Ringhofer to improve Soap Lake

Hopes to repair roads

SOAP LAKE - Martin Ringhofer is running for Soap Lake City Council position two to make improvements to the city.

"The roads in town have been a disgrace. We hear 'When we build it, they will come,' about the giant lava lamp but I have heard no mention from the mayor or city council about fixing the roads in town," he said. "If elected, I will personally go to Olympia, meet with the Department of Transportation, legislators on the transportation committees and Gov. (Christine) Gregoire to get help for Soap Lake to get our roads fixed."

Ringhofer is interested in beginning a new direction for the city. He wants to reintroduce solutions and projects previously rejected in the past and eliminate some measures adopted by the city council he feels may be inappropriate.

He claims the idea of a Russian tea house to be built within the city was rejected by council and should not have been. He said it would have been a good asset to the city. He wants to work to allow all types of businesses to build within the city.

Ringhofer said if he is elected he will work to get a duty and tax-free port placed on the ballot in the future.

He said the port would help Soap Lake obtain funds to pay for several necessities including road repairs.

Ringhofer says people should vote for him because he is "homegrown." He's lived in Soap Lake for more than 30 years.

He said he is qualified for the position because he has leadership experience. He served as president of the Boeing Employees Good Neighbor Fund.

"During my year as president, we made numerous changes, improvements, significantly increased membership and funds, which made us the first employee-owned charitable organization (and) increased its donation by $1 million dollars from the previous year," Ringhofer said.

For the past 30 years he's been involved with a supplier management firm handling contracts totaling more than $1 billion.

"If elected, I will bring my experience and know-how to apply to administering the city and (will) implement solutions long overdue and needed in Soap Lake," Ringhofer said.

If elected, he plans to attend city council meetings but will continue most of his efforts outside of the meetings including going to Olympia to find funding sources for the city, he said.

Ringhofer hopes to promote the city by encouraging improvements, seeking new businesses and welcoming newcomers to the city.

"We have the talent and we have no shortage of great attributes," he said. "We fall short on helping our town sell itself. If elected, I will work to bring about a paradigm shift to make a difference."

Ringhofer said he was originally thrilled about the idea of the Lava Lite coming to the city but said he believes it became mere hype.

"The current giant lava lamp is not a lava lamp at all," he said. "It is a rusted heap of metal which has been in storage."

Ringhofer claims the city council is no longer interested in the Lava Lite project.

"The city council voted to get the rubble out of (storage) and voted to stop the mayor from paying the $600 monthly rent," he said.

Ringhofer said he doesn't foresee challenges running for city council, rather he sees challenges facing the city council.

"We have few and very limited resources and lots of projects requiring our attention," Ringhofer said. "The people of Soap Lake struggle to pay for increases in their cost of living, rent, taxes, utilities, rising cost of transportation and having to choose between prescription drugs to stay alive or food."