Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Five questions with Miguel Gutierrez, Sharon Trask

2022 General Election — COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3

Miguel Gutierrez

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of Mason County Commissioner?

My whole life has prepared me for this position. I excelled in school, especially in history and government. I earned a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA concentrating in American and Comparative Government. I studied Political Philosophy in graduate school. I earned a Special Education credential and began my career as a teacher for youth with Severe Emotional Disturbances.  

After teaching I became a nonprofit professional. I wrote grant proposals for the Conservation Corps as an Associate Director of Development. I was a volunteer coordinator and Regional Supervisor for AmeriCorps with Bay Area Community Resources. I managed a camping program for underserved youth with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

I also served many roles in the community that have increased my empathy and understanding of the complexity and interrelationships of life. I was a Red Cross Disaster relief coordinator, I was a member of San Jose’s Mayor’s Gang prevention task force. I am a community gardener and currently a board member and boots on the ground volunteer at Community Lifeline.

Currently, I serve as a City Councilmember for the City of Shelton. As a humorous sidenote, I have been a fantasy league commissioner for baseball, basketball, and football. I make sure the rules are applied fairly, make fair procedural adjustments when managers make mistakes, and most of all, I make sure that all members pay their fair dues. My friends trust me to do that.  I hope you do too. 

2. Beyond qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

As an Immigrant, I have come to value the freedom that America promises. I hold dearly the American Dreams of my father who survived the burning of Manila under Imperial Japanese rule during World War II. He fled authoritarianism in the Philippines when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and squashed the democracy that was the American Legacy after defeating the fascist Axis powers. The Preamble of the Constitution is my platform, along with the values of Peace, Love, and Justice. My flag is the flag of the republic, Stars and Stripes forever, not stars and bars.

I believe that WE the People will and must form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and then secure the blessings of liberty, for ourselves and our posterity.  

I am a fierce independent who has traveled the spectrum of American Political Ideology.  In my life I’ve been called a “RINO” and a “DINO.”  These terms are neither insults nor pejoratives for me. Political parties are a voluntary association and NOT a ride or die gang. I do not take marching orders from a central command, old boy networks, wine cave elites, or a deep state.  I have no ties to legacy capital or special interests who want to feed off public trust and profit off the public funds. I will not subsidize private wealth with public money.  

3. Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I am sick of internet trolls. I decided to take charge of my life instead of engaging with willfully ignorant people with fixed ideas who have no clue and don’t want a clue. In short, I wanted to put up or shut up. I won’t point fingers at someone else and make others scapegoats. I wanted to stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for taking care of my community and Mason County. 

I want to prove that good ideas and collaboration are superior to supporting the status quo of using the public purse to subsidize private gain.

Moreover, I will be everyone’s commissioner, not just my party’s. If I have to maintain or raise taxes or fees, it will be for the public good, not for the benefit of those like Daddy Warbucks, Scrooge McDuck, Richie Rich, or Mr. Potter. Your taxation will have the benefit of representation.

I am also running as a role model for ordinary people to get involved in politics. I call upon young people, people with traumatic lived experiences, and those people who are marginalized and bullied: Please, recognize that if I can do it, you can do it too.

As long as there is breath in my lungs, I will shout out and call out for freedom. I will tell Truth to power. I will not be silenced by intimidation or violence.  I will fight hate with love, fear with bravery, and darkness with light. 

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

I want to emphasize that I am fiercely independent. I offer TABULA RASA, a clean slate. I will offer the promise that every resolution or bill rises or falls on its own merits, not by powerful good old boy interests who have always gotten their way. Most of my donors are small donors with modest means. Follow the money.  

I have no legacy attachments and I can say NO to my friends and friends of my friends. If you want someone who can make hard complicated decisions based on merit and fair play, choose Miguel.  f you want to say NO to shady business as usual, choose Miguel. If you want to shake your fist at the wealthy elite and shout out that “you cannot have it all,” choose Miguel. If you still dream that in America we are judged by the content of our character and the quality of our ideas, choose Miguel.

I truly believe in “We the People” and I want the government to reflect that it is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Question from Sharon Trask

TRASK: How can you guarantee the voters there will be no conflicts of interest between you as a City Council member and the County Commission?

GUTIERREZ: Thank you for this question. I have thought long and hard about this possibility of earning enough votes to be elected to the Board of Mason County Commissioners and simultaneously holding my seat on the Shelton City Council.

