Office: Coulee Dam Town Council Position 2

Karl Hjorton’s statement:

1. What are the top challenges that will be faced by the office you seek to occupy?

I believe that we must address the town's aging infrastructure; in order to promote business and growth within our community we must maintain our infrastructure to meet the needs of the future.

2. What makes you the best candidate to address those challenges?

I have 18 years experience working in the water, sewer and power industry fields as a consultant and a contractor for both privately and publicly owned systems. My business experience requires working and cooperating with several agencies to meet the infrastructure needs and environmental challenges in which these systems are located.

3. What in your past experience has helped prepare you to fulfill the duties of the office you are seeking?

Married for 30 years, self-employed for 25 years, On Board of Directors for church 8 years, Water District board member for a privately owned water district 5 years. Coulee Dam Councilmember for 3 years. Completed a sewer line extension project on Snyder Hill annex for the City of Electric City. Restoration of my historic home for the promotion of business and economic development within the Town of Coulee Dam. My past qualifications and experience matches the challenges the town will be facing in the future. I would like to contribute and serve the citizens of Coulee Dam to help build and promote the economic growth of our community.

Gayle Swagerty’s statement:

1. What are the top challenges that will be faced by the office you seek to occupy?

Improving communication between town leadership and everyone in our community. Revise our comprehensive plan to more closely reflect our diverse complexity, to establish goals that serve our population, to rein in personnel costs, and to identify and develop plans and promotions that will allow our community to grow tourism by the circumspect and deliberate spending of Hotel/Motel Funds. Promote and encourage responsive, welcoming and helpful town personnel.

2. What makes you the best candidate to address these challenges?

I am the best candidate because I have an open, intuitive and able mind.

I came into this election understanding that people need to be heard, that the community has answers and ideas and that we should be listening and involving citizens in all processes. We must have transparency in committee meetings which are currently closed to the public and we must have input from concerned parties.  

3. What in your past experience has helped prepare you to fulfill the duties of the office you are seeking?

I offer a unique perspective because I am a small business owner, have worked and do work with the Tribe, have worked for federal and town governments and have many volunteer affiliations requiring a wide scope of skills. These wide ranging experiences have given me a broad perspective on the needs and issues of all people.

I have not spent my entire life in only one career. I am multi-faceted and capable. I’ve had specific instruction in Team Collaboration and Consensus Building. These specific tools will serve me in bringing groups together and in successfully completing projects and setting goals that reflect us all.