Most of Richland’s city council lives in one area. Will voters change that on Nov. 7?

Odd-numbered years offer Richland voters an opportunity to refashion the seven-member council.

The Nov. 7 election is no exception. Five seats rather than the usual four appear on the ballot. The 2023 race features 10 candidates who each offer a unique vision of how to manage growth while preserving the city’s small-town feel.

Four of the winners will receive four-year terms. The one who wins with the least number of votes will receive a two-year stint under Richland’s system of ensuring at least four seats are always on the ballot.

Positions 3 and 4, held by Sandra Kent and Ryan Lukson, are not up for election.

Richland council members are elected at-large and not from individual neighborhoods or districts. Currently, five members live in south Richland, geographic dominance that has been raised as an issue in one race.

Four races feature an incumbent and a challenger. The fifth is open after Terry Christensen chose not to seek reelection.

It’s the only open seat on the ballot and guarantees at least one newcomer will be sworn in when terms start in January. And that’s when the council will vote on who should serve as the new mayor.

Washington elections are held by mail. Ballots must be returned or postmarked by election day to count. Voters may register in person up until election day. Go to bentonauditor.com/Elections-Department.

Position 6 open seat

Kurt Maier, a super computer systems administrator at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Kent Madsen, a retired sales professional, are campaigning to replace longtime councilman Christensen.

Both bring a history of involvement in city government. Maier is the former chair of the library commission. Madsen is a former chair of the planning commission. They share a vision of a livable city, but differ in their approaches.

Maier is openly critical of the current council, saying it lacks leadership, while Madsen is complimentary of the city and pledged to pursue a consensus on major decisions.

Maier’s top priorities include providing accountability for the council and updating obsolete city codes. Madsen’s priority is to give “average citizens” a voice on the council reflecting his years of experience.

In a meeting with the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board, Maier said the council has a “weird” practice of holding pre-meetings prior to its public sessions.

“These things happen because we let them happen,” he said. He described them as unannounced and said they could violate Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act.

However, the city confirmed the pre-meetings stopped three years ago. When they were held, they were included on published agendas and the public could attend the gatherings in the city manager’s conference room in the old city hall annex.

It was rare for anyone other than the Tri-City Herald to attend the session.

In a follow-up message, Maier said it is a “good thing” if the meetings are no longer happening but he wants to make sure they’re not bringing them back.

Madsen touts a long list of endorsements, including Christensen, the Benton County Republican Party and other political leaders.

“I’m not running because I think Richland is broken,” he said, adding that he thinks the city is “wonderful.”

Maier said he eschewed party endorsements, saying he wants to keep his focus on Richland and not on taking positions on topics outside the scope of city government.

“It’s not the city council’s job to repeal the Second Amendment,” he said for example.

Maier has raised $1,540, according to campaign finance records filed with the Public Disclosure Commission. His largest donations are $500 each from Randy and Bob Slovic. Maier contributed $640 to his campaign. He and his wife own a home in north Richland.

Madsen has raised $3,600. The Tri-City Association of Realtors is his largest contributor at $1,000. He and his wife own a home in south Richland.

Position 1

Incumbent Jhoanna Jones is being challenged by Allison Ball as she seeks a second term.

Jones, who has worked as a commercial real estate broker, brings a finance background to the council. She is known for asking probing questions during council meetings since winning election to fill an unexpired term two years ago.

Her priorities include public safety, accessible housing and quality of life She has a master’s degree in finance.

Ball is a Delta Air Lines flight attendant and studied at Columbia Basin College and Georgia State University. Her priorities include supporting social workers who respond to emergency calls when police aren’t required, affordable housing, mental heath facilities and redeveloping central Richland. She serves on the Democratic Central Committee

Jones has raised $1,500. She is her largest donor, contributing $1,000 to her campaign. . She and her husband own a home in south Richland and commercial property in Waitsburg.

Ball has raised $1,900. Doug White for Congress provided her largest donation, $240.

Position 2

Theresa Richardson, the city’s mayor pro tem and former executive director of Habitat for Humanity Tri-County Partners, is seeking a second term after being elected in 2022.

She is being challenged by Elizabeth “Liz” Vann-Clark, a technical editor and nonprofit executive.

The contest is the richest of races, accounting for more than half the $34,000 raised by the 10 candidates to date.

Richardson has raised about $13,000. The Washington Association of Realtors is her largest contributor, $1,000. Vann-Clark has raised $5,500. Doug White for Congress is her largest donor, $1,200.

Both are longtime Richland residents who are married with children. Both earned degrees from Washington State University. Vann-Clark earned a master’s from Western Governance University as well.

The contest has been one of the more tense because of sometimes personal comments stemming from their conflicting approaches to governing.

In a meeting with the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board, Richardson complained that Vann-Clark refers to herself as the “ethical” candidate, inferring that Richardson is not. Richardson likened it to describing herself as the “sober” candidate.

Richardson said that as an executive with Habitat, the nonprofit that builds affordable housing for low-income families, she has expertise in housing challenges. Diverse housing is her top priority along with economic development and law enforcement.

Vann-Clark, who lives in north Richland, said she wants to bring broader neighborhood representation to the city council. She said she challenged Richardson not out of animosity, but because she is one of the five council members who live in south Richland. Two others live in central Richland.

She favors electing council members from specific areas of the city rather than at-large.

Richardson prefers the at-large approach, saying it compels all council members to consider the whole city rather than individual neighborhoods.

Position 5

Shayne VanDyke, who has a project management background with the Hanford Vitrification Plant and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was appointed to his position after serving on the city’s planning committee and utility advisory committee.

He is being challenged by Gregery Levy, who has a navy background as well as a Hanford one. He served on the city’s code enforcement board and is involved in art groups, including the Rude Mechanicals Theatre Co.

VanDyke graduated from Brigham Young University and earned a MBA. His top priorities include economic development, police and fire service.

Levy moved to Richland from the Puget Sound area 13 years ago seeking a better place to raise a family.

After serving on the code enforcement board, including as chairman, he said he wants to ensure the city remains a good place to live through open parks, fully-funded police and ample jobs.

VanDyke has raised $5,300, according to campaign finance reports. His largest contributors are Christopher Childers and Tudo Bem LLC, which each contributed $1,200. He and his wife own a home in south Richland.

Levy has raised $2,700. His largest contribution is from IBEW Local 112 at $1,000. He and his wife own a home in north Richland.

Position 7

Ryan Whitten was appointed to the city council in January and is seeking election to his first term. He is being challenged by Joshua Short to fill an unexpired term.

Whitten was raised in Prosser and moved to the Tri-Cities after spending eight years in the Navy as an avionics technician. He works for Energy Northwest.

He is being challenged by Short, a Tri-City native and first-time candidate for public office.

His background includes working with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Mid-Columbia Engineering and SIGN Fracture Care. He owns a small business, Short Industries.

Short said he stepped forward because he wants to get involved with the community.

Whitten said his focus remains on ensuring Richland retains the small town qualities that make it a good place for families as it grows.

Short, from north Richland, has raised about $1,000. Doug White for Congress is his largest donor at $500.

Whitten, from central Richland, has not reported any campaign contributions.

City at a glance

The elected city council is the policy-making and budget-setting body for the city. City Manager Jon Amundson oversees day-to-day management of services for the community of about 63,300.

The proposed 2024 budget calls for $314 million in expenditures, including $78.4 million for the general fund. The balance is associated with providing utility services, capital projects and debt payments. Unlike Kennewick and Pasco, the city of Richland operates it’s own electric utility and city library.