OKANOGAN—The Nov. 26 confirmation of Nov. 5 general election results did not come down to the wire for any races for county commissioner posts in Okanogan and Douglas counties. Both victorious candidates—Randy Agnew in Douglas and Nick Timm in Okanogan—opened the vote counts with large leads and cruised to the finish line from there.
Timm received 63.17 percent of the initial vote total and ended up with 62.28 percent of the votes cast. Opponent Marc Doney finished with 6,581 votes, or 36.49 percent.
Timm campaigned on the platform of property rights, personal rights, and common-sense law. Property rights have generated plenty of heat countywide this year.
Two zoning code hearings in February and March earlier this year drew large crowds of county residents who take issue with the direction that more restrictive regulations revisions are taking. A third public hearing was held Dec. 2.
Agnew, the current mayor of Rock Island, captured 68.83 of the first unofficial count and ended with 67.46 percent.
As mayor, Agnew helped other small Douglas County communities negotiate a new Law Enforcement Services Agreement (LESA) with the county that was priced beyond what the communities could afford. Agnew arranged a series of meetings between the commissioners and mayors that resulted in a 10 percent cost reduction and a five-year phase-in period for the increases.
“I was the first mayor to sign the new reworked contract,” said Agnew, “Only on the condition that the commissioners work with the mayors to come up with a long-term solution because, ultimately, it still is not economically sustainable.”
Agnew thinks he may have a solution.
“Douglas County receives one-tenth of a cent (0.1) of the sales tax that goes specifically to law and justice,” said Agnew last August. “(The commissioners) can increase that rate up to three-tenths of a cent (0.3) which is what Chelan County is currently receiving.”
Agnew said Douglas County also has a big issue with jail costs, and any increase in the sales tax percentage may have to address that issue as well.
TRH levy passes
For the third consecutive time the one-year special operating levy for Three Rivers Hospital won renewal by the required 60 percent supermajority. From a strong initial margin of 54.22 percent in Okanogan County and 51.61 percent in Douglas the levy was certified with 62.03 percent from Okanogan voters and 51.4 percent by Douglas voters.
“Property tax revenues make up about 6 percent of our total budget, and that funding has been invaluable for us as a nonprofit rural Critical Access Hospital,” said TRH Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham.
Chelan has nailbiter
There were no close ballot issues in Okanogan and Douglas counties to match the down-to-the-wire race to approve the City of Chelan’s proposed Transportation Benefit District. The revenue measure designed to provide needed funding for city transportation improvements drew more than 2,300 votes and passed by just five.
Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media
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