Candidate Profile: Jan Collard, challenger for City of Ritzville mayor

Jan Collard wants to be mayor of Ritzville. It would be her first elected role in government.

A 20-plus-year resident of Ritzville, Collard attended high school and college in Michigan.

She earned a Bachelors degree in business education with a minor in political science. Collard is also working to complete a Master’s degree in theology through online courses.

She and her husband, Peter, have five children and six grandchildren.

Collard describes herself as a retired homemaker.

Since being in Ritzville, Collard said she has been an active volunteer, working at the food bank, public library, elementary school and high school and at Life Care.

Collard lists her honors and recognition as including a letter of recommendation from the superintendent of schools. She also received a Life Care Center Volunteer Appreciation Award and a similar honor from the local library.

Collard’s candidate statement:

“I was inspired by a Journal article because no one had signed up to run even up to the second day before it closes. The article was calling on all civic-minded people to voice an opinion and step forward. I did. I am.”

Why did this look like a good thing for you to do?

“My experience with the city has been that is it disorganized. Terribly disorganized and I am a great organizer. I enjoy putting things in order.”

Specific government related concerns that prompted you to get involved?

“I was hearing some complaints about the intrusiveness of certain people in city government, who have been looking over fences. Privacy fences. They are climbing the fences to look into your backyard. That to me needs to be corrected. There’s a reason it’s called private property.”

Property rights appear to be an important thing to you? How did that become a focus?

“A previous community that we lived in… they were taking private property and giving it to developers and it’s just wrong. I have been very aware of this clash with those in government who feel it’s their right. I think everyone needs to stand up for their freedom. That includes the people who are on the council. Just running for office has been an experience. I have seen so many people I have met over the 20 plus years and they are actually giving me a broader view of their opinions.”

What have you learned from those people?

“One of the things that’s a topic that surprises me is the concern with crime in Ritzville.

“I didn’t know there was crime per se in Ritzville. I know every once in awhile the kids go wild up at the park. They destroy property. I hear these things, I read them in the paper but I didn’t think there was a big issue. There are so many people who are really concerned about what they consider too much drugs coming into town. It’s affecting the work force. Employees are unreliable because of the amount of drug use. That was a real eye opener.”

Any other subjects citizens have surprised you with?

“One that wasn’t a surprise at all is the old high school. I keep maintaining it’s private property. It’s a historic building. How do you tear it down? How do you destroy something like that. That is a tough subject.”

What have you learned at city council meetings?

“I have learned a lot. One of the toughest things I think with being the mayor is that frequently you are just a figurehead. You sit up there and direct traffic. I see this often in what’s going on. But I also see a lack of organization. I have made many requests of the city council, of the mayor and the city clerk for information, for documentation. It’s not forthcoming. They keep directing me to a website that’s so out of date that it’s almost useless. Even attending the planning commission. Right at the bottom of their page it states that the agenda will appear there. But, it doesn’t. I found a website, Omak; it’s an awesome website. Their website is so transparent.”

It’s fairly apparent important infrastructure has been neglected for decades. Where do you stand on drilling a new well and replacing the distribution lines?

“I don’t think I am going to have to deal with it. The city right now is looking at financing $6 million. I would have to help with the planning and focus. It’s not a matter of whether (it should be done). If you are going to finance a huge amount of money, don’t sock it to them in their water bill, get a bond issue going. The city can issue bonds. It doesn’t make sense to me to go to people who are cash strapped. I haven’t heard anything about this from the city. All I have heard them talk about is them getting a loan. To me that’s wrong. I think bonds are so much better for financing. And this should have been done years ago, with all of these leaky waterlines.

“A few years back the city had repaired the sewer line out in the alley way. It was behind the neighbors. They dug down and we watched. The sewer lines went into nowhere. Just going into the environment. We had an earthquake back in 1983 and it fractured the line. All of the money they pay for sewers and it’s all going into the ground. It’s not even going to the sewer plant, which it should be. Then I’m finding out from Larry Swift at one of these council meetings, he said something about a lot of these sewer lines are paper from back in the 1920s and 30s.”

Any other things on your mind that need significant attention?

“I have become with fairly good friends with Debbie Chapman and her husband. I really appreciate his insight on things; he was really on the ball. He had a difficult job to do. There are areas where you don’t trod. You don’t mess with certain people. And, the worst part of that is, it’s not equal across the board. If it was equal, more people in town would not be frustrated and upset with the status quo.”

It has been rumored that you would change out the department heads if elected. Is that true?

“I have to say it would be a case-by-case basis. If somebody is doing an adequate job, why would you get rid of them. I’m not asking for perfection. I do want it organized. I do want logic. But an awful lot of it, you have to watch out for inequalities. In that case, I’d say they have something to worry about because you have to avoid that. There’s state laws against that. Federal laws against that. So no, I probably wouldn’t get rid of all the department heads. I have a lot of respect for these people. If you want to work with them, why would you want that threat over their heads.”

What is your view of the city’s financial condition?

“I don’t know where we are financially. That’s one of the records I have requested through the city clerk’s office. I get nowhere from that. But their budget talks are coming up and I will be attending. And, I have attended them before back in the 1990s. I think everybody should experience it at least once. A lot of areas this city did not charge enough for in their permits, their licensing at that time. Our previous water bill was so much higher and here it’s harder to get water than where I came from. One of the problems people have is that they don’t want to see their water bills rise. Even back then, they weren’t comparable to cities around us.

“If city had been increasing the water bill on a regular basis, they wouldn’t have to now.”

Issues around how a city survives. Do you think bringing in new business is important?

“Get rid of the restrictions. If you increase the amount of freedoms people have, they will actually want to live there. They want to build their American dream. They look forward to living the good life without drugs. Something to pass on to their children.”

What about the desire of some to ensure the preservation of the downtown’s older building?

“That’s awesome, isn’t it? I would support that and I love it. I would love to see more of the building owners be active in doing exactly that. I would like to see some kind of incentive program from the city to encourage it.”

What about those who own buildings and choose to leave them vacant?

“Sister called and said city has a rental program as part of the city code that puts pressure on those absent and derelict landlords to encourage their involvement in the city, in their rental, in their building. That’s a wonderful idea.”

Isn’t that contradictory to you opposing city officials looking over private fences?

“You’re absolutely correct. We have these laws on the books already. But when it’s privacy fenced the city has already determined we’re supposed to stay off the fence. That’s the good thing. A lot of people in town who would love to clean up a neighbor’s yard. When church offered to clean up the old high school ground. We have to get over this fear of dealing on a personal basis.”

Do you believe the city should expand through annexation?

“I would annex as much property as possible. The problem with that is water. Ritzville doesn’t have the water. They don’t have the water rights to cover more than what they’ve got. How can you annex something you know you can’t afford. I would love to see the city grow.”

If elected what are your goals or priorities?

“Floating the bonds. Number one. I know, the mayor doesn’t do the finances, city council does. But the mayor can make those kinds of proposals and talk to the attorneys, the county and get it started. That would be first and foremost, find the financing.

“The other is to get the website updated, changed. That’s the mayor’s job. That’s what she should be doing through the city clerk. I think I mentioned it before, that would be a top priority for me to meet with all of the department heads every quarter.

“If the average person goes into the city building and requests something, are the city clerk or the deputies, are they able to answer your questions or to direct you to someone who can.

“In that respect I think every person is being short changed. Limited access. I am more in favor of open government than anything else. Getting that straightened out so they know where the information is.”