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Columns

June 10, 2014

Illustrating the power of vision, cooperation, and public purpose

It is a great honor to receive this recognition, named for such an inspirational person. I recall Florence's kind words of encouragement and support, as well as her smile. It is also special for me to be nominated for this award by Mayor Scott Higgins and City Administrator Pete Capell, with supportive letters from Bill Barron, Roger Knapp, Brent Erickson and Bill Dygert, all of whom have done much to support and promote parks, open space and trails.

May 27, 2014

The ‘Princess and the Pea’

Let's face it. We're spoiled. Even in our tough economy, most Americans enjoy a myriad of conveniences we take for granted. We awake to a warm house, turn night into day with the flip of a light switch, jump into a hot shower, get dressed and grab a cup of fresh brewed coffee before heading to work in our car or on the bus. On the way home, we stop at the grocery store to pick up a few items from the 40,000 choices offered there.

May 13, 2014

Total compensation is key in minimum wage debate

One of the problems with the minimum wage debate is the name itself. If we want to ensure that we don't hurt lower-income workers, we should consider total compensation, not just wages. Case in point: Bill H. earns $15 an hour as a parking lot attendant. Lisa W. earns $12.25 an hour at a fast food restaurant. But Lisa's employer provides merit raises, paid vacations, health insurance, management training, education scholarships, childcare assistance and a 401k retirement plan.

April 8, 2014

CHS Hall of Fame: Annie, Shelley and Brenda

The CHS Athletic Hall of Fame honors those Camas High School Papermaker teams and individuals who have excelled athletically. The typical individual inductee is blessed with superior athletic talent, competitive spirit, a dedication to training and practice, and the mental tenacity to overcome adversity. Inductees who graduated prior to 1972 share one other common attribute: a "Y" chromosome.

March 25, 2014

Legal pot in Camas needs citizen input

OK Mayor Scott Higgins, you asked for it. No, you're not in trouble with me. Actually, I have only good things to say about your recent call for input from citizens on Initiative 502 which legalized recreational use of marijuana in our state. Input from local citizens will be critical on how implementation of I-502 should -- or should not -- impact our local community.

March 11, 2014

Public education bill would be costly

Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has proposed a bill that would impose two major tax increases on residents in Washington to raise more money for public education. Calling his proposed tax increases a "blunt but necessary instrument," Dorn says the new taxes are needed to provide "full funding" for K-12 public education, in response to the supreme court's January 2012 McCleary v. State of Washington decision.

February 11, 2014

Let voters decide on super-majority for tax increases

Last February, the Washington Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling overturned the five-time voter-approved requirement that tax increases receive a supermajority vote of the Legislature or voter approval. In the past, when the court has invalidated a law passed by the people, the Legislature has sought to implement what the people want; Initiative 695 reducing car tab costs and Initiative-747 limiting property tax increases are recent examples.

January 28, 2014

‘Build it, and they will com’

We moved from Bemidji, Minn., in 1986 and chose Camas for a number of reasons. But upon looking around, I wondered where the tourist sites were. Where are the statues? What I didn't realize at the time was the same beauty that attracted us is in fact the tourist area of the entire Pacific Northwest.

January 14, 2014

Let’s encourage small businesses in 2014

Consumer confidence, the stock market, world events, the housing market and local political events are the significant factors impacting the entrepreneurial spirit. As I look ahead, the future seems bright for small business and anything our policy makers can do to encourage this trend will be a key to job strength and stronger sales tax revenues moving forward. Small business owners do expect better sales in 2014 and overall have a strong degree of confidence in their sales and hiring plans for 2014. The Wall Street Journal and Vistage International just completed a survey showing an uptick in 2013 small business sales results with an expectation that 2014 will be even better.