Primary Election August 3

DAYTON–There is only one office on the 2021 Primary Election ballot in Columbia County, with ballots due to be delivered or mailed to the County Auditor's Office by Tuesday, August 3.

Three candidates filed for the District 3 Port of Columbia Commissioner position necessitating a ballot for the primary in which the top two vote-getters will advance to the November 2 General Election.

Ballots went out to District 3 voters only and those voters will select the candidates who will move on.

The three candidates are Jack Miller, Sean C. Milligan and Johnny Watts. Here are their candidate statements:

Jack Miller

My name is Jack Miller, and I am running for Port of Columbia Commissioner District 3. I am a farmer, father, grandfather, great grandfather, trapshooter, hunter, welding teacher and fiscal conservative.

Several people in Columbia County called me lately to ask me to run for Port Commissioner because they are not happy with the direction of the Port. I hope to be the voice of the people who live here when directing the actions taken by the Port in the future.

I was born in Outlook, Wash., and raised in Prosser. I graduated from Prosser High School and went on to graduate from W.S.U. with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics. I have been married to Barbara Miller for 53 years, and we moved to Waitsburg in 1975.

I have thirty-one years as the Farm Manager of the CDA Tribal Farm in Tensed, Id., and twenty years as the owner of BarJak Farms, Inc. I have been on the board of directors for the Walla Walla Gun Club, the Spokane Gun Club and the Washington State Trapshooters Association for many years. I feel that my background in economics, business management and agriculture would be an asset in the pursuit of economic development in Columbia County. I have over thirty years of experience both working for a board of directors and serving on a board. I have learned the importance of achieving consensus while being extremely careful in the handling of other peoples' money, in this case tax dollars. As I am now retired, I will have ample time to devote to community service and the achievement of the Port's goals.

The only reason for the existence of this organization is to attract business and industry to this area. I believe that money spent by the Port should have a positive, direct, measureable impact on the residents of this county.

The current major issue for the Port is, of course, the proposed bike trail between Waitsburg and Dayton. People have become very emotional and vocal concerning this issue. My opinion is that the sole reason for the Port's existence is economic development. If this trail has potential to measurably enhance the economic health of Columbia County, then a campaign to educate the public is needed. If it has little or no economic impact, it should be dropped.

Sean Milligan

My name is Sean Milligan. We moved to Dayton (Huntsville) a little over 15 years ago, after living in Walla Walla for about 14 years. For most of that time, I didn't know much about the Port of Columbia or what its mission and purpose was. That began to change not quite a year and a half ago when I was asked to consider applying to finish the term as District 3 Commissioner in place of Fred Crowe, who had moved out of the district. I was appointed as a Commissioner in May, 2020, near the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been gratifying to play a part in helping many of our local businesses stay afloat during the many challenges they have faced as a result of the pandemic, including acting as a conduit to facilitate distribution of several state and federal COVID relief grants. In addition, the normal business of the Port in striving to identify, foster, and sustain economic development in our communities and county has continued.

I am eager to continue working, serving, and learning to build on the foundation I've developed over the past year, with focus in several areas: 1) maintain our baseline Port activities, such as management of Port properties/business interests including the Rock Hill Industrial Park, Blue Mountain Station, Lyon's Ferry Marina, and the railroad. 2) Continue with current Port projects to promote economic development and support local businesses and industries, such as providing wireless broadband access to a greater number of our businesses and homes, connecting and revitalizing our communities, and helping local businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19. 3) Tackle new challenges that will emerge with the post-pandemic return to a "new normal" and pursue other activities identified in our Comprehensive Plan. All this with input and feedback from our public constituency whom we serve.

A little bit about my background. I grew up in Moscow, Idaho and attended the University of Idaho, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering. I am a third-generation Civil Engineer, following in the footsteps of my father and grandfather. Partway through college I took a couple of years off to live in Japan, serving as a missionary for my church. I came to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 29 years ago, and I am currently the Chief of the Hydraulics Section. Much of my career has been dedicated to improving adult and juvenile fish passage at our mainstem dams and other locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. I also served on the Advisory Board for the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Idaho for nine years. I believe my engineering background will help me apply a technical and logical approach to address the decisions and issues the Port encounters.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy riding horses in the mountains, Dutch oven cooking, reading, and church service.

Johnny Watts

Although a Washington resident my entire childhood and adult life, I was born in Moscow, Id.,, in 1972. As a child, some of my earliest memories of Columbia County were fishing with my dad at Lyons Ferry, attending rodeos in Starbuck, hanging out at my uncle's business adventures in Dayton, and running wild and free at the family ranch on the North Fork. Upon graduation from Waitsburg High School, I went straight to work, initially into agriculture, then into custom woodworking and general construction. From there, I transitioned into institutional safety and security, facility management, and coaching. Along the way, I settled in Huntsville, just West of Dayton, with my wife Cara and raised four children. I am currently in the process of acquiring a bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health and doting on two spirited granddaughters.

I have chosen to run for Columbia County Port Commissioner, District 3, to enhance the voice of the people it serves. Although I believe the government has a role to play in the development, maintenance, and protection of the American experience, it has become increasingly authoritarian. It is time we hold the line and protect our individual liberties. As Port Commissioner, I intend to enhance public trust and institutional integrity through honest communication, active listening, and sustainable, fiscally responsible decisions.

I kneel for God and stand for the flag. I believe in American exceptionalism and the brilliance of the Constitution. I believe in diversity and love for the individual, cloaked in patriotism. I am grateful and humbled by the men and women of the United States Military. I support law and order and believe in accountability. I believe in personal freedoms and limited government. I am a fiscal conservative that supports balanced budgets and thoughtful spending. I stand for an education system consisting of science, math, reading, writing, and the arts - free from destructive ideologies. I believe in this community and what we can accomplish when we stand together as patriots.

Although this is my first time running for public office, I am no stranger to community involvement.

• Served as a volunteer fire fighter/Captain for Walla Walla/Columbia County Fire District 2.

• Served as an elder for the Presbyterian Church.

• Built a playground for Dayton Task Force.

• Prepared and served food for the Walla Walla Mission.

• Assisted with Dayton Fall Festival and Christmas Kickoff.

• Performed at the Liberty Theater

• Current baseball coach for Dayton/Waitsburg School Districts.