Residents only were able to hear from candidates of one of the City of Pacific’s three contested political positions during an Oct. 15 community forum.

About 40 residents attended the start of the session at the Pacific Community Center Gym.

Pacific voters will determine three City Council races, along with the mayor’s office, on Nov. 3. But among the three contested races – Katie Garberding is running uncontested for Position 1 – both candidates only showed up for Position No. 6. David Storaasli and Don Thomson are vying for that seat.

Storaasli, who works in waste management, has lived in Pacific for eight years. He said he initially considered running for mayor before several of his friends, who like Leanne Guier’s performance, encouraged him to run for council.

Along with Garberding, Storaasli lives in White River Estates and his home was among many that were damaged when the rising White River waters flooded the area in January 2009. He said the area has not been the same since and blames officials at King County, whom he said have not kept promises to restore the area.

“I will be beating down King County’s doors,” Storaasli said. “I want my neighborhood back.”

Thomson, who is retired, moved to the area in 1990 and “found the people here to be very warm.” One of Thomson’s major priorities, he said, would be to invest more into programs for youths and seniors.

“We don’t have many programs for our seniors,” he said. “We have to stimulate them and get them more involved.”

Several candidates noted that the city still is recovering from former mayor Cy Sun’s tenure, when Thomson said the city “spent (money) on attorney fees that was earmarked for infrastructure.” In an effort to address that, candidates were polled on whether they would support selling bonds to raise capital.

“I think bonds are a wonderful idea, quite frankly, if we want to get some things done right now,” Storaasli said.

Thomson noted on multiple occasions during the meeting that he favored some inexpensive projects, such as repainting stripes on roads, to give the appearance of progress. But he did not take a position on the possibility of selling bonds.

“If I am elected, I will look at all ideas,” Thomson said.

Both candidates also were asked about dealing with the issue of “exploding” homeless in the area, and an organization they might enlist to help Pacific address it. Storaasli said he would solicit assistance from the Greater Council of Churches because of the work they do with the homeless. Thomson said many homeless are mentally ill and do not want to live in homes.

“The City of Pacific doesn’t have the resources to deal with those problems,” he said.

Storaasli and Thomson are running for the seat that is being vacated by Joshua Putnam, who elected not to run.

Meanwhile, Guier will attempt to retain her mayoral position. The City Council unanimously selected Guier over her opponent, fellow councilmember John Jones, as mayor in July 2013. Guier replaced Sun, who was recalled as mayor.

Guier, who is running against Gary Nitschke, touted some of her accomplishments. She said public safety is her “No. 1 priority” and the City of Pacific now has seven officers on the street.” Guier said she also “got the ship righted” after Sun’s controversial tenure ended.

She said one of her priorities, if reelected, will include the completion of the Interurban Trail.

Clint Steiger also is running for reelection for Position No. 3 against Brice Erickson. He noted that he worked to secure funding for construction on Stewart Road and also collaborated with Sumner officials to “save” the Valentine Avenue Southeast/136th Avenue East project. The latter project, which was budgeted at $12.4 million, will widen the street – a mile-and-a-half, two-lane road heavily used by 18-wheelers – to three lanes, with a center turn lane.

While the budget is limited, Steiger said he would work toward improvements on a section of Milwaukee Boulevard if reelected.