Ephrata candidates respond to questions

EPHRATA — Ephrata City Council candidates Clarke Morris and incumbent councilmember Mark Wanke responded to questions during a political forum held at the American Legion in Ephrata Friday night.

Each candidate was given five minutes to introduce themselves and answered questions from audience afterward.

Morris told the crowd he is a new resident to Ephrata. He moved to the area with his wife in 2007.

“We like this town,” he said. “It’s small. It’s quaint.”

Morris said the community welcomed them.

He said in other places he’s lived, he always served the community in some form.

In the past, he served Douglas County parks board, civil service division and the literacy council for Chelan and Douglas counties.

“I like working with people,” he said. “I think that I’ll make a good candidate.”

He said his goals for the position include placing more traffic signs in the city and improving sidewalks.

“I’m open to working with people and making positive changes,” Morris said.

He said the most important function of a city councilmember is to serve the citizens who elect them. Morris said the council should be available to the citizens and able to explain council decisions publicly.

“If I’m elected, that’s what I’ll work for,” Morris said.

Wanke told the audience he has more years of experience serving the council than any of the other councilmembers. He’s served for roughly 20 years. He said he is an independent voice serving the citizens and has a love for the community.

“I enjoy what I do on the council,” Wanke said.

He has experience serving the city and various committees as mayor pro-tem, Grant County Association of Cities, Grant Transit Authority Board, Grant County Health District, Ephrata community trails, hotel/motel tax, water and sewer rates and represented the city during legislative sessions in Olympia. Wanke also served the Ephrata Fire Department, Grant County Fire District 13 and the Ephrata Lions Club.

He said the citizens want improved streets.

“We are doing that,” he said. “It has taken time.”

Wanke explained it is a four-phase project and two phases are complete. The third phase goes to bid in January, he said.

“We are working diligently for the citizens of Ephrata,” he said.

Morris was asked to explain how he would fund sidewalk improvements and how he could acquire right-of-way to complete the project.

“I feel strongly about sidewalks,” he said.

He explained he often sees youth walking home from school in the street because there are no sidewalks.

Morris said he was unsure about what city funding is available for sidewalk improvements but would make it a priority to learn. He said it seems people might support giving up a portion of their yard to become sidewalk. He said the idea should be explored.

He was asked if he’s attended council meetings to learn about the municipal process.

Morris said he’s attended one meeting so far and has studied the city policies, rules and regulations.

The candidates were asked if they would support a volunteer program to clean up graffiti and if the city would fund supplies.

Wanke said graffiti has to be cleaned up quickly to stop others from continuing the vandalism.

He said he does not oppose a volunteer program.

Morris agreed. He said cleaning the graffiti prevents others from partaking as well.

Morris was asked if he should already be familiar with city council business since he is running for election. In an article printed in the Columbia Basin Herald, he explained he had some avenues of city government he needed to familiarize himself with.

Morris said it is a learning process as it is experienced.

Wanke was asked to explain where grant money comes from to fund infrastructure projects.

He said it comes from the state level and the federal level but all the money comes from taxpayers.