The City of Hoquiam is on pretty solid footing right now — competently managing a proposal to build a massive potash shipping facility on its shoreline, preserving its jewel of a library and its jewel of a stadium, working with Aberdeen on combining fire departments and again with Aberdeen on a massive public works project to build a levee protecting low lying areas of both cities.
Much of that has happened on the watch of Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff. She’s been up to the job in her first term and The Daily World is endorsing her for a second.
Ben Winkelman, her opponent, is a productive member of the council, but he doesn’t differ from Dickhoff much in what he wants for the city and he didn’t convince us that a change was necessary.
They are both supportive of the potash project, which is years away, if it happens. Both are open to the notion of Hoquiam and Aberdeen combining the fire departments, both supportive of the coming levee project to protect from flooding and both strong on streets and roads and the long-term importance of maintaining infrastructure, including the future possibility of a new water system.
They both want to grow jobs for the city, but there’s a little daylight between them in terms of approach. Dickhoff would put her focus on developing larger, job-rich industrial employers. Winkelman talks about the importance of nurturing the area’s small businesses.
Dickhoff says Hoquiam and BHP, the potash mining company, have spent a lot of time working with the Quinault Indian Nation, the state Department of Ecology and other stakeholders who might object to the potash project for environmental reasons and feels that most of the concerns have been addressed.
The extra rail traffic through Aberdeen and Hoquiam will be a major side effect, but “we can’t really have conversations about (addressing) housing, employment, homelessness … and be unwilling to put up with any inconvenience,” Dickhoff said.
If the facility is built it will mean a windfall in sales tax during the years of construction. Dickhoff is hopeful of using some of that money to fix sidewalks and streets and if there is money left, buy more land in the city’s watershed, timber that can be managed for long-term financial security for the city. That seems like a solid plan. Winkelman wants to look at another long-term investment, the water collection system.
Both get credit for looking after infrastructure first.
Dickhoff has had a solid first term and has things on track for a productive second term. We think she’s earned your vote.
The Daily World Editorial Board includes Publisher Mike Hrycko, Editor Doug Barker, City Editor David Haerle, Lifestyle Editor Kat Bryant and Vidette Editor Michael Lang.
