Audience questions sharpen Chelan County candidate forum

WENATCHEE — Questions about assessor qualifications, data center development and political advocacy in a nonpartisan race brought sharper exchanges to an Oct. 8 candidate forum after the scheduled presentations ended early.

The Chelan County Republican Central Committee hosted the forum in the Gala Room of the Wenatchee Convention Center, with Eric Granstrom moderating. Presentations ended about a half-hour early, allowing audience questions.

Opening questions concerned transparency, efficiency and customer service, with later questions tailored to specific offices.

Treasurer candidate Rick Viall and Clerk Marty Young discussed office operations and customer service. Auditor Brandt Cappell emphasized ballot-counting access and payroll reviews; opponent Brian Brett stressed financial planning and political neutrality.

There were a few absences among the candidates. Clerk candidate Sandra Arechiga submitted a statement in advance. Treasurer candidate Doug Miller, a Wenatchee City Council member, could not attend because he was present at a council meeting coinciding with the forum. PUD candidate Colleen Frei also was absent.

Rep. Brian Burnett emphasized housing costs and local control. Democratic challenger Stacy Willoughby did not attend. Her absence followed an Aug. 20 Facebook post in which the forum’s host shared a campaign photograph of her with the opening comment, “Sorry for the hideous photo, but take this in, CCRCC!”

The post urged support for Burnett after a closer primary than local Republicans expected. The photograph remark was later removed.

Willoughby’s reason for not attending was not established at the forum.

County commission candidates Shon Smith and Clint Strand faced questions about data centers near Malaga homes and benefits for affected residents.

Smith supported data centers’ economic benefits, distinguishing Microsoft’s campus from Sabey-owned land where no building had been permitted.

“I am not concerned about living next to either one of those complexes because I visited both of them,” Smith said.

Strand said decisions should reflect county finances and residents’ desired community character. He supported discussing a moratorium, without committing either way, and giving staff time to develop regulations.

Strand said infrastructure and community investment should be discussed with both affected residents and business owners.

Smith pointed to Microsoft’s funding for nearly $50 million in Malaga water improvements and the reopening of the local fire station.

They also addressed the county’s tax increment financing dispute with the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority.

Smith said the county was concerned about development-related revenue being diverted from its general fund and criticized the Port’s handling of a proposed interlocal agreement.

Strand said a new commissioner could help restart discussions between the agencies.

“Conversations are better than battles,” Strand said, referring to ongoing litigation between the county and the CDRPA.

Assessor Wes Cornelius and challenger Britini Port debated valuation practices, technology and qualifications. Port proposed sharing assessment data and incorporating inexpensive technology.

Responding to a question from Keyton Lawter, a local religious activist and Turning Point USA organizer, about whether she was targeting wealthy residents or people associated with a particular church, Port said her concern was uniform assessment.

Lawter’s most recent public advocacy was having “taken on the battle of replacing the gay pride flags typically flown along the streets of Wenatchee” with Family Month banners. The county GOP celebrated approval and encouraged financial sponsorship.

Port said her analysis showed properties valued above $2 million were assessed at a proportion roughly 13% lower than less expensive properties.

“I do not care what church you attend,” Port said. “I love that we all have the right to express our religion as we choose.”

Cornelius disputed her analysis, saying his reviewed data showed an overall assessment-to-value ratio of 88% and a ratio of 87% for homes worth more than $1 million. He said individual sales can involve multiple parcels and require adjustments before comparisons are meaningful.

Their figures covered different price categories and were not independently reconciled.

Cornelius denied citing a $20 million software cost, instead mentioning $12.5 million for Spokane and $2 million to $2.5 million for Chelan County.

However, a Sept. 28 article conducted at the Assessor's office quoted Cornelius recalling Spokane’s purchase of updated PACs assessment software.

“Spokane just got the new (PACs) system. I think they said it was 20 million,” Cornelius said in that interview.

That was a recollection of Spokane’s cost, not an estimate for Chelan County. Port said that she knew of software that would "save Chelan County $19,980,000" under the estimated Spokane cost.

Former assessor Deanna Walter then questioned Port about mass appraisal and the qualifications listed in her voters’ pamphlet statement.

Walter said Port’s statement had been submitted before she obtained the appraiser accreditation and managing broker license it listed. She cited an Aug. 24 issuance date for the managing broker license and said the accreditation came after the statement deadline.

Port acknowledged she was pursuing the qualifications when she submitted the statement and misunderstood the election process.

“I truly thought that because there were only two of us running, there would not be a primary,” Port said.

Neither a managing broker license nor appraiser accreditation is required simply to hold elected office as assessor. State rules require accreditation for people personally valuing property for taxation, but exempt elected assessors who do not perform that work or whose work is reviewed and approved by an accredited appraiser.

Port held both credentials by the forum, but Walter pressed her on why she had listed them before obtaining them.

“You didn’t answer the question,” Walter said.

“I think I did,” Port replied.

Port reiterated that she had expected to hold the credentials by the time voters received the general election pamphlet.

Walter also questioned whether an unfinished Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice requirement made Port’s accreditation incomplete. Port said Revenue had told her she had three years to complete that requirement.

State rules allow three years after accreditation to complete that instruction, a separate issue from when Port obtained her credentials.

Ward Media asked Aaron Young why he emphasized conservative political affiliation in a race he acknowledged was nonpartisan and whether he intended to make the PUD commission position partisan.

Young said every county official should represent everyone, regardless of ideology, religious belief or background, but argued that personal values inevitably shape decisions.

“At the end of it, anybody who says that they’re not going to bring those values to the table is being dishonest,” Young said.

Young’s public advocacy has included opposing Pride banners during an East Wenatchee debate in fall 2025, when he questioned whether the LGBTQ+ community was marginalized. Young lives in Malaga, outside East Wenatchee. He also serves as the Chelan County GOP’s state committeeman and has authority to remove posts from its official Facebook page, where the remark about Willoughby’s photograph remained for days before being edited out.

Sheriff candidates Mike Morrison and Stan Langlow differed over leadership and whom to prioritize.

Langlow proposed regular supervisor meetings and more frequent public reporting. He said a partially fulfilled records request had not produced meeting agendas or minutes from Morrison’s term. Morrison referred to a supervisor meeting before the forum and written annual expectations for deputies.

Langlow drew an audible gasp while contrasting their approaches.

“He believes in putting the community before the deputies, and I believe in supporting the deputies first,” Langlow said.

He argued that investing in employees would improve service to residents. Morrison cited full staffing, equipment and employee wellness investments while emphasizing that public service comes first.

“That's why the patch on our shoulder is bigger than our name tag,” Morrison said. “So we serve you. It's not the other way around.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media