Conservatives hold Patriot Picnic in the Park

DAYTON-About 100 citizens attended the Patriot Picnic in the Park on July 24 at the Dayton City Park. They met up for a "Meet and Mingle" with the candidates supported by the local political organization Columbia County Conservatives (CCC). Members from the Columbia County Republican Central Committee and Common-Sense Conservatives from Walla Walla also attended.

The event featured several of the Columbia County candidates running for the November election for various local entities, and special guest Clint Didier, Franklin County Commissioner and former NFL Super Bowl Star. Others who attended were the Columbia County Commissioners and Port Commissioner Sean Milligan.

After opening with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, Columbia County Commissioner Chuck Amerein spoke and then introduced each of the CCC endorsed candidates who were present before they spoke.

Laura Aukerman is running for City Council Position No. 1 against Boe Stevenson. The position is currently held by Delphine Bailey who is not seeking re-election. "I will bring transparency," Aukerman promised. "As a business owner, I believe Dayton's Main Street businesses should be encouraged and made a priority," her website reads. "Economic development will only be successful with a strong community that forms healthy relationships and mutual respect among all. We may not always agree, but there must be common ground in order to be successful."

For City Council Position No. 3, held by Michael Paris who is not running for re-election, is Cindi John, opposed on the ballot by Teeny McMunn. "We need action and positivity moving forward" John said. "We need our word to be heard and we need to be a team. This is our home and we want to be able to have confidence in our leaders to make the best decisions possible for as many as possible. Not just for us, but for the children who will one day be our leaders."

Running for Port Commission Position No. 1 is Seth Bryan, currently held by Shawn Brown, who was appointed by the Port and who is also running to retain to the position. Bryan spoke of the need for "transparent, limited government that is accountable to the people...fiscal responsibility, a capitalist society and economic independence.

"We need to pass the hope and promise of a secure future on to the next generation," said Bryan. "As Port Commissioner, it will be my responsibility to keep the Port on task and mission focused and to concentrate on projects that the community wants, it will bring jobs to the area so that our children will have a reason come back here after they graduate college."

Two candidates, Jack Miller and Johnny Watts, are vying for Position No. 3 against appointed Commissioner Sean Milligan. The primary on August 3 will narrow the choices to two for the November election.

Miller stated he is after good results for the community. "I have learned the importance of achieving consensus while being extremely careful in the handling of other peoples' money, in this case tax dollars," reads his official statement. "I believe that money spent by this organization should have a positive, direct, measurable impact on the residents of this county."

Candidate Johnny Watts spoke about making the Port's agenda one and the same as the community agenda and the need for accountability, transparency and communication. On the website, he states, "I intend to enhance public trust and institutional integrity through honest communication, active listening and thoughtful solutions to the needs of the community in which I serve."

For the Dayton School Board, Korinda Wallace is running against incumbent David Bailey. She stated her purpose for seeking the position is to "implement changes and prevent negative impact on our children and our community." In her official statement, she is seeking to "serve the children in our community by ensuring that they are receiving the highest quality education possible. I hope to guarantee that kids are taught what they will need to know to succeed beyond school, by teaching essential classes (reading/writing, history, math), while keeping politics and liberal government mandated classes out of the school."

Candidate Barbara Miller, running uncontested for the Hospital District Position 4, did not speak. She is presently serving in that position, appointed to fill the vacancy left by the late Wes Leid.

CCC-endorsed candidates not present were Marchand Hovrud, running uncontested for City Council Position No. 5, and Tyler (Tiger) Dieu, running for City Council Position No. 7 against appointed candidate Fred Crowe, who filled the position left vacant by Matt Weins.

A portion of Hovrud's statement says, "My focus for city council will be fiscal responsibility and to work to provide and support needed services to benefit our community."

Dieu stated on the site, "As businesses have come, gone, thrived and diminished to what we see today, I can't help but believe there is a better, more secure and more promising way the citizens taxes can be utilized. With increased taxation, low-income housing, further annexation and urban development, and greater drug/substance abuse being evident, I believe it's time for a change."

Also not present was Dayton School Board candidate Aneesha Dieu, running against Anna Berg for Director No. 4. Incumbent Fred White is not running for re-election for that position. Dieu stated on the site, "I am for minimizing social differences, retaining youth innocence, and protecting our children's virtue all of which are at risk with today's political agendas. I am for structure, support, guidance, consequences for one's actions, and rebuilding respect that seems to have been disturbingly misplaced."

Jeff McCowen is also running uncontested for School Director No. 4, of which he is already serving for the interim because of the vacancy left by Katie Leid.

Guest speaker Commissioner Didier drew several rounds of applause from the group when he spoke. He quoted his dad saying, "If you are going to fix the world, you've got to start in your own back yard.' And that's why I like to see this–focusing on the school board, focusing on the city council, focusing on county commissioners." He urged those present to come together as a community of Americans.

CCC's purpose is "to recruit and support, bona fide conservative candidates for public office who support an American First Republican agenda." Visit columbiacountyconservatives.com for more information.