Snead to run for fourth term as GC commissioner

Economic development one of main point of candidate's agenda

Grant County Commissioner Tim Snead has announced his intention to run for re-election.

Snead, completing his third term, represents the area of the county including the former Air Force Base, Mae Valley, Cascade Valley, Hiawatha Road, and all the way north up to Grand Coulee Dam.

Snead said he wants to continue as commissioner for many reasons, one of them being the continuation of the good relationship between Grant County and the Korean city of Gunpo.

"We have seen good benefits from this relationship," he said.

Among these benefits, Snead said, there is the increase in hay sales, potato exports and a continued promotion of economic development between Gunpo and the county.

If elected, Snead has pledged to continue to promote sound conservative policies for the county. He would also like to achieve a more user-friendly development code for the county, considering all the regulations present and the onset of the Growth Management Act.

There are certain things he would like to change in his county, too. Snead believes that in the business of managing the county, many times ideas are and concepts are "plagiarized" from other counties. This practice has to be replaced by looking at Grant County as a unique place.

An example of what he termed as plagiarism is the way the county leaders look at other counties' Unified Development Code, which he says right now is not a good fit for Grant County, given its complexity.

Snead said he would continue to support the agricultural businesses in the county, although he would like to see more non-agricultural industry come to it.

"Our weak point is the retail industry," he said. "It would be nice to see more retail outlets in the county."

As pluses to his resume, Snead mentions his support of conservative fiscal policies in the budget, at a time where the county faces a serious financial deficit that is projected to grow more in the upcoming years.

Having lived almost the entirety of his life in Grant County, Snead said that there are certain things that make this county great, such as cheap power, available land, and a positive community attitude among those who reside here.

Snead's involvement with Gunpo City will not alter his focusing on local problems, he said. While he has been involved with Gunpo, Snead would like people to not forget his involvement in area topics such as when Boeing was thinking about moving part of its business to the county, or the sloughing of the hills in Grand Coulee.

"When (local) issues come up, I do get involved," he said. "I really do care about Grant County and I would like to see my kids stay here."