Othello candidate forum lets voters explore options

OTHELLO — Fire services in the Othello area, the pros and cons of annexation, accessibility, the challenges facing the Othello, the Othello School District and Othello Community Hospital were among the topics discussed in a wide-ranging candidate forum in Othello on Tuesday. 

Two Othello City Council positions and one Othello School Board seat are contested races in the 2025 general election, along with one OCH commission position. Two candidates are running for Othello mayor. All but one candidate in the contested races answered questions during the forum, and people had the chance to ask questions of individual candidates afterward. Martha Logan, running for the OCH commission, did not attend.  

Moderator and OSD Superintendent Pete Perez said the candidates received the questions a few days in advance. Two questions submitted by the audience were added at the end, and both dealt with the fire service.  

Othello council members voted in 2024 to end the city’s contract with Adams County Fire District 5 and start a separate municipal department. The city’s new fire department is scheduled to go into service in May 2026. Incumbent Mayor Shawn Logan said he supported that decision, while his challenger, Ken Johnson, said he supported a second look at negotiations with ACFD 5. 

“I know that change is difficult. It wasn’t an easy decision for the city council, either, but they did vote unanimously, and I agreed with their decision,” Logan said. “I know there’s concern from some (people), but we are currently right on schedule for what we plan to do.” 

Logan said the contract price had increased significantly. 

“If we look at the next five years (and) and down the road, is it better for us to stay with this ever-increasing contract, or is it better for us to put together our own department?”  

Johnson said he thought a city fire department would be an unnecessary duplication of services. 

“I would definitely support going back to the table with (ACFD 5),” Johnson said. “Seeing what can be done for the future, whether it’s a contract, whether it’s annexation, whether it’s something that works completely different. I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel – granted, the wheel may have been broken a little bit, and that’s what got us here, but it could be fixed before it’s too late.” 

Incumbent council member Genna Dorow said she supported the decision for a separate fire department, but her opponent, Kelli Camp, said she thought the council had not given enough consideration to the concerns of residents. 

Camp said she thought the current council is not responsive enough to community concerns. 

“There have been some big decisions that have come up,” she said. “I really feel like the biggest thing that our council needs to do is to come together and actually listen to the people in town and make decisions that move us forward instead of dividing us.” 

Dorow said being on the council means making tough decisions, citing the fire service as an example.  

“After careful study, we determined that the best use of taxpayer dollars is to bring fire services back under local control. This decision has its naysayers, but fiscal responsibility and long-term thinking make tough choices and ultimately better for our city,” she said. 

Alma Carmona and Oscar Lopez are running for an open council position. Carmona said she wanted to bring new ideas to the council.  

“I’d like to take on the responsibility to help further Othello with a fresh, younger perspective,” she said. “Our vision should be to survive and thrive. We have to grow for that, but growth should be cautious.” 

Lopez said he would focus on affordable housing, supporting small business and responsive government. 

“This is a critical time for our community. We face real challenges, but also exciting opportunities. I want to ensure that our city is a place where families can thrive, businesses can grow and everyone can feel heard and represented,” Lopez said. 

Birdie Fought and Juan “Jerry” Garcia are running for an open school board position. Garcia said he thinks the biggest challenge for the district is supporting student mental health and improving test scores within the constraints of the district’s budget. 

“I wouldn’t put that effort onto my colleagues, but I would ask, ’Where can I help?’ The largest obstacle is balancing the budget delicately without hurting student programs. (Also) retaining and supporting staff, and that is not a one-person task. That is a five-director task.” 

Fought said making sure every student gets the support they need is what she sees as one of the biggest challenges. Students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, are learning new languages and come from migrant families. 

“Addressing those challenges requires more than just academics,” she said. “Strengthening language services, providing culturally responsive teaching and expanding wraparound services can make a real difference in helping every child feel valued and capable of success.” 

Fought said she would support an additional focus on early childhood education to give children a good foundation before they start school. 

John Lallas was the lone OCH commission candidate to attend. He said the hospital has a role to play when it comes to addressing health challenges in the community. 

“Hopefully, we can actually expand the services the hospital provides,” he said. “Elderly care is one thing, and I would like to see that we develop more rapport with the community,” he said. “I believe that the community hospital here in Othello is just as good as any hospital in this area.” 

    Othello School Board candidate Juan Garcia talks about his goals at a candidate forum Tuesday.
  

    Othello City Council candidate Genna Dorow gives her opinion on city issues during a candidate forum.