Stockwell to revive Columbia Basin Project
RITZVILLE — Glen Stockwell, a Democrat from Ritzville, is running for the state House of Representatives in the Ninth District because he wants to revive the Columbia Basin Project.
“We need to develop a phased completion of the project by those counties directly affected by the expansion and complete it ourselves,” he stated.
Stockwell explained how his previous business experience will help with meet the demands of the position.
“I have run multi-million dollar businesses in the past and I have personally acquired preliminary financing in excess of $97 million dollars,” he stated. “I understand the financial hurdles that are before us on this project.”
He stated he understands controversial projects.
“While the rest of the nation was listening to, ‘Not in Our Backyards,’ Adams County commissioners gave me a written agreement to bring 800 tons of garbage per day to our county landfill and letters of support from the cities of Ritzville, Washtucna, Lind, Othello and also Othello port district, saying in writing, ‘send us your garbage.’”
He is referring to solid waste long haul disposal.
“I fully understand the public process and how controversial the process can be and bringing water to Eastern Washington will be far easier than the garbage project,” Stockwell stated. “I am ready, willing and able to offer my abilities to the citizens of Eastern Washington, Washington state and the nation.”
He explained he will represent the views of the Ninth District in Olympia with proposals to benefit the area. He stated he introduced legislation in 2009 to develop five regional conferences comprised of news groups, state economic development experts, elected officials, business owners, workers and the unemployed in an effort to gain support for the Columbia Basin Project.
His goal for the position is to focus on financial issues.
“If elected, I and other legislators will be going back to Olympia with main objective to get our financial house in order,” Stockwell stated. “Having adjourned with an $8.9 billion deficit, the 2010 Legislature will be facing three basic methods of balancing the budget.”
He does not support new taxes.
“I will promise to the citizens I will not vote for any new taxes or fees or any other method of picking the people’s pockets,” he explained.
He stated he will also review proposals for cutting services and jobs as they are discussed in the legislature.
Stockwell explained it’s important to find new revenues, jobs and methods to complete the Columbia Basin Project.
He views getting each party to work together will be a challenge for the position.
“I will try to be a statesman and find the middle of the isle answers to our state’s problems,” he stated. “I admire people on both sides of the line. If elected, I will meet with all of the district’s municipalities and find out how I can help each community. I will introduce new bills into the legislation to regain control of the Department of Ecology.”
Stockwell stated citizens should vote for him because he wants to change the country.
“I come from a very small community of approximately 400 people and I am a very common person and easy to talk to,” he stated. “I will bring a wealth of common answers to complex problems. I have served on corporations and also municipal government. I understand the struggles in life and I will not vote for any new taxes.”
He stated he will work to bring water and 110 different crops to Adams County.
“Farming, ranching and economic development will be the two subjects I will spend the majority of my efforts on and if we don’t have a balanced budget I will offer to stay as long as it takes to achieve one,” Stockwell stated.
He stated water is key to successful farming.
“Looking at the success of the first half (of the) Columbia Basin Project only illustrates how successful Adams, Lincoln, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Okanogan and Walla Walla counties farmers would be with more plentiful water,” he explained.
He stated tourism in Adams County is important to gaining revenue in the community.
“Anything I could do to help with additional (signs) or any other assistance to tourism I will open my office and try to assist Adams or any other community in the Ninth District,” Stockwell stated.
He explained his stance on increasing the natural gas pipeline capacity.
“I view any of these transmissions of gas, oil, electricity or water in the same view similar to the problem Alaska has have for years,” he stated. “With the population growth, we need to assist all of the above industries with any legislation and with fast track approval for upgrading these industries.”
Stockwell’s priority in representing Adams County is to complete the Columbia Basin Project.
“I completely believe this may be the last time a true leader will come to the table like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and will sign a completion order for this project,” he stated. “This project will help thousands of people from every economic level from the very poor to the very rich and it isn’t a red or blue party success it is a Washington state success.”