Burgess focused on facilitating communication, if elected

MOSES LAKE — In the county elections, Republican Kevin Burgess is running for Grant County Commissioner District 1, which Danny Stone currently occupies. Stone did not file for reelection.  

Burgess is running against fellow Republican Amador Castro. Burgess said he aims to bring a fresh perspective and a collaborative spirit to the county government. 

"Never been a politician,” Burgess said. “Don't really like to be called a politician. I'm not going there to be a politician. So, I'm going to be there as a person who cares about our county. This is not to further my political career. I have no desire to do that. I'm doing this as an individual that cares about my county and where we're going.” 

Burgess is a father of four, a former foster parent, a husband to his wife of 25 years and a grandfather to seven children, he said. His passion for public service stems from his experiences on the Fair Advisory Committee and the Board of Equalization, where he has worked closely with county employees and residents. 

He said running for office came after he identified improvements he’d like to see. 

“Just seeing things that are going on where we can improve, I felt that it was time,” Burgess said. “I feel like I've got the experience to help move the county in the right direction and make it better.” 

Burgess believes one critical issue facing Grant County is the need for effective collaboration among various departments. He said there is a struggle with communication and leadership for the departments under the county's jurisdiction.  

"I intend to be there and visit with all the departments, all the county employees, anybody that's underneath the county commissioners for direction or supervision,” he said. “I want to go meet those people. I want to be talking to them, trying to figure out how we can improve things, what they don't like, what we can do better. I think those are some of the things that are important, that the commissioners have lost touch with, the people that work under us.” 

To ensure transparency and accessibility within the administration, Burgess said he would implement an open-door policy and actively engage with constituents, something he said the current commissioners are lacking in.  

"I've heard where the commissioners are just not in the office,” Burgess said. “They're not available. (You’ve) got to call them on the phone and they won’t call you back. A lot of things are done by email. No, I'm a people person. I'd rather talk in person, as opposed to text messaging or email. If you're down the hall, I prefer you to come to my office and come talk to me or if you have an issue, let's talk about it. Let's not just send a text message where somebody can misconstrue that message.” 

He said he aims to create more avenues for citizen input, including possibly implementing a social media platform or an online portal to facilitate open dialogues between commissioners and constituents.  

His management philosophy is shaped by his entrepreneurial background, he said, which includes running an espresso stand and engaging in real estate for more than 30 years.

"There's been some issues where people don't get along, and I'd like to bridge that,” Burgess said. “I'd like to get everybody working together as a team. We're all in this together. So, I'd like to see us improve on employee retention. ... I think that's very important, and so that's one of the things I would want to work on as a commissioner."  

When it comes to economic growth, Burgess is optimistic yet cautious.  

"So, I don't know that there's any policies that need to be changed to stimulate growth because it's already here,” Burgess said. “I'd like to make sure that we grow the right way. Making sure that we're doing it responsibly, I guess, is probably the biggest thing. I'm not against growth. I am good with growth. It has to be the right growth, and in the right direction, in the right places, and for the right reasons."  

As a real estate professional, he said, he understands the complexities of development and aims to make decisions that benefit the broader community, not just a select few.

Addressing infrastructure concerns, particularly road repairs, Burgess said Grant County has the second-largest miles of road in Washington.  

"We've got a massive undertaking ahead of us," he said.  

Burgess said he is committed to continuing the efforts of the road department to manage costs while maintaining roads. He praised the county's ability to save money through local projects by using road department employees instead of contractors, but he said he knows more work lies ahead.  

"We need to ensure that we're allocating our resources correctly and engaging with the public to identify what they need most when it comes to infrastructure," he explained.

Burgess said he is committed to supporting local businesses and farmers; however, he is unsure what that would look like.  

"If it weren’t for the farmers, we wouldn’t be eating,” he said. 

Although he doesn’t know the formal processes to help farmers or small businesses, he said, he would work with state legislators to advocate for initiatives to ease the financial burdens faced by agricultural producers. He envisions working with lawmakers to enact policies to support farming operations, including possible breaks on fuel taxes. 

Burgess said while education in Grant County falls outside the purview of the county commissioner’s office, he realizes its importance. He expressed a willingness to learn more about the challenges faced by local schools once in office.  

"I don't know what that strategy will be until I'm actually in that position and can figure out what exactly is going on,” he said. “There are issues that are happening in the schools in Moses Lake. I don't know what the rest of the cities look like, as far as what issues the schools are having. The county commissioners don’t have a lot to do with the schools, so I don't know what I could change to help." 

Burgess also has plans to enhance public safety by addressing substance abuse issues impacting the county. He intends to foster collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations to seek solutions.  

"I think we have a drug issue. We have a terrible drug issue. That's where this all starts from, in my opinion. So, we’ve got to work with some of the other outlying sheriff's departments, police departments," he said. 

With a background in business management and a hands-on approach, Burgess said, he would bring a unique perspective to the role of Grant County Commissioner. He said he is confident that his experiences — from hands-on labor to management — have equipped him with the skills necessary to serve effectively. 

"I have an addiction to work, and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty," Burgess said.