By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch The three candidates for Graham Fire and Rescue Commissioner in next month's primary election are the incumbent who has been in office for a quarter-century, an officer for a neighboring fire district, and a man who is running for two offices at the same time. The top two finishers in voting that ends Aug. 4, the actual election day, wlll meet again in November in the general election to decide the wnner of the six-year term. If Bob Skaggs is re-elected, he would be a commissioner for more than 30 years by the time he'd finish the new term. He's held the post for 25 years so far. His opponents are Adam Rosenlund, a captain and paramedic for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, and John Seidl, who serves on a Graham Fire advisory board and is also a candidate for Pierce County Charter Review Commision. Ballots were mailed to voters July 17 by the county auditor's elections department. Voters have until election day to mail their ballots back or deposit them in any of the 29 official drop boxes. One of them is outside the Graham Fire and Rescue station at 10012 187th St. E. The commissioners have budget-setting authority (annual budgets have been in the $13 million range) and other oversight for the Graham district, which serves a population of about 60,000 in an area of 70 square miles. About the candidates: " Skaggs, who was first elected in 1990, points to the district's record of meeting needs for fire protection and emergency medical care while being responsible with the tax dollars that pay for those services. He notes the district lost $2.5 million in revenue during recessionary times in 2008-12 but didn't lay off any personnel. Two fire stations were partially or fully closed as cost-cutting moves. But, buoyed by voters' approval last year of a maintenance and operations levy, the district is hiring more firefighters and paramedics. In an online comment at dispatchnews.com, the web site of The Dispatch, Skaggs, in an obvious reference to Rosenlund, said "there are no problemsGÇ¥ for the district other than opposition from some of its employees who disagree with Skaggs on compensation issues and want to replace him with a firefighter. " Rosenlund, who is supported by the Graham firefighters union (International Association of Firefighters Local 726), has worked in the fire service for 20 years. For qualifications to be a commissioner, he points to that experience, as well as his community and global involvement with local schools and youth groups and as co-frounder of BRAVE Foundation, which trains firefighters in third-world countries. Rosenlund has said that a new generation of leaders is needed, and that he is an advocate for high-quality service within the district's financial means. " Seidl is a member of the district's advisory board on bond measures. He wants a businesslike approach to running the district, and opportunities for citizens to learn about Graham Fire's operations. He is a leader of the Second District Republican Party Club, and is running in the primary election for a seat on the Charter Review Commission. The commission, which like fire commissioner is non-partisan, will spend six months studying the county charter, a constitution-like document for county government, before recommending any changes for voters to decide on in 2016.
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