Election day is right around the corner and while the majority of races in Bonney Lake are uncontested this year, there is a single head-to-head matchup featuring a longtime political activist and a member of the city’s planning commission for one of the two open seats on the council.

Quinn Dahlstrom, who has been active in city politics for a long time is facing off against Katrina Minton-Davis, a member of the planning commission and chair of the Sumner-Bonney Lake Relay For Life committee.

The Courier-Herald sent each candidate the following questions. Their answers are printed below.

Tell us a bit about yourself; What do/did you do for a living? What experience do you have that qualifies you for this position?

Quinn Dahlstrom: I am a Retired Freight Auditor and Freight Customer Service Rep. I also served in the US Navy 45 years ago, great training in how to work and get along with people. As a Customer Service Rep I had to deal with clients and carriers and get their bills paid — lots of tact had to be used and a great attitude.

Katrina Minton-Davis: I work as a sales representative for a living. My experience as a leader in the community is what qualifies me for this position. I have been the president of the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce, I have been the event chairperson for the Bonney Lake Sumner Relay For Life, and have volunteered for a number of roles in the community. I am also currently on the Bonney Lake Planning Commission and am aware of many of the challenges the city is facing right now. In addition to those things, I believe I am the best “fit” with the current City Council. We need to figure out how to work together to do what is in the best interests of the citizens and not spend valuable time making unnecessary critical comments. It’s time to take action instead of pointing fingers at others.

Why do you want to be on the city council?

Q.D.: 2001 started my desire to be on the council-however it was for all the wrong reasons. Now I have learned through being on the planning commission for eight-and-a-half years what it entails to be a good commissioner and I don’t see how the council can be far from that — except my vote will be for the better of the community. The citizens are the city — and they have depended on me in the past — and I will try to do what I can do for them in the future.

K. M.: I want to be on the City Council so that I can help to shape the future of Bonney Lake. I’ve been on the Planning Commission for 6 years and have had the pleasure of reviewing and recommending items to the city council. It’s time to take the next step and be the decision-maker. Bonney Lake is a great place to live and I want to make it even better.

The top issue facing Bonney Lake, like all cities, is falling revenues. As a council member, what will be your priorities if budget cuts are necessary and how would you recommend dealing with the shortfalls?

Q.D.: I am not an accountant, but I am a homeowner and had to handle the household budget for the past 45 years. I would need to find out in what direction the Mayor thinks the cuts should be made and weigh in on what will do harm to the citizens and what will not.

K.M.: Falling revenues is an issue facing all of us. Hard decisions have to be made. I’m not afraid of having to make those decisions. It’s difficult to say where cuts could be made without looking closely at the budget. Priority should be placed on public safety and essential services.

The city council is presently pursuing a Utility Latecomer’s Agreement with Eastown property owners as a way to install a sewer system in that section of the city. Do you agree with this plan? Why or why not? If not, what do you think is the better method?

Q.D.: The council has been on this same track for a long time. I think it is a good idea in that all that comes into the area will wind up paying their full share of the sewer costs. This could eliminate the present sewer owners (citizens and businesses on sewer) to get their investment back.

K.M.: There are a couple of questions to ask here. First, can the city afford this? We’ve already said that the city is experiencing falling revenue. Where will the funds to install a sewer system come from? The second question, is how is this benefitting Bonney Lake citizens? It will help the Eastown property owners, but I don’t see how it will benefit the rest of the citizens. My opinion would be to wait for a developer to come forward that is ready and willing before spending funds that the city may not recoup for decades.

The city is presently working with the YMCA to build a facility in the former WSU Demonstration forest. Do you support this process? Why or why not and what would you do differently?

Q.D.: I do not support the YMCA in the City of Bonney Lake. From what I have read through public record and heard on council meeting tapes this is costing the citizens of this city big bucks. The YMCA is a business. We do not support other businesses in this city in the same way by giving them land or giving them $1.3 million dollars to build a business. If we are going to spend that kind of money to build a center for the citizens of our city it should be a community center which is owned and operated by the citizens.

K.M.: Yes, I support building a YMCA on the property acquired from Quadrant in the WSU forest for several reasons. First, the YMCA will manage the facility and those that use it will also be the ones paying for the management of it. Second, the YMCA will maintain the facility and plans for improvements. Public facilities often become run-down and obsolete because they are not funded and maintained. Third, facilities that are publicly funded operate at a loss and the city would have to continue to dump money into it. The YMCA is able to maintain the facility without assistance from the city. We need to have more “family-friendly” facilities and activities for our children and the YMCA is an excellent option.

According to national standards, Bonney Lake is lacking in park lands. City staff is presently working on a proposal for a metropolitan parks district. Do you support this and what do you think is the best way to address this issue?

Q.D.: Once again I am not in support of a metropolitan parks district at this time. I think this should go to the vote of the people.

K.M.: Yes, I think a metropolitan park district is a great option. First, because it goes to the people for a vote. If approved, a board of directors will manage the park district and make decisions on how the funds will be dispersed.

What can the city council do to help spur development in the city?

Q.D.: I agree with a statement by the city administrator a few months back, when he asked the council to lower the impact fees to start off with, so that businesses can build and then pay the rest of their impact fees a year or two later. I do realize that a business can go out of business within a year, however a new business surely will replace what is there and the fees will be recuperated sooner or later. The economy is in dire straights right now and whatever we can offer the developers would be better than standing solid and not giving an inch.

K.M.: The city council can do a number of things to spur development in the city. However, because of the economic situation, it will be difficult to see immediate results. The city council should be the No. 1 cheerleaders and sales people for the city. And, there needs to be a balance between the impact fees associated with development and the necessary improvements that go along with new development.

Why should voters chose you over your opponent?

Q.D.: I have had the city as my main concern since I moved here 34 years ago. Yes, I have spoken out against things that I have felt were not fair–but I have supported this community in many ways since moving here. I was a Girl Scout leader and shaped many of the young ladies that are now living in this community. I was on the Park Board for a short period. I was given the opportunity to be on the Planning Commission and I worked hard with the other six members to go forth with our city and do the research for the Council. I will continue to research and work hard to keep the citizens informed. The Mayor and his staff have done a great job at doing that in the newspapers and the Weekly Mayor’s Report; I want to do that with a council report informing the citizens as to why the council made the decision they have made. I have always been available to citizens, business owners and even developers to help them with the knowledge that I possess and point them in the right direction to take care of their concerns. I do not plan to stop.

K.M.: I believe I am the best candidate for Bonney Lake. I have the leadership experience and skills. I have passion for this city. And I have a logical and level-headed approach to decision making. My opponent often times will use offensive language in her messages. She is critical of our city officials and makes unnecessary personal attacks on them as well as on city staff. Although she is often critical of how the city spends money, she regularly requests public documents. In the last 12 months, the city has provided her with 7,093 pages in response to her requests. An estimation of the cost of these requests is conservatively $350 per month for emails between the city administrator and the mayor. She refused to talk to The News Tribune’s editorial board. She refused to attend a debate hosted by the Courier-Herald because it was held at a church. Is this who you want representing you?

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Q.D.: Thanks again, guys!

K.M.: Finally, my opponent has been critical of myself because I work with the Mayor in my job as a private citizen. This is true. Our Mayor did hire me to work with him at his job that supports his family. Many don’t know that as our mayor, he only makes about $800 per month. By hiring me to work with him, I see it as a major vote of confidence. He has also endorsed my campaign. When it comes to decisions for the City of Bonney Lake, I am not paid by my employer to make decisions in anyone’s favor. I will be representing you, the citizens of Bonney Lake, when decisions have to be made.