Whitman County Commissioner candidate John-Mark Mahnkey contends many issues confronting the board — maintaining infrastructure, balancing the budget and ensuring accountability — demand a more proactive approach than what he has observed in recent years.
“The commission, as they are now, seems to be more reactionary,” he said. “When you do things that way, things blow up.”
Democrat Mahnkey, 49, of Pullman, faces Republican incumbent Michael Largent, 59, of Colfax, for the Commissioner Dist. 3 position. Ballots will start going out Friday for the Nov. 6 election.
Mahnkey works for NAPA Auto Parts. He has previously worked as a radio programing director and holds an associate’s degree in communication from the National Broadcasting School in Seattle.
Campaign finance records show Mahnkey has so far raised $2,463 and spent about $1,650. His top-three contributors include Pullman City Councilwoman Ann Parks ($500), Sam Kimble of Colton ($200) and Patrick O’Neill of Colton ($200). Parks and O’Neill are listed as campaign staff. Mahnkey also has “anonymous” and “small” donations totaling $325.
County commissioners have approval authority over departmental budgets and handle many of the legislative functions at the local level. The position is full-time and will make $72,252 a year.
Mahnkey said he would give the board his full-time attention and work to get out in front of problems, citing unnecessary lawsuits against the county and the overdue Geographic Information System. He said he believes the GIS could have paid for itself in saved staff hours by now if it had been in place several years ago.
“That is a failure,” he said. “I’d like to bring the county into the 21st century.”
Mahnkey asserted he would also prioritize transparency. He said many people struggle to follow budget and other proceedings because it can be tedious to find timely information. He wants to post departmental budgets online with regular updates — daily if possible.
“It’s not that difficult to put those numbers online,” he said. “Make it a running total. … With that transparency comes accountability.”
Beyond modernizing the county, Mahnkey said he would like to bring more urgency to addressing infrastructure needs. He said he has heard stories on the campaign trail about impassable roads and closed offices. If elected, he said he wants to assess those resources and tackle things faster.
“Infrastructure … is very important to me,” he said.
Staffing throughout county departments will also need attention, he said. As many departments see an increase in retirements, the county will need to provide competitive salaries to attract new employees while also training up and preserving institutional knowledge.
Mahnkey said he plans to use his experience as a communicator to rally collaboration around some of these challenges. His campaign focuses on seeking common ground.
“We can build on it,” he said, “and we can move forward.”
Mahnkey has met with several former county commissioners to gather insight into some of the demands of the office. But he said he has not deliberately sought out endorsements, instead working to connect with voters from all across the political spectrum.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat,” he said. “It’s a non-partisan job. When it gets right down to it, it’s about working for the people of Whitman County.”
ADDITIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE:
League of Women Voters: Vote411 questionnaire
Palouse ProActive: Candidate questionnaire
Daily Evergreen, Oct. 19: Incumbent, newcomer compete for county commissioner seat
Two candidates are running for the position of Whitman County commissioner in the November elections.
Daily News, Oct. 4: Experience versus a new set of eyes
Whitman County Commissioner Michael Largent, a three-term incumbent, will face his first opponent – John-Mark Mahnkey – in 12 years this November.
Lewiston Tribune, Sept. 28: Whitman County voters face distinct choice for commission seat
The candidates in Whitman County’s District 3 commissioner race both have lengthy family histories in the area, but their individual backgrounds and experiences differ widely.