David Pros - candidate for County Council
David Pros - candidate for County Council
Note: Each primary election candidate - Port, County Council and City Council - has been invited to submit one article for posting here on NwCitizen. This is the third to be posted. As others are rece
Note: Each primary election candidate - Port, County Council and City Council - has been invited to submit one article for posting here on NwCitizen. This is the third to be posted. As others are received, we'll post them.
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WHOSE COUNTY IS IT ANYWAY?
Are we getting what we want?
We have one candidate who believes public input is virtually irrelevant in “Visioning.” She also deems public input irrelevant in an invalid 22-year population projection. We know this because she refers to the author of this philosophy, our current Planning Director, as a “genius,” and rubber stamps his every whim. I supported my major opponent in her last 2 elections, but I've been very disappointed, especially in the last 2 years.
Let's look at a few facts:
Unfortunately, both of these candidates are armed with lots of money and robot party voters. According to some, these two candidates will be the only ones left after Aug. 18.
My council term will be very different.: I will work to move growth to the urban areas based on a voter-validated growth model. In the absence of a model, I believe growth in the small towns would best serve our small towns and our county. I will seek out and honor your opinion. I believe my election will reawaken an interest in government, a new willingness among people to participate.
I know of TDR programs that work well in other areas and will work hard to have a majority of fellow council members approve a TDR program that is effective.
I will never vote on an issue deemed 'too difficult to handle in an honest way.' I am brutally honest about issues. Establishing impact fees will be one of my top goals and will be voted on early in my term. I believe county citizens are the controlling authority for all land-use decisions, and any change to the county’s “Vision” should occur only through a new “Visioning Process” validated by a majority vote of county residents. Unlike the current system, “Visioning” MUST start by asking us to provide the parameters that control this process. Visioning and population projections drive everything: our tax rate, our legacy, our quality of life, ours and our children's future.
First, we need a growth model voted in by a majority. The choices are: 1.) Bellingham continues to outpace all other areas in population growth, (Bellingham has 42% of the county's population, but takes more than 42% of the growth); or, 2.) all areas retain the same % of population they now have; or, 3.) Bellingham retains 42% of the county population with lower growth in the rural areas. This formula will push the difference into the small towns so they can become their own economic centers, eliminating the need to constantly drive to Bellingham.
After parameters are in place, let's encourage major stakeholder groups like the BIAW, Futurewise Whatcom, Whatcom Realtors, Whatcom Farm Friends, or any other relevant group, to go to every grange and fire-hall in our county and explain their “vision” of our future. Then we vote!
I believe a transparent majority vote will end the feeling that the way we grow is based on a small group getting their way. I believe transparency will result in less polarization and more movement toward accomplishing our common goals. A major accomplishment! I support a long term template of how we want the county to grow, validated by a countywide vote.
Currently, we don't have any growth model, let alone a “voter validated” model, with which to gauge today's decisions. No one would finance a business without a plan, no one would elect a president without a plan, is our future less important? I believe growth without a plan will destroy Whatcom County's uniqueness, the very reason most of us choose to live here!
I will fight for local control to ensure each subarea has the right to choose its own destiny. My major opponent denied this right to the Foothills subarea just last month!
I believe our government owes it's allegiance to those of us who live here now. I believe majority voices should make a difference. After all, whose county is it anyway?
If you agree with my philosophy, join this effort, offer your help. Contributions can come in many forms, not just money. An independent person fighting for these issues cannot win without other independent people helping, telling others, and voting. Please suggest that like-minded friends check out this campaign. Feel free to email me: dpros@juno.com. Or call me at: 647-5292 with questions. I care. And with your help, we will rejuvenate public participation and get things accomplished.
Experience: Whatcom County Planning Commission, 8 years; Vice Chair, 2 years; Chair, 2 years; Whatcom County Parks Board, 2 years; Former Small Business Owner (specialty grocery store, real estate office); Co-founder Pro-Whatcom (educational organization). Currently: Vice Chair, Citizen Transportation Advisory Group; Whatcom Council of Governments.
- - - - -
WHOSE COUNTY IS IT ANYWAY?
Are we getting what we want?
