People might not imagine that Bart Dalmasso would have a whole lot in common with Russell Wiita. Dalmasso is a 75-year-old real estate broker. Wiita is a 21-year-old college student looking forward to his upcoming graduation.
But as it turns out, both have their sights set on Sultan City Council Position No. 4.
Dalmasso, a lifelong Washingtonian, has lived and done business in the Sky Valley since the early 1980s. He served a five-year stint on Sultan's planning commission and founded two separate Toastmaster's groups, one in Monroe and one in Sultan. In his capacity as a real estate broker, he has negotiated property transactions for the city, including Sultan's Visitor's Information Center and the Sultan Skate Park; negotiations that he was willing to handle at no additional cost to the city.
He helped facilitate the mural project on the side of the Visitor's Information Center, contributing to the project and advocating for an image of local resident Sandy Delvecchio to be incorporated into the art. In the mural, Delvecchio is shown driving the centennial train.
"She was quite involved in local stuff,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "I felt she deserved to be up there and I knew she didn't have the money.GÇ¥
He loves the sense of community in Sultan, which has often been referred to as "big heart, little city.GÇ¥
"The beauty of Sultan is the people that live here,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "The people here are fantastic,GÇ¥
Should he be elected, Dalmasso's primary objectives would be to find ways to lower the cost of Sultan city government and to settle the misappropriation of funds lawsuit against the city, of which he is one of the plaintiffs. Brought against the city by a group called the Utility Stakeholders Group, the lawsuit alleges that the city utilized money from its garbage, water and sewer funds to pay for the day-to-day operations of the city, which is illegal.
"It's a class action suit,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "We're doing it for the benefit of the whole community, not just ourselves.GÇ¥
Dalmasso has aligned himself with fellow candidates Al Wirta, Ray George and Kay George, who are all affiliated with the Stakeholders Group. Councilmember Bob McCarty, who was elected in 2013, is also a member of the Stakeholders Group and is named on the lawsuit.
One of the ways the group hopes to accomplish cost reduction is through the privatization of the city's garbage service, which they feel would result in cost savings that could be passed along to the residents.
Although the city recently purchased a new garbage truck and implemented a revised garbage collection system, Dalmasso is hopeful that he could help reverse that action by selling the truck and the new garbage totes back to a private garbage service provider.
"We would probably negotiate with the company for them to buy the truck as part of the deal, and to buy the totes and everything else,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said.
The privatization of the garbage service could also influence another area of concern, which is related to the staffing costs at city hall. Dalmasso said that it's possible that the change in garbage service could necessitate a workforce reduction, which is not an optimal result, but one that could help curb costs in the long run. Although it's speculation at this point, the deal could work out better for the employees, said Dalmasso.
"The garbage truck drivers would probably be hired by the garbage company because they're familiar with the routes,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "They know the area and they're familiar with the equipment and everything.GÇ¥
In hopes of stimulating economic growth, he would work to make sure that business license regulations are equitably defined and would examine the city's permitting processes to ensure that they are conducive to economic growth. Dalmasso has a vision of commercial development on the west end of town, which to him would have a greater chance at success than something located to the east.
"I would probably make a concentrated effort to try to go out and find a large attraction for this community whether it be an amusement park, a casino or a large retail outlet,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "We have no real selection of merchandise in this community.GÇ¥
Dalmasso said that while he respects Wiita and respects his family, his own life experience brings something to the table that youth does not. He has been fond of the Ronald Reagan quote, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.GÇ¥
Reagan, who 73 at the time, made the comment in jest during the 1984 presidential debate, after being asked if he was too old to be president. To Dalmasso, 75 is not too old to lower the cost of city government and advocate for positive growth and development.
"My concern when I get elected is to look out for the people that live here and to make sure that they're getting the best they can get for the money they're spending,GÇ¥ Dalmasso said. "And to hopefully cut the expenses.GÇ¥
This will be Dalmasso's fourth attempt at winning a seat on the council. He ran against Steve Slawson in 2005, Joe Neigel in 2011 and Marianne Naslund in 2013. He created a media stir in 2010 when he lead an effort to disincorporate the city, an effort that he says was simply a way to reduce expenses and improve resident quality of life.
Council Position No. 4 is currently occupied by Sarah Davenport-Smith, the only incumbent not seeking reelection this term.
For more information on Dalmasso, please visit: http://votesmartsultan.vpweb.com/.
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