Barrage of questions fired at Colfax mayoral hopefuls

Colfax mayor candidates, from left, G. Todd Vanek, J.W. Roberts and Don Henderson, participated in a forum July 22. Below are individual shots of Vanek, Roberts and Henderson.

A variety of questions came from the audience July 22 in a forum which featured the three candidates for Colfax mayor now on the ballot for the Aug. 4 primary vote.

Running close to three hours, the forum was hosted by the Pullman League of Women Voters.

It was one of three forums conducted by the league to get candidates in three-way primary races in front of the public.

Mayor Todd Vanek, who is completing his first term in office, and challengers Don Henderson and J.W. Roberts responded to questions written on cards which were supplied to audience members in the Norma McGregor room at the library.

The card questions were relayed by moderator Bev Olson.

Henderson served 16 years in the city council before stepping down two years ago, and Roberts served one term, 2008-2012.

Both said they were lifelong residents of Colfax who sought the town’s top office to establish an improved relationship with the residents.

Henderson, who is retired, stressed he would be available to residents 24-7.

“Change is progress, if it’s done the right way,” he commented.

Roberts in his opening statement said he would like to see Colfax “get back to where we were.” Vanek said he wanted to continue to find ways to generate revenues that don’t come out of the taxpayers’ pockets.

Candidates were asked to list what they considered the most pressing issue facing the town and state their visions for the future.

The troublesome city pool operation, the proposed Colfax-Pullman trail, the future of the Codger Pole and personnel policy were other issues.

Vanek said he believes top priority needs to be building the town’s tax base to offset what he sees as a drop in state funding, grant opportunities and the increased costs of operation.

Henderson said maintaining the budget was a key issue, and Roberts said he believes establishing faith in the mayor’s position was a top issue.

An RV park next to McDonald Park and extension of the N. Palouse walking path along the golf course were listed by Henderson as his visions of the future.

Roberts said he would like to see a new community center/swim pool project and installation of a new water line from Glenwood.

Vanek said a self-sustaining budget and community center would be on his list.

He noted a grant application is in the works for the Glenwood line.

Henderson said Colfax needs to build a new pool for toddlers, and Roberts said he believes the town should form a park and recreation district as a means of funding a new swimming pool.

Vanek said he wished the town could have a benefactor fund a pool.

He added one factor that needs to be considered in a pool project would be the operating cost.

Both challengers said they would like to see the city drop its new code officer program and rely more on good neighbor relations for upkeep of buildings and yards.

Vanek noted the code officer position evolved through the addition of a police position for security at the hospital, and the new code program called for working with property owners to make changes before taking any enforcement action.

On the Colfax-Pullman trail proposal for the now-dormant railroad along the S. Palouse River, Vanek said he believed in preserving the right-of-way and could see benefits for Colfax as a trailhead destination if the trail became a reality.

He added many entities would have to participate.

Henderson said he would like to see the railroad keep the property, but could also see benefits for Colfax if the trail proposal eventually became a reality.

Roberts said he believes the city had “bigger fish to fry” than the trail.

He noted the success of the Bill Chipman Trail, and said at some time Colfax will have to weigh the good and bad factors related to the topic.

Asked what they rated as “tough tasks” they have faced in public service, Vanek said he felt it was getting city staffers to examine how they do their jobs and consider doing it a different way to improve service to the public.

Roberts said during the four years he served on the council the controversy involved with the firing of Fire Chief Ralph Walter and a property dispute in the wake of the rural residential zone annexation were tough topics.

Henderson said an annexation proposal which failed to be accomplished was a tough task.

On the future for the Codger Pole, Roberts suggested the future of the pole could be put up to a vote of the people.

Vanek noted motel-hotel tax funds have been charted for maintenance of the pole, and Henderson said he believed the pole should be maintained, possibly with the use of the hotel-motel tax.

Asked how they might counter the Colfax reputation as a speed trap, Vanek suggested a marketing campaign urging motorists to “stop in Colfax for other reasons” could be introduced, and Henderson said motorists who drive at the speed limit don’t have to worry about it.

Roberts said he didn’t think there was much the town could do about the reputation.

On dealing with personnel, Vanek said he believed it was important to remember you’re dealing with somebody’s life and also realize the work has to be done.

Henderson said he would be sure to do a thorough background check before hiring, and he would be sure to have a valid reason for dismissing an employee.

Roberts noted he had to manage an apprentice program when he worked as an electrician.

He noted having a poor employee on staff impacts the performance of other employees.