We have one candidate who believes public input is virtually irrelevant in “Visioning.” She also deems public input irrelevant in an invalid 22-year population projection. We know this because she refers to the author of this philosophy, our current Planning Director, as a “genius,” and rubber stamps his every whim. I supported my major opponent in her last 2 elections, but I've been very disappointed, especially in the last 2 years.
Let's look at a few facts:
After 8 years, has growth slowed in the rural areas?We have another candidate who is a nice guy. But his total lack of political experience and knowledge of how government jurisdictions work will force him to rely on his political handlers to tell him how to vote.
No, it has increased.
After 8 years, have people had a greater voice in major issues?
No, public input is less influential.
After 8 years, do we now have an effective TDR program working to help remove development from the Lake Whatcom reservoir ?
No, the TDR program is totally worthless.
Are we currently getting honest evaluations of population growth?
No, we have “pretend planning.”
After 8 years, do we have impact fees in place in the county?
No, we still subsidize developers.
Unfortunately, both of these candidates are armed with lots of money and robot party voters. According to some, these two candidates will be the only ones left after Aug. 18.
My council term will be very different.: I will work to move growth to the urban areas based on a voter-validated growth model. In the absence of a model, I believe growth in the small towns would best serve our small towns and our county. I will seek out and honor your opinion. I believe my election will reawaken an interest in government, a new willingness among people to participate.
I know of TDR programs that work well in other areas and will work hard to have a majority of fellow council members approve a TDR program that is effective.
I will never vote on an issue deemed 'too difficult to handle in an honest way.' I am brutally honest about issues. Establishing impact fees will be one of my top goals and will be voted on early in my term. I believe county citizens are the controlling authority for all land-use decisions, and any change to the county’s “Vision” should occur only through a new “Visioning Process” validated by a majority vote of county residents. Unlike the current system, “Visioning” MUST start by asking us to provide the parameters that control this process. Visioning and population projections drive everything: our tax rate, our legacy, our quality of life, ours and our children's future.
First, we need a growth model voted in by a majority. The choices are: 1.) Bellingham continues to outpace all other areas in population growth, (Bellingham has 42% of the county's population, but takes more than 42% of the growth); or, 2.) all areas retain the same % of population they now have; or, 3.) Bellingham retains 42% of the county population with lower growth in the rural areas. This formula will push the difference into the small towns so they can become their own economic centers, eliminating the need to constantly drive to Bellingham.
After parameters are in place, let's encourage major stakeholder groups like the BIAW, Futurewise Whatcom, Whatcom Realtors, Whatcom Farm Friends, or any other relevant group, to go to every grange and fire-hall in our county and explain their “vision” of our future. Then we vote!
I believe a transparent majority vote will end the feeling that the way we grow is based on a small group getting their way. I believe transparency will result in less polarization and more movement toward accomplishing our common goals. A major accomplishment! I support a long term template of how we want the county to grow, validated by a countywide vote.
Currently, we don't have any growth model, let alone a “voter validated” model, with which to gauge today's decisions. No one would finance a business without a plan, no one would elect a president without a plan, is our future less important? I believe growth without a plan will destroy Whatcom County's uniqueness, the very reason most of us choose to live here!
I will fight for local control to ensure each subarea has the right to choose its own destiny. My major opponent denied this right to the Foothills subarea just last month!
I believe our government owes it's allegiance to those of us who live here now. I believe majority voices should make a difference. After all, whose county is it anyway?
If you agree with my philosophy, join this effort, offer your help. Contributions can come in many forms, not just money. An independent person fighting for these issues cannot win without other independent people helping, telling others, and voting. Please suggest that like-minded friends check out this campaign. Feel free to email me: dpros@juno.com. Or call me at: 647-5292 with questions. I care. And with your help, we will rejuvenate public participation and get things accomplished.
Experience: Whatcom County Planning Commission, 8 years; Vice Chair, 2 years; Chair, 2 years; Whatcom County Parks Board, 2 years; Former Small Business Owner (specialty grocery store, real estate office); Co-founder Pro-Whatcom (educational organization). Currently: Vice Chair, Citizen Transportation Advisory Group; Whatcom Council of Governments.
