Rep. Mike Steele, Commissioner-elect Marc Straub, comment on election wins

NCW - Re-elected 12th District State Representative Republican Mike Steele stated, "I am looking forward to working with Keith (Goehner). His experience with the County will help tremendously as he begins his service in the Legislature."
Steele, a resident of Chelan, was elected to his second term representing the 12th District in Olympia.

"I am honored to be returning to Olympia to continue working on behalf of the people and communities in the 12th Legislative District. My priorities continue to focus on economic and job growth. I also plan to introduce legislation that helps address issues around workforce housing infrastructure and availability," he said.

"This will be a long session and I look forward to heading back to Olympia and working hard for all of the people of my district," concluded Steele.

He defeated Democrat Valerie Sarratt of Twisp in the November general election by a resounding nearly 2-1 margin garnering 64.84% to Sarratt's 35.19%.

Goehner now joins Steele as 12th District representatives after he easily defeated independent Ann Diamond getting 56.84% to Diamond's 43.16%.

Newly elected Douglas County Commissioner Marc Straub also had words of appreciation for his win over fellow Republican opponent Norm Tupling by a decisive margin.

"I want to thank the Douglas County voters. I'm extremely grateful and humbled at the same time for the overwhelming support they extended to me on Nov. 6. I consider it to be a great honor to have their trust and confidence placed in me as their new county commissioner. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves, diving in and serving all citizens of Douglas County--focusing on the priorities that I shared throughout my campaign. I, too, look forward to serving alongside Commissioners Sutton and Steinburg. Lastly, I would like to thank Commissioner Steve Jenkins for his support and insight that he has shared with me. I wish him the very best as he begins to enjoy a much-deserved retirement!" 

Straub is currently the Executive Director of "Building NCW," a non-profit construction trade organization headquartered in Wenatchee. BNCW's monthly member newsletter appears each month in the four-page center-spread of the Wenatchee Business Journal.

Straub has previously stressed the importance of affordable housing and explained to prior audiences that the main revenue resource in Douglas County are property and sales taxes, not tourism like Chelan County.

He cautioned that bringing jobs to the county wouldn't be enough if there wasn't a place for the workers to live that they could afford.

He also said it was a must to maintain the county's roads so its farmers and ranchers can get their harvest and livestock to market. Straub assailed the state and federal unfunded mandates that cost rural counties millions.

One of those mandates is the care of indigents, which causes a burden on rural counties in order for those unfortunates to be housed, fed and medically cared for.

Straub said the state only pays five percent of the costs and the county must pick up the tab for the other 95 percent. He takes office in January.