Legislative candidates square off

PULLMAN - The two candidates vying for the 9th Legislative District Position No. 2 seat met in a League of Women Voters forum Monday, July 15.

Incumbent Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is being challenged by political newcomer Pam Kohlmeier, D-Spokane. A third candidate, Arianna Arends, D-Spokane, did not attend.

Voters have until Aug. 6 to return their primary election ballots.

The 9th Legislative District includes Eastern Adams and other counties.

League of Women Voters Services Coordinator Deb Olson introduced the candidates, putting them on notice that community members submitted questions in writing on the status of Snake River Dams, homelessness, taxes, opioids and the drawdown of aquifers.

They were also asked questions on diversity training, sexual education, no-kill shelters, abortion and rails-to-trails programs.

Snake River Dams

The forum opened with candidates being to explain their position on breaching Snake River Dams.

"I recognize the challenges," Schick said, noting he opposes breaching. "We have enjoyed inexpensive power to this region for a long time and it's brought a lot of jobs and development to this area."

Schmick said the biggest thing in regards to the dams is change the treaty law.

"We claim currently 10 miles off the U.S. coast, as you know, non-fishing," he said, "We should extend that to 50 to give a buffer there for the fish to thrive."

Kolmeier answered second, calling it a federal issue.

"We don't have the power to change whether or not we take down the dams," Kolmeier said, adding the state should be prepared, if that decision is made.

Kolmeier suggested questions be asked concerning how water and transportation would be provided and available to farmers if breaching occurred.

"It is important to have people collectively at the table to talk about that issue," she said, adding that farmers and tribes discussing the issue would better prepare them for whatever the federal government does.

Opioid crisis

The candidates were asked to address the opioid crisis.

Schmick said people are hurting and turn to drugs as an alternative.

"We need to increase the reimbursement to Medicaid to all providers, so they can have more access to care in their communities," Schmick said. "There needs to be substance-abuse counseling locally, so they can get the help they need."

Kohlmeier agreed.

She said she learned teaching in public health that it takes figuring out the root of the problem and addressing it there.

"Department of Health, we have local health officers," she said. "What we don't have is great coordination in the middle"

Homelessness

Candidates also addressed homelessness.

"A lot of it is incentivizing good actions," Schick said said, using the Coastal Community Action program in Aberdeen as an example. That program, he said, gets homeless residents come in the door into counseling.

"We need to make sure that money goes that way," he said. "We need to fund programs that work."

Kohlmeier said people need to remember the homeless are human beings first.

"It's way more expensive to pay for someone's foot for amputation from frostbite, then it is to put them up in a tiny house and get them access to food," she said.

When asked, neither candidates thought criminalizing homelessness is necessary.

Taxes

One question focused on residents wanting lower taxes, but updated roads.

"Making sure we're efficient with what we take in is important," Kohlmeier said.

"It's about priorities and the priorities of your spending," Schmick said. "Certain things have a higher priority than others."

Schmick used healthcare as an example, stating that for him healthcare is a top priority but for someone else it may not be.

"I do agree, we waste money and we are constantly looking for areas where we could cut back," he said.

Pressing issue

The last question candidates were asked is what they see as the most pressing issue that District 9 faces.

"Mental health, substance abuse," Schmick said. "We have to get a handle and get started down this pathway."

"I would agree with the basic of that," Kohlmeier said, adding that it is stabilizing health care. "Stabilizing the healthcare system is No. 1 and then break that down.