Letters Oct. 15

Clear choice

A clear choice: return Michael Echanove to the Palouse Washington mayor’s office with your vote.

Ballots will be mailed Oct. 16 and must be postmarked by November 3, 2015.

I had the pleasure of working with Michael as a member of the Palouse City Council 1994 though 1995.

I left City Council after two terms, 1988-1995, confident of Michael’s leadership skills, cordiality and proactive stance on matters pertaining to the City of Palouse.

During Michael Echanove’s first three terms as Mayor, I was happy to endorse his reelection and do so again for his fourth term.

In 2010 Michael appointed me to Palouse’s Planning and Zoning Committee.

The Committee successfully completed the Plan in 2015.

Prior to adoption of the plan, public hearings were conducted by the Committee and City Council garnering citizen input.

Michael’s ability to respond to citizen input was very impressive.

After evaluating the proposal and considering citizen input from public meetings and the survey conducted by the Planning Committee, the Palouse City Council adopted the documents on November 11, 2014.

I have volunteered on several other Community projects and have had the pleasure of observing Michael’s participation and his commitment to the enhancement of Palouse. These events include but certainly are not limited to Haunted Palouse, Palouse’s Scout Program, Palouse Days and the Community Center Project. After any big Palouse event you will usually find Michael picking up and sweeping the streets. That’s major community commitment.

In checking the facts with the current Clerk Treasurer, Mike Bagott, and Deputy Clerk, Ann Thompson, I am comfortable with the fact that the City under Michael’s leadership is fiscally sound. Mayor Echanove has guided the City with a conservative approach. Grants have been applied for and successfully awarded for larger projects: Street, Sewer, Brownsfield Clean-up and Sidewalks. The State Auditor’s Office uses a matrix to determine each Washington state city’s fiscal fitness. The City of Palouse has earned the positive ranking of maintaining responsible reserves and cash flow during Micheal’s entire tenure as Mayor.

Currently, there is some comment being made regarding the purchases of two vehicles for the Police Department. Checking with the Clerk Treasurer, Mike Bagott, the first vehicle was budgeted for replacement this year. Regarding the second vehicle, maintenance problems dictated that it be replaced this year by moving forward funds that would have been used to replace the vehicle in two years. If you have questions that pertain to this election and the positive fiscal position Palouse maintains, please contact the City Staff to garner the facts. The town has benefited from and continues to need Michael Echanove’s leadership.

Vote by mail as soon as you are able.

Mary Estes,

Palouse

No change

needed

I am writing this letter in full support of our Mayor Michael Echanove. I have lived in Palouse 54 years and my husband’s family has for over 100. The Palouse you see today is NOT the Palouse of 25 years ago. For over 20 years I worked downtown Palouse at West’s Food Store and I witnessed first-hand how shabby our little town had become with stores closing, streets and buildings in disrepair, cracked and broken sidewalks, etc.

Then I watched as a new young man full of energy and ideas put Palouse back on its feet. With the help of community members, Mayor Echanove led Palouse to what you see today: a redone, cleaned-up, thriving Main Street, new street lights, improved infrastructure, east Whitman Street redone, an RV Park, and so much more, all while maintaining the city’s budget. All of these things can be attributed to Michael Echanove’s leadership and very hard work. Not only did he make Palouse better, he restored our community pride. Now Palouse is the envy of many small towns. After all this and more, why in the world would anyone vote for new leadership?!

Under Echanove’s continued excellence Palouse will continue to shine. There’s still work to be done and Echanove is the one to see it through. Echanove’s track record, work ethic, reliability, faithfulness, honesty, kindness, and dedication to Palouse are admirable and we urge the voters of Palouse to vote for Michael Echanove for Mayor. Don’t be fooled; get the facts. Like the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Donna & Jerry Thompson,

Palouse