than Bob Perkes in this race.

Perkes is jovial, talkative and approachable. He is a good contact for anyone in the city who wants to discuss council decisions, as he has an easy way of explaining complex issues. He is a chiropractor in West Richland and regularly sees people affected by the choices he makes.

Perkes, like Benegas, has the experience and can back up his decisions.

Martin v. Smart

This race is where we deviate.

John Smart definitely wants to see new leadership on the council. He is concerned with many of the decisions that have been made, and there is an element of frustration in his tone.

However, his approach is tempered and he comes across as someone who, once in office, would study all sides of an issue.

Byron Martin is just finishing his first term and still seems like he is learning the ropes. He is a hard worker, but we believe the city council would benefit from having someone like Smart in the group. He is aligned with those who are not happy with the city council, and that voice should be represented.

The Tri-City Herald recommends Scott Whalen, Tony Benegas, Bob Perkes and John Smart for the West Richland City Council.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Our Voice: West Richland: Whalen, Benegas, Perkes, Smart."