Primary election will eliminate one from county commissioner race

Three candidates are vying for the Adams County Commissioner District Three position in Othello. The candidates are listed on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot for residents residing within the district and only two candidates continue on to the general election ballot for the countywide vote.

The incumbent, Jeff Stevens, is running for his fifth term as Adams County commissioner. Stevens brings 16 years of experience with him to the race, and believes the knowledge and leadership he has developed over the years are the greatest strengths he brings to the position.

Stevens is the first commissioner in Adams County history to seek a fifth term, and Stevens said his main reason for pursuing another term is to provide consistency and knowledge of the history of the county with those he serves with.

“I was asked by citizens in the county to run again,” Stevens said, “and a lot of it has to do with the fact that Linda (Reimer) retired and there’s not a lot of history in the commissioners right now. I’m kind of the commissioners’ sitting historian.”

Stevens’ main goal as a commissioner is to pass on his knowledge and experience to those he serves with, while continuing to remain fiscally responsible for the county.

He explained if he had decided not to run this term, it would have left the county with a new clerk and two new commissioners, a situation he thought could be difficult for those within the office because of the lack of experience.

If elected to another term, Stevens said one of his top priorities is to add a commissioned officer to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to assist with code enforcement. The position would enforce situations like building without permits and the illegal dumping of trash, issues that are becoming more prominent within the county, Stevens said.

Jessie “Weno” Dominguez and Eleanor Brodahl have both filed as opponents in the commissioner race. Dominguez is registered as a Republican while Brodahl has filed as a Democrat.

Dominguez made the decision to file for election in the commissioner race after a lifetime of interest in politics and wanting to become more involved with decisions within the county. After discussing the possibility with his family and receiving their support to file for election, Dominguez is excited about the opportunity to become a commissioner.

“It’s always been a dream, of mine to be involved in politics,” Dominguez said. “Politics is something I always wanted to be involved in, and I feel I would make a big impact.”

Being born and raised in the Othello area, Dominguez has worked to help develop and build the area. His primary focus during the candidate race is building economic development and making Adams County a marketable area.

Dominguez has been on the Adams County Development Council board and has been hearing about projects throughout the county he is interested in promoting and assisting with. With areas of the county seeing a steady decrease in population, Dominguez is interested in creating a steering committee to see what is needed to help the cities expand and succeed.

With economic development as his top priority, Dominguez believes the first step is improving the infrastructure needed to attract more businesses. He said educating the workforce and encouraging the younger generation to being involved in their community is also crucial to improving the county. His overall goal is to make sure Adams County is a safe, clean and beautiful place to live, he said.

Brodahl is seeking election to the commissioner position because of her interest in politics and knowledge of the county as a whole.

Brodahl originally attended school in Washtucna before moving to Othello and serving on the city council board for 15 years.

Along with her experience on city council, Brodahl served on the Economic Development Council board for 12 years and has worked in banking for 25 years. Her experience in government and sales are the reasons why her top priority if elected as a commissioner is economic development.

“Looking at the county, the top priority is economic development,” Brodahl said. “My major focus has always been economic development.”

Brodahl said the county needs to develop as a whole, but cities also need to focus on economic development within their communities.

Education is a large part of economic development, Brodahl said, which is why she is actively involved in developing STEM programs within the local schools.

While seeking election to the commissioner position, Brodahl said her strengths are, “I’m ethical and I’m a hard worker; I find solutions.”

If elected into the commissioner position, Brodahl said she has the advantage of being familiar with various areas and communities within the county and would be able to truly serve the county, not just a district. Brodahl said she believes it is important for citizens of the county to work together to help develop and enhance the opportunities provided in the county.

The primary election in the Commissioner District No. 3 race concludes on Aug. 5, with the final results being certified on Aug. 19.

The two remaining candidates in the race will be placed on the countywide ballot for the commissioner position during the general election this fall.