Mayoral Challenger Craig George
Incumbent Mayor Bill Graham
Mayoral Candidates Talk About Issues Facing Dayton
Challenger Craig George and incumbent Bill Graham both see
improving streets and infrastructure as top priorities.
by Nadine Gerkey
[Editor's Note: Since I am related to one of Dayton's Mayoral candidates, I asked former Walla Walla Union- Bulletin reporter Nadine Gerkey if she would be willing to interview the candidates and write this article. She kindly agreed. I did not participate in the preparation of this article. – Ken Graham]
Mayoral challenger Craig George thinks, "It's time for a change." And he wants to be a part of that.
George, 66, who retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of commander after 23 years of active duty, is completing his first four-year term as a member of the Dayton City Council. He has served as chairman of the city's finance, public works and emergency planning committees. Two years ago he was named Mayor Pro Tem.
In identifying goals which he said need "immediate attention," George cited improving city streets, establishing cash reserves to meet maintenance needs, developing a grant writing program, promoting economic development and growth and providing "open communication" with the public.
To fund street improvements, which he names his "number one" priority, he proposes establishing a citizens' group whose task would be to seek and apply for grant monies.
To encourage communication with local residents, he would establish regular office hours to enable residents to talk to him about their concerns and ideas. In addition, his goal would be to publish a quarterly newsletter to keep citizens informed.
He advocates establishing an active grant-writing program to acquire additional funding to upgrade city facilities.
A proponent of "smart growth plans," George said city zoning needs to clearly delineate urban from rural properties and to establish definitive commercial and manufacturing areas. He encourages "strengthening and adhering to" current ordinances.
In addition, he advocates "working together with the council and county to enhance existing recreational facilities and possibly to offer more facilities, such as a skate board park and a multi-generational activities center.
Born in Seattle, George moved with his family to California at the age of 6. Graduating from high school in the Apple Valley area, he attended the University of Washington, transferring to San Diego State University as a junior. In 1965 he graduated with a degree in marketing. As an ensign in the Navy the same year, as U.S. forces were "just getting into Viet Nam," he served as a communications officer on an amphibious ship transporting Marines to the war zone.
Following his 23 years of active duty, including three years in Europe and three years in Japan and Okinawa, George, who rose to the rank of commander, retired. As commander, he had managed a budget of more than $1 million.
George and his wife Kathy, married for 40 years, have three children and seven grandchildren. Their son Thomas lives in Seattle, and daughter Katrina settled in Apex N.C. Their younger daughter Heidi resides in Spokane.
The Georges had lived in Minneapolis since 1987, where George was employed as an auditor for Nordstrom's. They were considering retiring in the Walla Walla area when they saw a photo of the late Dr. W.W. Day's house in a Dayton newspaper article. It was love at first sight. When Kathy, a lover of antiques, first walked into the house, she began mentally placing her period treasures on the walls of the ancestral home. Today she's president of the Dayton Historical Society.
The Georges, who located here in June 2002, purchased and have restored the historic showplace at 314 S. Second St. Craig, a driver for the Columbia County transportation system, is a member of Kiwanis Club and a former youth sports official.
Following his first four-year term, incumbent Mayor Bill Graham said he had "a fair idea of what was going on." And after eight years of wearing the mayoral hat, Graham said he feels he has "a grasp of all that's going on."
Graham, 76, cites "eight years (1999- 2007) of progress" during his tenure as Dayton's chief official. He notes that being the city's chief officer is "quite complicated."
"There're a lot of ‘catch 22s'," he said. "It takes quite a while to learn" (the in's and out's of the office). He cited a quote from Kenny Rogers' song in the movie "The Gambler" about knowing "when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em and when to walk away" as advice that applies to sitting in the city's top political seat.
"There's a tremendous satisfaction in seeing improvements," Graham added. "I'm not a micro-manager. I assign tasks, and if something goes wrong, I'm not interested in finding who's at fault but in fixing the problem. I believe the staff likes working for me."
In a flyer being distributed to voters, Graham thanked them for "the privilege of serving Dayton for the past eight years." He noted, "Much has been accomplished" and said the city has "ridden out lean times and setbacks, emerging in better shape than ever."
But he said there's still "much to be done." In asking for their vote in the upcoming election, he said, if reelected, he, "along with the team we have created, can continue to build on what has been done in order to secure a prosperous future."
Graham said when he assumed the mayoral office in 1999, there were budget shortfalls, a leaking water system, outdated city equipment, "hostile" relationships with state agencies and a "negative, contentious staff and city council."
Today, he compared, there's a "smoothly functioning" team of city employees, a balanced budget, a modern water supply, a schedule for upgrading and replacing city equipment, and "positive, cooperative and forward-thinking" employees.
The incumbent, encouraging voters to "keep the progress rolling," cited specific examples supporting his positive outlook: personnel changes, which have led to "less conflict and more cooperation," a $2 million water system upgrade, replacing the deteriorating First Street bridge, rebuilding city Well 1 and Third Street from Main to Jackson streets (including new sewer and water lines) and purchase of new equipment.
If re-elected, he said he will continue upgrading sewer and water lines and city streets and replacing obsolete city equipment, will foster cooperation with the county, encourage a vital business climate and plan for future population growth.
In addition to his role as mayor, Graham was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 1990. He chaired the Columbia County 10-year courthouse restoration project, organized the city's food bank, has served as a member of the Dayton Task Force and the community economic development committee and restored two historic homes and a pair of historic Main Street buildings. He is a retired pastor of Dayton's First Congregational Church and past president of the local ministerial association.
A Spokane native and a Whitman College graduate, Graham completed a master's degree in theology from the McCormick Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Chicago. He has served as a minister for 50 years, including congregations as far away as Sartell and St. Cloud, Minn. as well as Seattle and Vancouver, Washington and in Gresham and Ione, Oregon. Graham and his wife Cleome married in August 2006. Graham has four children and 10 stepchildren. His son Ken Graham is editor-publisher of Dayton's Blue Mountain News.
Copyright (c) 2007, Blue Mountain News