Elected Official Duties

Mayor Pro-Tem - City of Pasco

Elected in 2004 as a councilmember and 2006 as Mayor Pro-Tem. Reelected in 2008.

Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee - Board member

Manage $5M fund to diversify Benton and Franklin Counties' economy from Hanford through loans to business and municipal endeavors

Tri-City Regional Facility Oversight Committee - Chairman

Committee charged with finding collaborative methods for governing and funding regional facilities to the Tri-City area including Aquatics and Performing Arts facilities.

Ben Franklin Transit - Board member and Chair of Marketing & Planning Committee

Benton-Franklin Health District - Vice Chair

Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability Board, Pasco - Committee member

"Old Firefighters" Pension Board, Pasco - Chairman

Corridors and Gateways Committee, Pasco - Chairman

Pasco Downtown Development Association - City Liaison

 

   

Elected Accomplishments

Contributed to a 25% reduction in Pasco property tax rates since 2004 and have not raised taxes.

Fostered a comprehensive program for industrial development, sewer and water infrastructure improvements, transportation upgrades, and residential development in the fastest growing city in the state of Washington.

Promoted "open government" by creation of Pasco Channel 12 cable access channel that broadcasts live city council meetings as well as Planning Commission and other meetings.

Championed the Good Canine Citizen testing program as a cost-effective option to unconditionally assigning certain dog breeds as "dangerous animals". Pasco was the first city in Washington to use this hybrid program and reversed a Pit Bull problem.

Advocated opening of Cyberstop Internet Cafe in East Pasco as a cost-efficient supplement to library access for a population segment most at need. The program is being used as a model for future library services.

 

   

Olympia Activity

Regional Facilities - HB1377/SB5296 (2009) - Testified for Public Facilities District Bill

Water - HB1099 (2005) - Testified on Columbia River Initiative

Freight Mobility - Ainsworth "Charles D. Kilbury" Overpass

Local Government - City Legislative Action Conference, Association of Washington Cities - Pasco Delegate

 

   

Education and Certification

Certified Municipal Leadership, Core - Association of Washington Cities, 2007

Washington State University - Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, 1995

Leadership Tri-Cities - Class XIII, Graduate, Historian, and Lifetime Alumni

Columbia Basin College - Associate of Arts, 1993

 

   

Professional

Lockheed Martin Information Technology - Software Engineer, 1997 to present

Columbia Basin College - Adjunct Faculty, Computer Science Department

MACTEC - Database Administrator and System Analyst

Farmhand - KC Farms and Vineyards

 

   

Volunteerism

Tri-City Community Roundtable - Committee Member

Tri-City Water Follies - Active Past President

Franklin County Central Republican Committee - Vice Chair, Precinct Committee Officer, and Webmaster

Tricitianoftheyear.org - Webmaster & Nominations Committee

National FJR Owners Association - Co-Founder & Treasurer

Patriot Guard Rider

Columbia Basin Badger Club - Member

Pasco High Business Week - Company Advisor & Judge

Hispanic Academic Achievers Program (HAAP) - Frost Scholarship Committee

Pasco School District - BAMM Advisory Committee, DECA, and IT Pathways

Cyberstop Internet Cafe, Pasco - Session Instructor

 

   

Personal Biography

Born and raised in the Columbia Basin, I grew up on a farm north of Pasco and later became a city dweller in Eastern Kennewick. I worked summers through high school on the farm, attended college (while also working) and found my professional calling in the burgeoning field of Information Technology.

Early in my career I worked as a system analyst and database administrator on the Hanford Downwinder Litigation as a contractor to the Department of Energy. This experience led me to become very astute regarding the impact that Hanford plays in our community.

In 1997 I purchased my first home in Pasco and joined Lockheed Martin as a software engineer. With career and home established, I was able to commit to a deeply instilled family value of volunteerism. In 2001 I combined volunteerism with my first leadership opportunity as President of the Tri-City Water Follies Association.

In 2003 I ran for an open Pasco council member position and prevailed against six other candidates. I was elected Mayor Pro-Tem in 2006 and reelected to council in 2007 in an uncontested race. In my tenure as council I have focused on regional issues including water issues, industrial development, and recreational facilities. This has provided an opportunity to spend time in Olympia working with legislators statewide developing close partnerships with delegations from the 16th, 8th, and 9th districts.

Although I have never been married and do not have children. I remain hopeful I will find that special woman one day. In 2006 I became a first-time uncle and dote on my two year-old nephew, Jakob. Otherwise, I spend my extra time working for the community and state that has given so much to me.

As for hobbies, I have a passion for motorcycle riding and have toured across North America multiple times including having finished the Iron Butt Rally an international event that only 350 others have completed. Closer to home, as an amateur Washington historian, I rode my motorcycle to all 39 counties in Washington State taking photographs of every courthouse. The experience of riding to each county seat in Washington has given me a great understanding and appreciation of the variety, beauty, history, and future of our Washington State.