Palouse mayor candidates agree job is tough
Oct. 17—Candidates for Palouse mayor both agree there's a lot of work needing to be done in town.
Tim Sievers, incumbent, will be facing his opponent, April Borden, for Palouse mayor this November.
Sievers was appointed mayor by the Palouse City Council in 2021 after the former mayor, Chris Cook, resigned in the middle of his first term. Sievers will be running for the nonpartisan position for the first time this year.
Sievers said he's running for mayor to help the community move forward and overcome challenges. He added he'd like to address infrastructure issues in his next term.
Borden said she's wanted to be mayor since she was little, and running is fulfilling a childhood dream. She added there are many community issues she'd like to tackle as mayor.
Sievers' goals as mayor include updating the sewer plan and fixing the aging infrastructure, like the town's streets and water lines. He said a priority of his is quality and affordable housing.
He'd also like to renew the St. Elmo Hotel, a historic landmark in Palouse dating to the late 1800s.
Borden's number one goal as mayor is transparency within the city. She said taxpayers should know where their dollars are going. Also, issues the council discusses should be easy for the community to understand.
She added she'd like to update the sewer and hire a deputy or officer to assist at the local police department, as well as hold community banquets for farmers and first responders to show appreciation for all they do.
Sievers said before he was elevated to mayor, he had served on the City Council for almost four years. He said he has an understanding of how government works, as he did communication and public relations work for the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate early in his career.
He added he also lives in a small community, so ke knows the challenges it faces.
Borden is an entrepreneur who owns College Cabs and Auto Repair at The Hive in Moscow. She said her expertise as a business owner will come in handy while operating the city.
She added she's also worked at the Kootenai County Sheriff, and knows how to listen and treat people with respect.
Sievers said the mayor's job is to ultimately do what's right no matter the consequences.
"What you really need is passion for the community and the willingness to listen to others," Sievers said. "And those are my strengths."
Borden said a mayor should take the time to listen to the community and make decisions that benefit all.
"I'm a leader with an open mind," Borden said. "If you go into the position headstrong, you're not listening to the people and what their needs are."
As well as the contested mayoral race, the city of Palouse has proposed levies that are expected to be on the general election ballot.
The regular six-year Emergency Medical Services property tax levy would provide more support and dedicated revenue for the provision of the Palouse Emergency Medical Service. Property owners would pay an additional $50 per $100,000 in assessed home value for six years beginning in 2023.
The town's infrastructure levy of $55,000 would fund the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure in Palouse. Homeowners would pay an extra $74 per $100,000 of assessed home value.
An additional levy of $50,000 would support the operation and maintenance of the town's swimming pool. Property owners would pay an additional $66.77 per $100,000 in assessed home value.
Lastly, Palouse's street oiling levy of $50,000 would fund street improvements and street oiling. Homeowners would pay an extra $67 per $100,000 in assessed home value.
For more information, contact the Whitman County Elections Office by phone via (509)397-5284 or by email via elections@co.Whitman.wa.us.
Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com
