The Columbia Press
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Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
October 16, 2020
Vol. 4, Issue 42
In their own words
Warrenton commission candidates speak out
Allen Berry
Brandon T. Williams
Age: 37
Years here: 32
Occupation:
Self-e mployed
Gerald Poe
Age: 56
Years here:
10.5
Occupation:
Retired electrician
Education:
High school +
Community in-
volvement:
Previously active volunteer in
my church, where I served as
deacon, went on mission trips to
Mexico to build church buildings,
and delivered an ambulance to a
city in Mexico.
Why vote for you? My mot-
to is “For honesty, integrity, and
courage, elect Allen Berry on Nov.
3.” That sums me up pretty well.
I am willing to get done what
needs to be done. Having lived
here nearly 11 years, I’ve listened
to people talk and I’ve heard them
say what they want.
Being that I’m retired, I can
spend more time focusing on city
issues and help my community.
Top issues:
1. Expanding without losing nat-
ural habitat for wildlife.
2. Improving the water filtration
system (new) without raising tax-
es.
3. Lack of transparency between
City Commission and residents.
How would you approach
those three issues?
I will be a representative of the
people, by the people, for the peo-
ple.
Top issues :
1. Infrastructure
2. Education
3. Safety
How would you approach
those three issues?
Age: 62
Years here: 40
Occupation:
Merchant sailor,
Washington State
Ferries; past oc-
cupations include
commercial fish-
ing, logging, con-
struction, ocean-towing tugboats;
I have been involved in the mari-
time profession for 40 years.
Education: Clatsop Commu-
nity College GED with honors in
mathematics and English; Coast
Guard Merchant Mariner Creden-
tial training and licensure, unlim-
ited tonnage mate inland waters,
1600-ton master towing vessels
upon oceans, licensed deck officer
Community involvement:
I currently serve on the War-
renton Urban Renewal Commit-
tee and the Budget Committee. I
also serve on the Hammond Basin
Committee and Hammond Mari-
na Task Force. I have been serving
the city of Warrenton/Hammond
in different volunteer positions
for approximately seven years.
Why vote for you? I have been
a Hammond homeowner for 26
years and care deeply for our area.
I have the experience and knowl-
edge to know what issues face the
city through my years of service
as a volunteer. This gives me the
See ‘Berry’ on Page 4
See ‘Williams’ on Page 4
See ‘Poe’ on Page 4
general contractor
Education:
Bachelor’s
de-
gree in fire service
administration,
Western Oregon University; asso-
ciate’s degree in fire science/EMS,
Clatsop Community College; high
school diploma, Seaside High
School.
Community involvement:
Stakeholder in the city of War-
renton; former volunteer firefight-
er/emergency medical responder,
Warrenton Fire Department; pre-
cinct committee person and for-
mer vice chairman, Clatsop Coun-
ty Republican Party.
Why vote for you? I will put
Warrenton/Hammond first! I am
a constitutional candidate who
believes in civil service and pro-
tection of life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness.
Hammond’s
new water line
in the works
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press
A new water line to Hammond took
a step closer to reality this week as
city commissioners issued a call for
bids on the estimated $2.5 million
project.
“Wait, this is actually happening?”
Mayor Henry Balensifer joked. The
project has been on the books almost
as long as he’s been alive.
Hammond residents long have had
issues with water flow and low wa-
ter pressure, which poses problems
when fighting fires and has all but
halted new development.
The new 18-inch water line will be
built above the existing sewer lines
and run from Warrenton Marina
along the waterfront trail into down-
town Hammond.
The city received a $1.65 million
loan several years ago from the Ore-
gon Infrastructure Finance Author-
ity, with $929,500 of the principle
forgiven upon completion.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has
raised prices on many of the mate-
rials needed for the project, Public
Works Director Collin Stelzig told
commissioners.
“Materials are hard to come by right
now,” he said. “What we’re proposing
right now is to (place the) advertise-
ment, but wait until materials come
See ‘Water line’ on Page 5
Oct. 17th & 18th
Saturday: 9 am- 3 pm ◆ Sunday: 10 am- 3 pm
Seaside Convention Center
You Never Know What You’ll Find At
A Collectors West Gun & Knife Show!
415 1st Avenue, Seaside
collectorswest.com
$
7