I am honored to serve the City of Shelton in my capacity as City Councilmember. Moreover, I am very honored to be in the position of being able to hold two political positions should I win the popular vote in the general election on Nov. 8. The closer we get to the election, I have picked up momentum and this situation of holding two positions is a good possibility. Tim Sheldon held two political positions and has set the precedent.  “People say” that nobody wants to work anymore. I say, “I’m not nobody. I’m somebody, I want two jobs. I want to work for you.”

On Nov. 9, if it becomes apparent that I will be chosen to be the next Mason County Commissioner of District 3, I will contact the City Manager and City Attorney, along with the County Manager and County Attorney. In this meeting we will discuss what, if any, “conflicts of interests” might arise in the future.  

If there are conflicts of interests between the city and county, I might recuse myself from voting on such resolutions or issues. This is how I will guarantee the voters that there will be no conflicts of interest. But really, should I? What if I can be the bridge to greater cooperation between these two entities? Furthermore, this is a huge opportunity for the City and County to work together without duplication. I am an honest broker with no financial ties to legacy families or large business interests. This is an opportunity to leverage the power of both the city and the county to bring in state, federal, and/or private foundation money. “People say” that the city and county should work together more. To that, “people say” comment, I agree.

I can verbally and in writing promise you that I will not abuse my positions of power and that I am an honest person with no financial interest or profit motive. However, I’m a politician.  You should judge me by what I do and what I have done, NOT by what I say.

This is what I do and what I have done: currently, I have to recuse myself if funding from the city might be awarded to Community Lifeline, where I am a board member and boots on the ground volunteer.  In my professional and private history, I have built a reputation of being an honest, trustworthy, and sincere person who is a fierce advocate of those I serve.  I have not bent the knee to power or financial influence.

To speculate further on this topic would be a moot point if the incumbent holds serve and retains her seat on the board. I might have to make a difficult decision and choose one position over another.  There might even be a legal challenge to my holding two positions, which would go down in Washington state history books forever. But rest assured, I will make the best decision for Mason County and for the City of Shelton if the people of this county Choose Miguel.

Sharon Trask

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of Mason County commissioner?

This will be my second term as your District 3 County Commissioner. I am a member of several Boards and committees that work to make sure Mason County has the services/programs needed to help Mason County. I have been the Chair or Vice-Chair of some of those committees for 3 years proving I have the leadership skills necessary to do the job effectively. I have also been appointed to the State Public Works Board and sit on their executive team. It is great to know that people across the state also know I have the leadership skills and passion to serve. I am currently on the WA State Association of Counties (WSAC) Legislative Steering Committee which works to make sure the rural counties are not forgotten and burdened with costly mandates. Within WSAC, I am also an active participant in the National Association of Counties which works to make sure counties are considered when decisions are being made that affect us.

2. Beyond your qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

I have a deep appreciation and love for the rural lifestyle. I believe in being an active participant in our community by volunteering for events and offering my time when needed. I have never been afraid to tackle difficult situations or issues. 

3. Why are you running for office?

I believe in serving others and doing the job others have trusted me to do. I know the skills I have will continue to be a benefit to Mason County. Another term will give me the opportunity to help Mason County and all that live here.

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

I know the requirements of the position of County Commissioner and the responsibility that goes with it. I am committed to continuing the progress we have made with the issues a rural community has. The relationships I have built with our community and other communities across our state are priceless and strong. I understand that as an elected official, I represent all those that live here and every person is important.

Question from Miguel Gutierrez

GUTIERREZ: On the behalf of the residents of Belfair who were at the The HUB in early August regarding the traffic impacts of the Belfair Sewer Project, can you explain why you voted for the $4 million bond to subsidize one private landowner’s development without considering the impacts of the traffic congestion on the local residents?

TRASK: I appreciate this question as it gives me another opportunity to clear up some misinformation. I will try to keep my answer as short as possible. As we all know, the highway going through Belfair is a state highway, not a county road. The Freight Corridor is expected to help with the traffic issue that has been going on for many years. I am excited to see that improvement and the relief it will bring to Belfair. Belfair is part of our Urban Growth Area. We are required by law to provide services to this area. This includes vital infrastructure: sewer, power, roads. A committee was formed in 2014 and was asked to provide recommendations on the location of a sewer line. An Environmental Impact Study was also completed and went before the Planning Commission a couple years ago where there was a unanimous vote to move forward with the plan completed by an independent consulting firm who determined the proper location for the next phase to be located. The location of the sewer will allow gravity to move the sewer to the plant without many pump stations causing more cost and maintenance. As you can see, my support of this project is not based on property ownership, but based on scientific data and environmental awareness.

 

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