By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Voters have begun choosing the people who eventually will tell them what might need changing in Pierce County's government charter. In the primary election that ends next week, candidates are contending for seats on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission. The top two finishers in each race will advance to the general election in November to decide who will be one of the 21 members. After the election in November, the panel will spend about six months reviewing the charter and recommending possible changes of it. Any proposed amendments would be decided by voters in 2016. Similar to a federal or state constitution, a county charter defines the rights, liabilities and responsibilities of government. Under the home rule charter that Pierce County adopted in 1981, a review is required every 10 years. That's when possible changes in the structure of the government can be drafted by the commission, which is elected each time the review process comes around again. For the next review, three commission members will be elected from each of the seven County Council districts in order to provide equal representation countywide. For voters in south Pierce County's District 3, the candidates include Marianne Lincoln, Jason Bergstrom and Amy Cruver for Position 1, and John Seidl, Patrick Durr, Kerry Hooks and Greg Hartman for Position 3. They are on the ballot for the primary election in order to narrow them to two apiece for the November finale. The candidates gave statements to the county elections department for the official county voters pamphlet for the primary. They're summarized here:
Position 1
" Marianne Lincoln is a former Bethel School Board member and has also worked in other professional and community roles. "With participation and dialogue, we can learn the best way to grow and run our government," she said. She also said, "When things work well, you don't change them." " Jason Bergstrom is a former candidate for state representative and has had various roles professionally and in the community. He opposes higher taxes and "a burdensome tax code and system of regulations," and he promises "a fair and balanced charter review." " Amy Cruver is County Councilman Jim McCune's assistant and has been involved in several community organizations. She advocates "a limited government," property rights, "individual goals over government's goals," and "reducing regulatory burdens."
Position 3
" John Seidl, who also is a candidate in the primary for Graham Fire and Rescue commissioner, is active locally in the Republican Party. He calls for "new ideas" and listening to "the people's demands." " Patrick Durr served in the military for 32 years until retiring in April. He says his "community and world exposure and leadership experience" can be put "to good use for the benefit of all." " Kerry Hooks, who is involved in Frederickson-area community service, is a leader of the group that placed a referendum in this November's election opposing the county's proposed central office building. She's watching out for any effort to "undermine" citizens' "rights and authority." " Greg Hartman has run twice for state representative and is a union leader for firefighters. He wants the charter to "aggressively respect personal and property rights" and to ensure "transparency" in county officials. The last day for voters to turn in their ballots is Aug. 4, the actual election day. Ballots can be mailed or deposited in official dropboxes.
Position 2
Waiting on the sidelines are Position 2 candidates Bruce Lachney and Richard Thurston. Because there are only two of them, they automatically move ahead to a runoff in the general election. Initially there were three, including McCune. He withdrew shortly after the candidate filing period in May amid questions about whether he would have a conflict of interest as a member of the commission that could recommend changes to the charter that he would then help carry out as a council member.
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