Three candidates vie for Entiat City Council seat

ENTIAT - With August less than a week away, voters in Entiat only have a few days left to cast their ballot for position one on the Entiat City Council Position 1.

Robert Anderson is the incumbent, with Richard Crump and Norman Stenberg vying for a seat on the council.

Here is your voter’s guide for the Entiat City Council primary on Tuesday, Aug 1.

Robert Anderson

Anderson, 76, has been a resident of Entiat for the past 12 years and is the incumbent for Entiat City Council Position 1. He is a retired Boeing employee with facilities experience in computing installation and relocations. Before joining the council, Anderson was the past vice-president of the Entiat Valley Chamber of Commerce and is currently a board member of the Columbia Breaks Fire interpretive Center.

Anderson is married with two kids and one grandchild. He would like to be re-elected to the council “to continue helping the city with the development of the waterfront/marina and other growth plans.”

Norman Stenberg

Stenberg, 55, has been a resident of Entiat for the past 20 years and serves on a number of boards including: Entiat Planning Commission (since 2009) and president of the Entiat Valley Chamber of Commerce (since 2014).

Stenberg holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and is the CEO/President of Stormin’ Towing & Transport, Inc and is married to current councilwoman Marie Stenberg. They have three children: Jeremy, Jessie and Sarah.

“With a push towards the new waterfront project, I am thrilled to see such excitement and commitment from our citizens and the re-established Chamber Committee,” Stenberg said. “My goal is to see the growth of our beautiful community bring our town together and provide a safe and exciting future for our youth.”

Richard Crump

Crump, 48, is an electrical engineer who used to drive drill trucks for water wells in Georgia before serving as an engineer from 1995 to 2000.

If he gets elected, one of the key issues Crump wants to tackle is water quality.

“My biggest complaint is the quality of water,” Crump told the Mirror. “With the exception of Malvern, Arkansas this is the worst water I have tasted. The City would have us believe we are meeting or exceeding state standards, but when you sit there and grayish-black sludge hangs from the faucet, and when you turn on the water and it smells like chlorine and fish, there is a problem. Just in my house we triple filter the water.”

Crump also believes the City is wasting its time trying to put together a waterfront marina, when there is no industry to support it.

“Entiat is a small town and they have plans for growth and trying to become this tourist town,” Crump said. “I mean Chelan is just right up the road, we are just a spot for beer, cigarettes and gas. So I think rather than searching for this tourist activity, we need industry in here to put local people to work.”

Despite those two issues, Crump said he is ultimately running because he is “not currently happy with the way the city government is being run.”

“There are issues that have to change, and it is not a matter of wanting to, they have to change,” Crump said. “I believe that we have to start with new city officials, bringing in new blood, getting things changed and shedding ourselves of this investigation for miss-spending funds.”

For clarity, Crump is referring to a state Auditor’s investigation in 2015 which uncovered mistakes in Entiat’s accounting system, leading to the city’s then-assistant deputy clerk pocketing residents utility payments.

The primary election for Entiat City Council is Tuesday, Aug. 1. Ballots were mailed our Friday, July 14.

Ballots can be dropped off in the ballot drop off box at Entiat City Hall on 14070 Kinzel St. Ballots must be in the drop box by Tuesday, Aug. 1 by 8 p.m. Ballots can also be mailed and must be postmarked no later than Aug. 1.