We asked all the candidates running to represent Jefferson County Commission District 3 several questions which highlight the challenges of the position.  We will be running their responses this week.

Craig Durgan is an engineer and it shows in his mastery of the issues he sees as key to tackling District 3’s poverty and lack of economic opportunity.  You can read his extensive biography by clicking here, courtesy of the Honesty Forum.  He is one of the three Democrats running for the open seat.

We posed the same questions to all candidates and they are published verbatim, except when we have to correct a typo here and there.

Tomorrow:  Jon Cooke, the Republican in the race.

Ballots have been mailed for the August 7, 2018 election.  
We appreciate Mr. Durgan’s thoughtful answers.  Here they are:

1.  What do you see as the most critical need facing District 3 and what specifically will you do to address that need?

We need to bring back family wage jobs, affordable housing and broaden the tax base so the county has proper funding. I propose to first build the sewer in Port Hadlock then to do the same in Quilcene and Brinnon, plus install a water system with fire flow for both of the former. Longer term I want to plan for a Major Industrial Development (MID) as per the Growth Management Act (GMA) so small manufacturing companies can have a place to conduct business in Jefferson County. Commensurate with implementation of a MID I will then move to establish land banks as per the GMA for forest related industries to locate here.

We need to make both Quilcene and Brinnon into Urban Growth Areas. That will allow smaller building lot sizes within the UGA that will meet State requirements because they will have water and sewer systems. Additionally, many people have stated that the minimum 5 acre lot size is far too great. Since the minimum lot size per State Septic rules is 12,500 square feet if served by public water in Type 2 soils, I would change the land use regulations to reflect that fact. Nowhere in the GMA does it state that there is a minimum lot size. I would reduce the lot sizes to reflect the reality of State Septic rules. All of these regulations are in the Jefferson County Code and can be changed by the Board of County Commissioners quite easily. It is not a requirement to get permission from the Growth Management Hearings Board or the State.