Letter: Are Richland council candidates qualified?

Past and most recent resources support my opinion — the July 18 Richland City Council meeting, Tri-City Herald articles on Rachel and Little Badger roads issue, the Tri-Cities Voter’s Guide and League of Women Voters forum websites.

No candidates are being vetted against the needed basic qualifications — experience to oversee, evaluate and control the city manager and city staff.. The city manager is paid a six-figure income, spends $250 million of your taxes yearly through 11 departments and 505 staffers (31 for her office), is not voted on, nor held responsible by mayor/council members for creating citizen issues.

Frustrated mayor and council members take the blame for issues the staff and city laws foster (Rachel and Badger Mountain roads, Duportail bridge budget issues).

Council candidates should be experienced in one or more of the city’s functions, can work effectively as a team, will select qualified and trusted committee members, rely heavily on their committees to keep the City Council timely informed and advised on actions to be taken, and effectively listen to citizen needs.

Weak qualifications result in low voter turnout. Position are won by 20 percent of the registered voters and therefore have no mandate from the people.

This story was originally published August 5, 2017 at 8:59 PM with the headline "Letter: Are Richland council candidates qualified?."