Q&A: Soap Lake City Council Position 7 candidates

SOAP LAKE — Incumbent JoAnn Rushton is facing Judith Gorman for Soap Lake City Council Position 7.

The Columbia Basin Herald asked each candidate the questions below with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit responses. Responses below have been trimmed to fit in the space allotted where applicable. The paper encourages voters to contact the candidates if they want to discuss issues in more depth.

Responses are in alphabetical order according to the candidates’ last names.

Election Day is Nov. 7; ballots will be mailed to voters around Oct. 18. Early voting opens Oct. 20.

What prompted you to run for city council?

Gorman: Effective small-town governance requires special skills, the ability to function in different roles and the ability to work with groups that contribute at multiple levels. I work well in decision-making groups where individuals have diverse priorities and varying skill levels. I have been serving the city for many years through city committees, as a participant on the Lauzier Park committee, chair of the City Lake Liaison Committee for almost five years, as well as more recently chair of the City Policy Committee. I have also been instrumental in the successful passage of Resolution 2016-848, a value-based commitment guide for city council decisions for protecting the unique mineral lake and lakeshore properties of our residents within city limits. I also co-authored … the state’s first application for Washington State designation of Soap Lake as an Outstanding Resource Water. This application has successfully met the criteria for Tier III(b) for Washington’s designation for Outstanding Resource Water … I have the visionary and practical skills to rise to this challenge as well as the firm belief that we can do it by working together. I have considerable experience and skills to assist with supporting our success.

Rushton: I am grateful to have been elected to Council Position #7 since 2004. I would like to continue to serve the citizens of Soap Lake for another four years and do what I can to make it the best little town it can be. I want to be on the council so I can inform the public about what is going on in the city and be there to answer questions and explain items that are not always clear.

What are the biggest challenges you believe the city faces?

Gorman: The City of Soap Lake has had fiscal and budget warnings from our auditors for numerous years. Specialized budgetary and revenue skills and knowledge are essential going forward. What’s considered revenue, loans versus income and so on is key, as well as actuarial understanding and skills in getting entries accurately accessed and posted. Prioritizing getting a value-based accurate budget in place and developing, in addition to passing, only budgets that will meet with approval by our state auditor is a priority for me.

Other priorities include timely payment of debts, proposing and supporting the management of critical Infrastructure improvements such as repairs to roads, potholes, water, sewer and stormwater control – especially since it flows directly into the lake — and helping plan for sustainable future growth. In addition to those issues, public facilities such as beaches, parks, public toilets and other recreational park resources all require adequately funded maintenance.

Protection of the health of the City of Soap Lake is intimately tied to the health and longevity of the lake itself, as the historical impetus for the town’s existence. The exploitation of natural resources ultimately must give way to the nurturing and protection of those resources or they will be consumed…

Rushton: The biggest challenge our city, and most all small towns, have is finances; to be able to work within a budget to run the city efficiently and at the same time save for needed capital improvements, and, right now, upgrading the sewer system and, as always, doing what we can to improve our public streets. That is the biggest challenge of all. With no income specific to the streets, finding funds for repairs and upgrades is a full-time challenge.

What are the primary goals you hope to achieve if elected?

Gorman: I believe the most critical priority going forward into the 2025 year is to develop a balanced value-based budget process; one that meets city residents’ needs and passes the state auditing criteria annually. The city must be able to demonstrate its ability to work effectively with its limited resources and within acceptable fiscal norms, something it has been unsuccessful in accomplishing for years. Small cities cannot plan on growth to offset inadequate fiscal planning…

Even a small city such as Soap Lake must meet all the requirements of a larger city in terms of fiscal responsibility. Democracy, in practice, values diversity yet it requires agreement to certain fundamental principles, like our United States Constitution, State Constitutions and the rule of law at all levels. Having the values that support our US Constitution at the core of our city council decisions, as the basis of our decisions, is vital. There is a big picture as well as the smaller details. As a council member, I will be staying aware of both ends of the spectrum and continue to work on correcting fiscal planning issues, passing appropriate budgets, supporting the hiring of appropriately staff-trained staff and providing supplemental needed staff training…

Rushton: Being on the council for another four years would allow me to keep my goal of seeing that any improvements and upgrades the city can get done are first on the list. Any public utilities and services for the benefit of the citizens are the most important.

How can the public contact you?

Gorman: During the campaign, I can be reached via my email at Judith.g0rman@icloud.com.

Rushton: I can be reached at 509-750-8351 or a letter can be dropped off at the city addressed to me.