Stockwell announces candidacy

RITZVILLE - A local man has announced his candidacy for Adams County Commission Position No. 1.

Resident Glen Stockwell said he is running for commissioner to promote the fast track completion of the Columbia Basin project, which began before the war, then was put on hold.

"They built the first half in 1948 in Franklin County, drawing water right out of the river," Stockwell said. "The other project they did was the build-out from Grand Coulee Dam."

Stockwell said he was promoting completion of the project because it will be the "largest economic job development in U.S. history."

"It will mean construction jobs," Stockwell said. "Trump moves very fast, and if we take this on as fast as he would like to, we could have this done in five years."

Stockwell said he used to be in business building canal projects in countries around the world.

"We built canals in California, Arizona and other locations," Stockwell said.

He served on the Ritzville City Council under Mayor Kirk Danekas.

"I served on the council for free. Kirk asked me to take the vacated position, and I did not run for re-election but I served a couple years," Stockwell said, adding if elected as commissioner, he will serve again for free.

"If elected, I will escrow all my salary, except for one dollar per year into a non-profit entity called Washington State Economic Development," Stockwell said, a non-profit for which he serves as chairman. "I am going to offer to allocate matching monies to all the cities in District 1, and they will have to spend the money on economic development projects; and to support the infrastructure required for processing farm products once the water is delivered. If I don't get President Trump signed on to this project, and allocating the two billion dollars that is already preexisting, with no new taxes, I will not collect a paycheck as county commissioner for four years. So for four dollars, voters will find out if I can bring Trump here and get that project finished."

Stockwell said another issue he would like to address as commissioner is a waste-management agreement.

"Waste Management, an international corporation, owes Adams County millions of dollars because they have never honored their original agreement of tippage fees to be paid," Stockwell said.

Stockwell said he intends to lead, along with Grant County Commissioners, the formation of an interlocal agreement with Grant, Adams, Lincoln and Franklin counties for a joint venture with the NW Seaport Alliance.

Stockwell said wheat can be shipped to Seattle cheaper than to Portland, where the majority from the area is now sent.

"I would also like to work with the Adams County FFA in developing the first-in-the-nation Future Fish Farmers of America to raise salmon stock in the Snake and Columbia rivers to offset any threats of dam removal," Stockwell said.